Calgary Finlandia Cultural Association

CFCA Board of Directors invites our members to a special meet and greet event with Sauli Niinistö, Former President of the Republic of Finland to be held on

Thursday, June 11, 4:30 – 7:30PM
Calgary Petroleum Club
RSVP: June 4, 2026

• Pre-registration required, no late registrations accepted
• This is a limited capacity event therefore registration is required
• For security reasons, WALK INS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED
• Special performance by Little Finns
• Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres & cash bar
• Business casual attire
• Ample parking, rates vary (maps available in the Communal Registration portal or on Petroleum Club website, www.calpeteclub.com)

TICKETS

• $15.00 for CFCA Members with an Active CFCA Membership
• $25.00 non-CFCA Members
• FREE for children ages 6 years and younger

HOW TO REGISTER

To register, please log into your Communal account or use the link provided. If you require assistance to register, please email [email protected].

Calgary Finlandia Cultural Association is hosting its annual Juhannus Potluck, Sunday June 21 at Rosemont Community Association. This is a FREE event for CFCA members with an Active Membership. Everyone is asked to register using the QR code and bring something to share. For more information please email [email protected].

For those Eurovision fans, grand finale is May 16.

Here's your Grand Final running order for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest ⭐

Watch live on Saturday 16 May via our YouTube channel and the 35 participating broadcasters of Vienna 2026 🍿

You can vote for your winner at www.esc.vote

If anyone is interested in volunteering please contact the Edmonton Finnish Society OR the email in post.

EDMONTON HERITAGE FESTIVAL: The Scandinavian Heritage Society of Edmonton
is gearing up for another amazing Heritage Days festival. This year, we are back in
Hawrelak Park from August 1-3 and looking forward to rediscovering our renovated
stomping ground.

We are reaching out to all of our local Scandinavian organizations to solicit volunteers, and we'd love to see some members of the Finnish Society of Edmonton there! We
have shifts available for set up and take down, the culture tent, and the food tent. We
are also always looking for more members to come help plan Heritage Days — SHSE
meets on the last Tuesday of every month from January to June. Potential volunteers
are welcome to reach out to [email protected] for more information! Takk!
We'll see you there!

How Finland Does Eurovision (Quietly, Stubbornly, On Its Own Terms)

To read this article, copy & paste the link into your browser.

https://veryfinnishproblems.com/blogs/news/how-finland-does-eurovision

UPCOMING FINNPOSIUM: From Oulu to the World: A Look at Europe’s Capital of Culture 2026

What happens when an entire region prepares to welcome Europe through culture?

Join us for a special behind-the-scenes look at Oulu 2026 European Capital of Culture, as the people shaping this historic year share how Oulu and Northern Ostrobothnia are preparing for one of Europe’s most significant cultural honors.

This webinar will explore the vision, scale, and local impact of Oulu2026—from major official programming to the festivals, traditions, and communities helping bring it to life.

Featured Speakers:

Henri Turunen Program Manager, Oulu2026 Presentation on the vision, structure, and scope of the Cultural Capital Year

Anna-Mari Laulumaa, M.A. Program Manager, Cultural Heritage Program (Host) Insights into the region, development strategy, and the cultural impact of Oulu2026, including featured festivals and communities

Teija Niku, M.Mus. Artistic Director, Haapavesi Folk Music Festival How Oulu2026 has energized this year’s festival and what the designation means for artists, audiences, and local culture

Tue. May 19, 2026 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 8pm EET. Free zoom event.

Take a peek into Oulu 2026!

Register at FinlandiaFoundation.org

A Finnish couple, Teemu Touvinen and Jatta Leinonen, claimed victory at an international Wife-Carrying competition held in England, showcasing one of Finland’s most unusual and entertaining traditional sports.🇫🇮

Wife-carrying, known as *“Eukonkanto”* in Finland, has grown into a globally recognized competition where participants race through obstacle courses while carrying their partner on their back. The sport requires strength, balance, teamwork, and plenty of humour, making it a favourite at festivals and sporting events.

Teemu and Jatta impressed spectators with their speed, coordination, and technique as they navigated the challenging course, ultimately securing the top spot among competitors from several countries.

The quirky sport has its roots in Finnish folklore and has evolved into an internationally celebrated event that attracts couples from around the world who are eager to test their teamwork in a fun and unconventional way.

Their victory highlights not only athletic skill but also the spirit of partnership that makes this unique sport so memorable.