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By Stew Kernan

Sudbury’s Huntington University has launched the Canadian Finnish Institute.

The new organization is aimed at highlighting the contribution of the Finnish people to Canada.

The Institute will showcase the Finnish Culture through an annual Canadian-Finnish Symposium, a Fellowship program and academic awards and exchange programs for students.

Among those on hand for the official launch this morning was His Excellency, Charles Murto, Ambassador of Finland to Canada.

Greater Sudbury has a Finnish population of 8,000 with 2,500 listing Finnish as their mother tongue.

The first Finnish settlers arrived in the area back in the 1880’s to work on the railroad  and later in mining, forestry and agriculture.