Canadian Friends of Finland BC

10/08/2026

The Scandinavian Community Centre is a community sponsor with the Vancouver International Film Festival and we are excited to let you know there are two more showings this weekend of Guest. This film received the Best Director: special jury prize, Karlovy Vary 2026.

If you are a member of Canadian Friends of Finland, you know that there are tickets that you can win for this showing. Just respond to the email that was send out! The showings are on Saturday and Sunday.

Canadian Premiere

Mads Mengel’s film is set at an oceanside resort, where Karl (Simon Bennebjerg) and his wife are gathered with friends and family for their son’s christening. Unexpectedly, Karl’s estranged, mentally ill mother Vibeke (Trine Dyrholm) shows up to share in the celebration. What unfolds has its humorous aspects, but with long-held resentments, bottled-up emotions, and generational conflict erupting left and right, The Guest has its feet planted firmly in the tradition of Scandinavian drama.

Making his feature debut, Mengel shows a talent for dramatic escalation, and he makes the most of a truly fine cast: Bennebjerg and Dyrholm give the kind of committed, radiant performances that Danish cinema is justly famous for, as does Josephine Park in the role of second child Rikke. The supporting players are uniformly excellent, and Mengel ably evokes the feelings of suspension and confinement that resort stays bring out in visitors. This is a propulsive, highly pressurized drama; it takes us to the point of explosion and beyond. More info here: https://viff.org/whats-on/viff26-the-guest/

Best Director: Special Jury Prize, Karlovy Vary 2026

Vivid, powerful, and beautifully acted, The Guest explores the conflict between an adult son and his estranged, mentally ill mother.

10/06/2026

Canadian Premiere Vancouver International Film Festival
Have you had a chance to see some of the amazing films that are playing - you still can as the Festival doesn't close until Sunday PM.
The Scandinavian Community Centre is a community partner for several of the films. This is playing at the 5th on Burrard in Vancouver - I might have a ticket or two to share if you are keen!

Tomorrow - Wednesday - is the last day to see Árru

Set against the striking mountains and fjords of northern Norway, Árru follows reindeer herder Maia as a proposed copper mine threatens the land and livelihood her Sámi community has protected for generations. Seeking help in their fight against the development, Maia and her brother Dánel turn to their politically connected uncle Lemme. But his return brings long-buried memories to the surface, forcing Maia to confront painful truths within her family — and the traditions that have shaped her community.

The vibrancy of the community at the heart of Árru is brought to life through musical sequences, traditional yoik singing, family, and ceremony, even as an underlying darkness settles within Maia’s home. As the fight to protect the land intensifies, Maia must reckon with the difficult realities of protecting a community while confronting harm from within it. Lyrical, grounded, and deeply moving, Árru is a powerful reflection on cultural perseverance, collective responsibility, and a new generation fighting to protect both their community and the land that sustains it.

10/04/2026

Curious about musical Finns around the world. At Vancouver International Film Festival you will spot a film - playing on Tuesday and tonight (Sunday) : Nous, L'orchestre De Paris - Philippe Béziat’s documentary offers an unprecedented look at the Orchestre de Paris and the camaraderie of its 120 members. What is an orchestra, after all? A collection of individuals working in harmony like bees? A dictatorship of the conductor’s whims and authority? Philippe Béziat’s (Gallant Indies) latest documentary examines the Orchestre de Paris as a living, breathing organism — getting under its skin and observing it under a microscope. And while the film delights in beautiful renditions of Stravinsky, Mahler, Ravel, and Bartók, its true revelation is in the dynamics of its members.

Filmed and recorded over several years, Nous, L’Orchestre de Paris shares recordings captured by more than 90 microphones of the ensemble’s 120 members, isolating sounds from rehearsals and performances to offer an intimate look at the orchestra’s inner lives. Whether lingering on charismatic conductor Klaus Mäkelä or immersing the audience in the jovial camaraderie and interpersonal conflicts of the musicians, the film revels in the playful social tensions so often hidden from the public. This is a jubilant ode to the transcendence of classical music made possible by a disparate group of individuals playing in perfect unison.

