Early Sointula History

Sointula began as the desire of several Finnish immigrants to British Columbia
for a self sustaining place of their own. The time was the start of the
Twentieth Century, and the place was the mining area near Nanaimo.

The group contacted Matti Kurikka, political philosopher and newspaperman, to
provide leadership. He arrived in Nanaimo in 1900. Together, they founded the
Kalevan Kansa Colonization Company, “Aika” newspaper, and negotiated with the
British Columbia government for land. Kurikka’s friend, A. B. Makela, arrived
from Finland to help in the effort.

In 1901 formal arrangements were completed, and the Kalevan Kansa was ready to
take possession of Malcolm Island - all 28,000 acres of it. The first work
party arrived on December 15, 1901, and began to clear the land.

In June, 1902, the growing commune was joined by a large group of families and
individuals for a Juhannus Celebration. During those meetings, the name
“Sointula” was formally chosen as the name of this new place - a word than can
be translated as “Place of Harmony”.

The community continued to grow. Many of the newcomers were attracted by
Kurikka’s ideas: communal ownership, decision making by consensus, equal pay
for women, a separate children’s home. By 1903, they had succeeded in
completing a large communal building.

 

This remarkable photo was taken in 1903. It features the band and the adults of the commune. Kurikka is in the back row, fifth from the right, in a hat and beard. It is no accident that the band is placed in front. Cultural activities were an essential part of Sointula from the very first - music, dancing, plays, debates, athletics. Owner: Sointula Museum

Tragedy struck on January 29, 1903. The communal hall burned, killing 11 people
and destroying most of the community’s supplies and records. But they refused
to be beaten. Financial debt, always a problem, grew ominously. Then, in a
poorly considered move, Kurikka bid on a bridge project in Vancouver. The bid
was ridiculously low, and was accepted. Most of the men of the commune spent
weeks without pay completing the contract. Still, they refused to be beaten.

By late 1904, the relationship between the impractical Kurikka and much of the
colony deteriorated, and that year Matti Kurikka left with about half of the
colony. He was never to return. The remaining pioneers, now with the full
debt, carried on. But the debt was an impossible burden. The Kalevan Kansa
Colonization Company declared bankruptcy in 1905.

Still, these Finns did not give up. Calling on their native character, “sisu”, a
group remained. Although most of Malcolm Island was returned to the ownership
of the British Columbia government, the remaining families could keep their
individual plots and homes. It is from this courageous group that the Sointula
of today has developed.

This aerial view of Sointula in 1927 was tinted by hand. The only large public
building yet completed is the F. O. Hall. The wharf is in place, the street
lines apparent from the neatly organized properties, and many of the present
houses have been constructed. Owner: Lee Anderson.