Despite the freezing rain warning, there were 10 joyful congregation members (Finns and not Finns) who got together Friday afternoon February 23, for the first sing-along in support of the Rohingya refugee relief. Ismo Makkonen had prepared a great list of 40s-60s songs with lyrics. Singing was so much fun (and a few tears were shed too!) that after an hour and a half we had to force ourselves to stop before the coffee got cold! The next sing-along for the same cause will take place on Friday March 23 at 6pm at the Estonian Church. Saku Mantere and his guitar will lead us to the world of 70s-90s pop-music.
Internationally-known EVA-Trio, a Finnish folk-fusion trio, is coming to Pyhän Mikaelin Kirkko/St. Michael's Finnish! As part of this year's Kalevala celebration, the St. Michael's is sponsoring the group's concert at 4345 Marcil, NDG, at 11 am Sunday March 4 (for map and other info see "contact" in this website). The Kalevala celebration will also include readings from the Kalevala and a display of national costumes! The vocalist of EVA-Trio is also one of the singers of the famous Rajaton group. Just this last fall their concert in Ottawa at the Arts Center was filled to the brim.... several thousand people at least. Come hear EVA-Trio in a warm, much more intimate concert atmosphere this
Before our move to NDG and to the shared space with St John's Estonian Church, for many years Montreal’s Finnish Church Home was located in a district of the city known as “the Square Mile”. In the second half of the 19th century, as the city expanded from its early beginnings along the St Lawrence River, the orchards, farms and country estates on the southern slope of Mount Royal developed into a wealthy residential district for Montreal’s affluent merchants, industrialists, and business tycoons. The home that the Finnish community purchased in May 1960 (see photos) was built in 1870. It and its neighbour are what remain of “four Gothic cottages” that stood side by side and were designed