On a side note: Klaus Mäkelä’s 2021 appointment made headlines because of his youth (24 years) and relative anonymity; the gamble paid off as he quickly attracted attention from other top orchestras. While continuing as Chief Conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic (a post he has held since 2020), he accepted offers from Amsterdam and Chicago for 2027, meaning Paris was the commitment he chose to relinquish. Both Mäkelä and Salonen were born in Helsinki, underscoring the Finnish connection at the helm of one of France’s leading ensembles.

Send a message to learn more

10/02/2026

A few more screenshots - if you want to see the newsletter on line go here. https://mailchi.mp/yliluoma/cffsept282026-10349194?e=5463cb823e

10/02/2026

Here are a few screenshots of the newsletter that we issue on a fairly regular basis.

09/20/2026

It is a gorgeous beautiful day in Vancouver and Canadian Friends of Finland is hosting their AGM today at 1 PM. Even if you are not a member you are welcome - we would love to see more people share their roots, embrace their Finn Canadian roots, learn more about Finland, discover their sisu. And following the AGM we will be showing a Finnish Film - don't worry there are sub-titles. Coffee and treats. Hoito pancake mix for sale. Donations appreciated.

09/16/2026

Finland House Society Scholarship

It’s back to school time! That means it’s also student awards season for Finland House Society. This program offers scholarships and bursaries to students of Finnish descent studying in Canada. There are several awards available. The deadline to apply is Monday September 28, 2026 at 5 PM PDT. For more information, visit https://scancentre.org/finland/student-awards/ or email [email protected]

Finland House Society established a scholarship program in 2012 that has evolved into a generous comprehensive Student Awards Program for students of Finnish descent pursuing a post-secondary education in Canada.

06/22/2026

So many people stopped by our table at the Midsummer asking about the Finnish language. If you want to try to learn some, check out this website that was started in 2007 by a Belgium woman who moved to Finland for love. Her love of language, of the Finnish language is reflected very much in her website.

Learn the Finnish comma rules in this in-depth article. In part 1 we look at comma rules within full sentences.

06/16/2026

Opera Lirica, a Vancouver-based non-profit opera company is hosting a concert and presentation of Finnish songs called Heritage and Heart: A Finnish Musical Journey with soprano Elaina Moreau at the Vancouver Unitarian Church, as part of the Heritage Salon Social concert and presentation series celebrating our singers' heritages sponsored by the City of Vancouver.

Heritage and Heart: A Finnish Musical Journey

Soprano, Elaina Moreau | Pianist, Roger Parton

Join us for an evening of Finnish art song. A journey into the heart of Finland through song, poetry, myths and legends. Following the concert/presentation, there will be time for conversation, tea, and Finnish treats.

Thursday, June 18 | 7pm-8:30pm | Doors open 6:30pm

Vancouver Unitarian Church, 949 W. 49th Ave + Oak St, north east corner Tickets: $25 including tax | $15 for seniors 65+ | free for students
operalirica.ca/upcoming-concerts-events

Elaina Moreau, soprano, was a semi-finalist in the prestigious VIII Mirjam Helin International Singing Competition in (Finland, 2019), a three-time Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (2016, 2014, 2011), was named a laureate of the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques (Montreal, 2017), and was a finalist in the Ricardo Zandonai International Singing Competition (Italy, 2017).

Concerts & Events Heritage Salon Socials Concert & Presentation Series 2026 May 8, June 18, June 27 | 7pm | Unitarian Church Armenian, Finnish, and Filipino Art Songs Longing for the Homeland: Songs from ArmeniaSoprano, Tamar Simon | Baritone, Geoff Schellenberg | Pianist, Roger PartonJoin us for an...

05/18/2026

From Oulu to the World: A Look at Europe’s Capital of Culture 2026 What happens when an entire region prepares to welcome Europe through culture? Join us for a special behind-the-scenes look at Oulu 2026 European Capital of Culture, as the people shaping this historic year share how Oulu and Northern Ostrobothnia are preparing for one of Europe’s most significant cultural honours. This webinar will explore the vision, scale, and local impact of Oulu2026—from major official programming to the festivals, traditions, and communities helping bring it to life. Register now at this link.