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In a small cemetery in Nurmes, Finland stands
a tombstone with the following epitaph:
Consul
Akseli Rauanheimo
Father
of the Immigrants
Born 1871 Died 1932
Despite
the depression, grateful Finnish Canadian immigrants gathered their
dimes to erect the tombstone.
They
wished to honour the memory of their first consul in Canada - a
man who fought for their rights for a decade, who cared for their
needs as a friend and whose sound advice was printed in a guidebook
called Kanadan-Kirja (Canada's Book).
During
an oral history project among the Finnish Canadians in Toronto,
many fond recollections of Consul Rauanheimo were recorded. His
arrival in Montreal in 1922 coincided with the mass immigration
of Finns, when an average of 5,000 Finns arrived annually in Canada.
His
small office was always crowded with the destitute, the unemployed
and the ill who turned to the consul for help. Mr.
Otto Katila recalled his first visit to the consulate in 1924:
There
he sat [Rauanheimo] in the consulate office, Finnish lumberjacks
leaning against all the walls, surrounded by thick cigarette smoke,
trying to help them find jobs. I
have often thought that under no circumstances would I, if I were
the Consul of Finland, agree to work under such conditions.
But
Akseli Rauanheimo was no ordinary consul. He was totally devoted
to his work. His daughter remembered:
My
father most pitied those Finns who were deported because they
were unemployed, sick or had criminal records.He
walked them to the docks, even gave his brand new winter coat
once to a sick traveller without a coat of his own. And when he
had to once in a while travel on business to New York, he used
the night coach so that those little savings could be given to
his immigrant 'children.' Such travel arrangements met with disapproval
by other government officials.They
were not deemed suitable to the official representative of Finland.
But father would only comment 'and who then would recognize me
at night.'
In
1930 this modest and kind-hearted consul published Kanadan-Kirja,
a guide for immigrants. The thick, red, hardcover volume with 195
illustrations is still used as reference forty years after its publication.
It
occupies a prominent position on many a Finnish immigrant bookshelf.
The book's popularity is due to the accurate, honest information
which is presented in a simple descriptive language, easy for the
immigrants to read.
Rauanheimo
was not motivated to write the book in order to obtain grants from
the Government of Canada, bonuses from the transportation companies
or kickbacks from the employers. Neither did he write to discourage
the Finns from leaving their homeland or to entice them to settle
in Canada.
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To
the Finns, the information given in Kanadan-Kirja was trustworthy.
The book is divided into several parts, beginning with an extensive
photograph section and ending with general information.
Rauanheimo
draws comparisons between the history, geography, climate, government
and laws of Finland and Canada. He pays particular attention to
the nature of Finnish immigrant communities in Canada, explaining
working conditions, employment opportunities, housing standards,
farming and cultural activities.
Perhaps
the most illuminating part of the book, however, is the description
of the procedures for emigration, the hazards of the journey and
the drama of landing on Canadian soil. To illustrate his points,
Rauanheimo presents short stories, focusing on problems common to
many Finnish immigrants.
For
example, the author records a conversation between a Finnish lad
who arrived without a Canadian contact address and an immigration
officer:
- Do you have relatives in the United States?
- Yes, I have a brother in New York.
-
When do you plan to go there?
- As soon as possible!
The
boy, of course, is denied landed immigrant status and the story
used as a warning to other Finns intending to use Canada as a gateway
to the United States.
The
troubles of the immigrants did not stop once the precious landing
card was obtained. Many swindlers specialized in stripping the immigrants
of their last dollars. Sometimes the immigrants created their own
problems because of their ignorance of Canadian customs, laws or
language.
For
example, Rauanheimo describes how a few solemn and shy Finns ended
up in one of the many taverns near the railroad station. After a
few drinks the men became brave and boisterous, and decided to venture
into town.
They
walked in a group in the middle of the road, speaking loudly, sometimes
shouting. One tore open his coat exposing the knife hanging from
his belt; another emphasized his point by spitting.
Without
realizing it, these Finns broke four Canadian laws in obstructing
traffic, causing a public disturbance, carrying a knife and spitting.
Usually the police officers were understanding but sometimes the
immigrant wound up in jail, confused about what his offence had
been.
The
Finnish immigrants who had the foresight and money to invest in
the Kanadan-Kirja were sure to be better prepared. Armed
with the guidebook the Finns could anticipate at least some of the
problems immigrants encountered in Canada.
This
book, available in the 1930s in both Finland and Canada, provides
a graphic illustration of immigrant life before, during and after
the journey to the new land. Kanadan-Kirja was an invaluable
aid, helping many Finns avoid embarrassing situations and even disaster.
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