If you are interested in seeing your immigrant ancestor's name in our forthcoming book, visit Honour the Pioneers page to see the people who are already being honoured. This is the format that will be used in the book.
Don't miss this opportunity to recognize your ancestor and perhaps also a loved one who has passed on!
Welcome
Although the Swedish experience in Canada was overlooked during the last quarter of the twentieth century, when the histories of various ethnocultural communities were researched, written, and published, the Lakehead Social History Institute has been working to fill this gap. In association with an experienced Thunder Bay historian, Elinor Berglund Barr, much research has been achieved and writing of the book is currently (December 2006) underway. See Newsletter #7
The funding required for this work has been provided by individuals and organizations of the Swedish Canadian community, assisted by the Embassy of Sweden, the Swedish Council of America, and the Genealogical Society of Sweden, which has twice recognized the Swedes in Canada Project with its Arvid Lundback Award. Under the able leadership of Don Sjoberg, of Winnipeg, a total of $55,000 has been raised over the past five years.
The first phase, in support of research, had a target of $25,000 which had been achieved by the summer of 2004. This money supported the reseach trips the Project historian made to various places in Canada, the United States, and Sweden. These research visits encouraged the flow of documentation, which has reached 12.3 metres (40 feet) of shelf space.
The target for the second phase, in support of the analysis of findings, was $30,000, and was reached in late summer of 2006. This money has been used to pay for two research assistants, who have developed a database of research material to support Elinor's analysis and a second database of Swedish immigrants to Canada.
Funds received during the writing phase--the third and final phase of the Swedes in Canada Project--will be used to maintain the Project Website and to cover office expenses (such as printer cartridges and costs involved in preparing the manuscript and illustrations for publication).
With the assistance of the Co-Directors of the Institute, Beth Boegh and Ernie Epp, Elinor will be making good progress with the writing of the history. She aims to complete the manuscript in 2008. The writing will be facilitated by a demographic report that Ernie Epp has produced, entitled Nordic People in Canada 1871-2001.