Lectures

An Evening with Finnish Studies

In 2015 Professor Anu Muhonen initiated a new lecture series An Evening with Finnish Studies. The purpose of the free public lectures is to bring the (Finnish Canadian) community and the Finnish Studies Program at the University of Toronto together. Professor Muhonen has been able to invite many distinguished professionals and scholars to guest speak in her series. These lectures have been very well attended.

1. March 23, 2015
   Growing up multilingually – Raising multilingual children and grandchildren
   by Professor Emerita Maisa Martin (University of Jyväskylä, Finland)
2. March 23, 2015
   Multilingual Finland – Working multilingually
   by Professor Minna Suni (University of Jyväskylä, Finland)
3. October 20, 2015
   The Eternal Lure of the Kalevala
   by Professor Emeritus Börje Vähämäki (University of Toronto, Canada)
4. March 23, 2016
   Every Object Tells a Story – Searching for Finnishness among San Francisco
   Bay Area Finns
   by Lecturer Sirpa Tuomainen (University of California Berkeley, USA)
5. November 16, 2016
   The Stories Behind the Story
   by Author Liisa Kovala
6. October 5, 2017
   Implementing the Helsinki City Plan
   by Head of Strategic Urban Planning Rikhard Manninen
   (City of Helsinki, Finland)
7. October 5, 2017
   Transparency First, Open City Plan Process in Helsinki
   by Communications Manager Heikki Mäntymäki (City of Helsinki, Finland)
8. October 26, 2017
   100 Years of Finnish Design
   by Professor Pekka Korvenmaa (Aalto University, Finland)
9. January 28, 2018
   They Know Not What They Do
   by Author, Dr. Jussi Valtonen (University of Helsinki, Finland)
10. November 14, 2018
    Songs from the North: The Metallic Country Brand of Finland
    by Dr.Toni-Matti Karjalainen (Aalto University, Finland)
11. November 29, 2018
    Law, Trust and Legitimacy: Finnish and Nordic experiences
    by Professor Kimmo Nuotio (University of Helsinki, Finland)
12. February 28, 2019
    Aleksis Kivi – The Cornerstone of Finnish Literature
    by Visiting Graduate Student Anna Tilli (University of Helsinki, Finland)
13. March 21, 2019
    “The Karjala Story: Revolution, War, Wonder” – A Human Viewpoint of the Political Military and Cultural History of Karjala (and Finland)
    by MBA Karl Tuira (University of Toronto, Canada)
14. March 23, 2020
    Who can Speak the Truth about the Constitution of Finland?
    by Dr. Ida Koivisto (University of Helsinki, Finland)
15. May 26, 2020
    Made in Finland! Exploring and archiving the soul of Finnish Music.
    by Dr Toni-Matti Karjalainen (University of the Arts, Finland)
16. May 30, 2022
    Karelian Evacuees and their Importance in the Identities of Young Adults
    by MA & Finnish Studies alumni Marko Smiljanic
    (Department of Languages, University of Jyväskylä, Finland)
17. May 30, 2022
    Greetings from a Finnish Studies Alumni
    by MA & PhD Candidate Laina Southgate (University of Toronto)
18. March 15, 2023
    What is a Finnish Canadian Boy made of, and how does he relate to the culture and values of Canada?
    by MBA Karl Tuira
    (University of Toronto, Canada)
19. April 6, 2023
    American students of Finnish learning in the “digital wilds”
    by Senior Lecturer Elisa Räsänen
    (Indiana University, USA & University of Jyväskylä, Finland)
20. February 7, 2024
    Sámi Languages: From Ancient Roots to Revitalization
    by Professor Tim Frandy
    (University of British Columbia, Canada)
21. February 28, 2024
    Past and Present of Multilingual Education in Finland
    by Professor Petteri Laihonen
    (University of Jyväskylä, Finland)
22. March 1, 2024
    On the Revitalization of the Inari Sámi language and culture in Finland
    by Professor Petteri Laihonen
    (University of Jyväskylä, Finland)
23. March 6, 2024
    The Multilingual Medieval North
    by Professor Natalie Van Deusen
    (University of Alberta, Canada)
24. March 18, 2024
    From a monolingual society to one of multilingualism – the transformation of Swedish language policies
    by Professor Emeritus Jarmo Lainio
    (University of Stockholm, Sweden)
25. March 20, 2024
    Swedish support to its national minority languages – The case for Sweden Finnish
    by Professor Emeritus Jarmo Lainio
    (University of Stockholm)
26. April 5, 2024
    Representations of The Kalevala in Contemporary Finnish Art
    by Professor Anu Muhonen
    (University of Toronto)