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The Mystery Years in Canada: Tracking William

What happened during my grandfather's 'unknown years' in Ontario?

My grandfather William emigrates from Finland to Sudbury Ontario in 1926 leaving behind his young wife Aino and their baby boy.  All for a better future.

He lives there probably for about five, six years working in nickel mines. In early 1930's he travels back to Finland to bring his wife and son with him to Ontario. Aino refuses to leave. William never returns to Canada.

Nobody knows much about his Canadian experience. William rarely mentioned it. His wife even less. Their four daughters never asked or were never answered.

There were books and various memorabilia from Canada as well as William and Aino's years long correspondence but nothing exists anymore - except few treasured photographs. All of it "vanished" before my grandmother died.

This project is an attempt to envision, follow and find out more about William's life in Canada and Finnish immigration in the Sudbury area in general. 
Do you have information that might help me?

William in Canada in the 1920's

Project William is an ongoing media art project on immigration © KirsiMarja Metsähuone. This website is a process and first part of the project and will evolve and grow along the way while the work continues and more information becomes available.

The project would not be possible without the photographs, memories and information passed on by William's daughters, my mother and aunts, as well as the genealogical research done by my mother. For all this I express my deep gratitude.

Project William is supported by grants from Arts Promotion Centre Finland and Helsinki City Cultural Committee.

Project William is dedicated to William's daughter, my mother Laina Metsähuone 1939 - 2015

All photographs and other materials are copyrighted. © KirsiMarja Metsähuone