Sointula facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sointula
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
 Sointula
Location in British Columbia
|
|
| Country |  Canada |
| Province | BC/BCE |
| Regional district | Mount Waddington |
| Population
(2011)
|
|
| • Total | 576 |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific Time Zone) |
| Area code(s) | 250 |
| Climate | Cfb |
Sointula is a small, quiet village located on Malcolm Island in British Columbia, Canada. It's found between Vancouver Island and the main part of British Columbia, not far from Port McNeill and Alert Bay. Malcolm Island is a special place that belongs to the ‘Namgis First Nation. In 2011, about 576 people lived in Sointula.
Contents
The History of Sointula
The name Sointula means "Place of Harmony" in the Finnish language. A group of Finnish settlers started the village in 1901. They had rowed north from Nanaimo to find a new home.
Founding a New Community
These settlers wanted to create a special community called the Kalevan Kansa. It was based on "cooperative principles," meaning everyone would work together and share everything. They hoped to escape the hard life of working in the coal mines on Vancouver Island.
They invited a leader from Finland named Matti Kurikka to help guide their new community. Life was very tough at first. In 1903, a terrible fire at the Sointula community hall killed three adults and eight children. This event almost destroyed their new village.
Challenges and Changes
The community continued to face money problems. For two years, they worked for free on the Capilano Suspension Bridge project. Because of these difficulties, the Kalevan Kansa cooperative group officially ended in 1905.
However, many of the original settlers and their families chose to stay on Malcolm Island. The village of Sointula continued to grow and became successful, especially through the 1970s.
Cooperative Businesses and Modern Times
Fishing and logging were the main jobs that supported the community for many years. The early idea of working together led to other businesses that are still around today. The Sointula Cooperative Store is the oldest "co-op shop" in British Columbia. It still sells groceries and fuel to the islanders.
There was also a cooperative bakery, Wild Island Foods, which sold Finnish pastries called pulla. Another group, the Malcolm Island Shellfish Coop (MISC), tried to raise and sell abalone, but it closed in 2006.
.jpg)
In recent years, the fishing and logging industries have become smaller, which has been hard for Sointula. Fewer children attend the local school. However, more people from places like California are buying homes in Sointula to use as summer getaways.
Sointula is home to the Sointula Museum, where you can learn about the village's history. There is also an online newsletter called the Sointula Ripple. You can easily reach Sointula by car ferry from Port McNeill and Alert Bay, operated by BC Ferries.
Amazing Wildlife of Sointula
Malcolm Island and the waters around it are full of amazing animals. Orcas (also known as killer whales) visit the "rubbing beaches" near Bere Point Regional Park every summer and fall. They come to rub themselves on the smooth stones.
You can also see seals and porpoises from the beaches. Many birds, mink, otter, beaver, and deer live all over the island. The thick, green temperate rainforest makes the island feel peaceful and untouched.
Protecting Our Oceans
Sointula is also where the main office for the Living Oceans Society is located. This group started in 1998. It is a non-profit organization that works to protect the ocean's biological diversity. This means they want to keep all the different kinds of plants and animals in the ocean healthy. They also want to make sure coastal communities stay healthy.
The Living Oceans Society is Canada's largest non-governmental organization focused on marine conservation. During the summer, a Canadian Coast Guard Inshore Rescue Boat Station is also located in Sointula. This station has a crew ready to help people in trouble on the water.
Sointula's Lasting Legacy
Sointula has inspired several books and even a musical!
Books About Sointula
Bill Gaston's novel Sointula (published in 2004) is named after the community. Part of its story takes place in the village. Rachel Lebowitz's book Hannus (2006) also tells stories about the early days of the cooperative community.
Paula Wild's book Sointula gives a good overview of the island's history and way of life. The Sointula Museum, working with the University of Victoria, published Practical Dreamers. This book shares the history of the island's cooperatives with many old photographs.
A Musical Inspired by the Village
Sointula and its original Finnish settlers are also the subject of a Finnish musical. It is simply called "Sointula" and was written by Tuomo_Aitta. In 2013, a Finnish theater company even visited Sointula to perform the musical for the community!
