Finnish Labour Temple

Finnish Labour Temple
As seen from the intersection of Bay and Algoma
General information
Type	Hall
Location	314 Bay Street Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates	48°25′56″N 89°13′48″W / 48.43222°N 89.23000°W / 48.43222; -89.23000Coordinates: 48°25′56″N 89°13′48″W / 48.43222°N 89.23000°W / 48.43222; -89.23000
Current tenants	The Hoito
Construction started	1908
Completed	March 1910
Design and construction
Architect	C.W. Wheeler
National Historic Site of Canada
Official name	Finnish Labour Temple National Historic Site of Canada
Designated	2011

C.W. Wheeler

The Finnish Labour Temple (also known as the Big Finn Hall or Finlandia Club) is a Finnish-Canadian cultural and community centre and a local landmark located at 314 Bay Street in the Finnish quarter in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Built in 1910, the Finnish Labour Temple was at one point one of the largest workers' halls in Canada in addition to being the centre of Finnish cultural and political life in Northwestern Ontario. Currently, the hall houses the historic Hoito Restaurant, a museum, and features a large stage, dance floor, and hall as well as meeting rooms for various groups. The Finnish Labour Temple serves as one of the main locations of the Bay Street Film Festival. The most recent comprehensive history of the building is an article in French published in The Argus, Lakehead University's student newspaper. Rouge Ou Blanc, Tout Fou Le Camp! La Lutte Pour L’enjeu Mémoriel Au Temple Finlandais Du Travail

The construction of the Finnish Labour Temple was initiated by two organizations, the Finnish-American Workers' League Imatra #9 and the "Uusi Yritys" or New Attempt Temperance Society, who formed the Finnish Building Company. The lot for the hall had been purchased by socialist local in June 1907 and blueprints for the hall had already been prepared in early December 1908 by architect C.W. Wheeler. The building opened its doors to the public in March 1910, holding three consecutive days of opening ceremonies.

The inscription on the top of the building reads "Labor Omnia Vincet," meaning "labour conquers all."

Already in 1910, the hall was referred to as the "Port Arthur Finnish Socialist's Local Temple" as the socialist local had become the majority share holder in the hall and was connected to the Port Arthur Branch of the Socialist Party of Canada. The Temperance Society had basically become a committee of the socialist local. By December 1910, however, foreign language locals of the Socialist Party had been expelled from the party. In 1911, a new organization called the Finnish Socialist Organization of Canada had been formed, which then became affiliated to the Social Democratic Party of Canada.