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Political and economic turmoil motivated many people of Europe to immigrate to North America at the end of the nineteenth century. They spread across the country looking for freedom and fairness.

One group of Finnish visionaries moved to Malcolm Island to establish a colony based on utopian ideals. It was named, "Sointula," a Finnish word for harmony. The vision was to create a society where property was communal; everyone shared, everyone participated and everyone was equal.

The energetic community developed a foundry, a brickyard, a sawmill and a blacksmith shop. They published the first Finnish newspaper in Canada, using it to encourage the immigrants to come to Sointula. They believed in "Sound Body", "Sound Mind'', so there were regular exercise sessions, gymnastic programs, music instructions, concerts and drama productions.

After 4 years of hardships and disappointments, rains and fires, overwhelmed by fickle markets, hostile creditors, bad planning and worse luck, the members of the Kalevan Kansa Colonization Company sold the assets to the bank and returned the island to the Government of British Columbia.

But Sointula - as it now exists - was just beginning. The people who remained purchased the land and turned to commercial fishing. They dug their roots deeply into the island and built their community with their own visions.

Independent, individualistic entrepreneurs were and are attracted to Sointula. The twin dreams of freedom and cooperation still survive. Descendants of the original pioneers and newer arrivals continued to be inspired by them. For a taste of Utopia, you can wonder down the streets of Sointula. Look for the heritage signs on the buildings to connect the past with the present.

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