Sports Pioneers: A History of the Finnish-Canadian Amateur Sports Federation 1906-1986

Book in excellent condition; cover shows shelf wear. No dust jacket as issued. 1st Edition

It used to be said about immigrant Finns in Canada that if two of them got together they would form a discussion group. If there were three, they would organize a sports club, as well. However, if they were four in number, they would not only put together the first two, but a drama group to top them off. Of course, that is somewhat of an exaggeration, but it does illustrate a passion for social organization that was so characteristic of Finnish immigrants, particularly during the '20s. The question is: Why were they that way? It is important to understand that while the intent of this book is to record the history of Finnish-Canadian amateur sports, we have to see athletic activity as a part of the cultural response by Finnish immigrants to Canadian conditions of life. We have to know how their thinking was conditioned in Finland; of how they worked, lived and were educated, as part of the West European cultural scene.' - from the introduction.