5 December 2022 News Releases
Huntington University’s Canadian Finnish Institute (CFI) is kicking off a year of celebration in honour of both Canada and Finland. Both countries are celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2017 – Canada marks its 150th anniversary of Confederation, while Finland is celebrating 100 years of Independence.
At a luncheon held Wednesday, February 22, 2017, Huntington University was proud to host His Excellency Vesa Lehtonen, the new Ambassador of Finland to Canada, in his first visit to Greater Sudbury.
In 2015, the university recognized former Ambassador Charles Murto’s inaugural visit to the city by naming him a Fellow of the CFI. Carrying on that tradition, the university today also inducted H.E. Vesa Lehtonen as a member of the CFI Fellowship Program.
“In a very short time, The Canadian Finnish Institute has brought together many leaders from the Finnish community, and has made noticeable gains in highlighting the contributions of the Finnish people to Canada. As such, I am truly honoured to be named a new member of the Canadian Finnish Institute Fellowship Program,” stated H.E. Vesa Lehtonen, Ambassador of Finland to Canada. “On behalf of the Embassy of Finland, I would like to congratulate Dr. Kevin McCormick for his innovative leadership of the Canadian Finnish Institute, which is quickly emerging as a national centre of excellence.”
“The purpose of the Canadian Finnish Institute is to facilitate and support enhanced relationships between the peoples of Canada and Finland,” said Dr. Kevin McCormick, President and Vice-Chancellor of Huntington University. “It is a great honour for us to be able to celebrate the dual anniversaries of Canada and Finland, with H.E. Vesa Lehtonen, the newest member of our Canadian Finnish Institute Fellowship Program. His appointment as the Head of the Embassy of Finland offers a new opportunity for us to collaborate and further the mission of the Canadian Finnish Instittue, while working together to highlight the many contributions and successes of both of our countries.”
Throughout various activities planned for 2017, the Canadian Finnish Institute will continue to highlight and profile the accomplishments and contributions of both Canada and Finland. Among the initiatives to recognize Canada’s 150th and Finland’s centennial is the establishment of commemorative academic awards for students, to be presented later this year in conjunction with the anniversary of Finnish Independence.
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