Vapaus
Encyclopedia
Vapaus was a Finnish-Canadian
communist newspaper, published in Sudbury, Ontario
from 1917 to 1974. Vapaus, whose content was published in the Finnish language
, was closely associated with the Finnish Organization of Canada, an organization connected to the Communist Party of Canada
.
The paper was noted for the 1929 trial and conviction of editor Arvo Vaara on charges of sedition
and libel. The charge stemmed from purportedly unpatriotic remarks against King George V
published in the paper, although a community religious group made larger claims that the paper was "subversive of morals and good Canadian citizenship". T.D. Jones, a United Church
clergyman who led the campaign against Vapaus, asserted that the Finnish community in the Sudbury area was "living in terror" of Communist intimidation, that children were being indoctrinated with seditious ideas and that the paper was undermining the sanctity of marriage
by encouraging Finnish families to live in common-law relationships.
Vaara was defended in the trial by Arthur Roebuck
, who would later become Attorney General of Ontario
in the government of Mitchell Hepburn
. He was convicted and sentenced to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
In 1974, the newspaper merged with the Finnish-Canadian literary magazine Liekki, moved to Toronto
and was renamed Viikkosanomat. Later the paper took up its old name Vapaus, and continued publication until 1990. Its role was continued partially by the magazine Kaiku, published by the Finnish Organization of Canada since 1990. Kaiku is predominantly in English, with pages in Finnish as well.
Finnish-Canadian
Finnish Canadians are Canadians of Finnish ancestry. According to the 2001 census number over 114,000 Canadians claim Finnish ancestry. Finns started coming to Canada in the early 1880s, and in much larger numbers in the early 20th century and well into the mid-20th century...
communist newspaper, published in Sudbury, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
from 1917 to 1974. Vapaus, whose content was published in the Finnish language
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
, was closely associated with the Finnish Organization of Canada, an organization connected to the Communist Party of Canada
Communist Party of Canada
The Communist Party of Canada is a communist political party in Canada. Although is it currently a minor or small political party without representation in the Federal Parliament or in provincial legislatures, historically the Party has elected representatives in Federal Parliament, Ontario...
.
The paper was noted for the 1929 trial and conviction of editor Arvo Vaara on charges of sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
and libel. The charge stemmed from purportedly unpatriotic remarks against King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
published in the paper, although a community religious group made larger claims that the paper was "subversive of morals and good Canadian citizenship". T.D. Jones, a United Church
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
clergyman who led the campaign against Vapaus, asserted that the Finnish community in the Sudbury area was "living in terror" of Communist intimidation, that children were being indoctrinated with seditious ideas and that the paper was undermining the sanctity of marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
by encouraging Finnish families to live in common-law relationships.
Vaara was defended in the trial by Arthur Roebuck
Arthur Roebuck
Arthur Wentworth Roebuck, QC, was a Canadian politician and labour lawyer.Roebuck ran for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons in the 1917 federal election as a Laurier Liberal, but was defeated. He was involved with the United Farmers of Ontario and its successor, the Progressive Party, in the...
, who would later become Attorney General of Ontario
Attorney General of Ontario
The Attorney General of Ontario is a senior member of the Executive Council of Ontario and governs the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario - the department responsible for the oversight of the justice system within the province. The Attorney General is an elected Member of Provincial...
in the government of Mitchell Hepburn
Mitchell Hepburn
Mitchell Frederick Hepburn was the 11th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1934 to 1942. He was the youngest Premier in Ontario history, appointed at age 37....
. He was convicted and sentenced to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
In 1974, the newspaper merged with the Finnish-Canadian literary magazine Liekki, moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and was renamed Viikkosanomat. Later the paper took up its old name Vapaus, and continued publication until 1990. Its role was continued partially by the magazine Kaiku, published by the Finnish Organization of Canada since 1990. Kaiku is predominantly in English, with pages in Finnish as well.
External links
- Multicultural Canada website digitized issues of Vapaus, 1921–1930, 1948–1974