Derek Burney was born in 1939 in Fort William, Canada, and graduated from Queen’s University with a BA and MA in Political Science. He was a Canadian diplomat and served in federal public service (1963-1993). Burney was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Burney’s first posting was in Japan. Returning to Ottawa from Japan, he served as senior departmental assistant to the Secretary of State for External Affairs. He served as an Ambassador to the Republic of South Korea (1978-1980). Returning to Ottawa from South Korea, he served as Assistant Undersecretary for Trade and Economic Policy. He served as Ambassador to the United States (1989-1993). Burney played an integral role during the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement (1989) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (signed 1992). Burney was Canada’s first Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney (1987-1989).
Post Burney’s public service career, he worked for Bell Canada (1993-1999), deviated for a short period to federal government service for Stephen Harper’s team (2006), and then served as Chancellor of Lakehead University (2013-2017). As Chancellor of Lakehead University, Burney was an extreme fundraiser, which supported student scholarships and University economy. Burney, and his wife, Joan Burney, donate funds to Lakehead University to enrich new research. Their donations created the The Derek and Joan Burney Postdoctoral Fellowship.
- Government of Canada. Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. https://www.international.gc.ca/trade-commerce/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/united_states-etats_unis/fta-ale/background-contexte.aspx?lang=eng
- Government of Canada. North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/n-23.8/FullText.html
- Wikidata. Derek Burney. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5261862
- Lakehead University. Derek Burney fonds. https://archives.lakeheadu.ca/index.php/derek-burney-fonds
- Lakehead University. Derek and Joan Burney's Lakehead Legacy. https://www.lakeheadu.ca/alumni/giving/donors/donor-stories-archive/node/6425
Canadan Suomalainen Järjestö (CSJ) was founded in 1911. Originally called Canadan Suomalainen Sosialisti Järjestö (CSSJ; Finnish Socialist Organization of Canada.) The CSJ is the oldest nationwide Finnish cultural organization in Canada. CSJ drew in Finnish Canadian immigrants who were associated with the Communist Party of Canada and the Canadian Socialist Federation. The Canadian Socialist Federation later became the Social Democratic Party of Canada (SDP). The CSJ published Finnish newspapers, Työkansa (bankrupt in 1915) and Vapaus (in Sudbury, 1917-1974).
In 1914, the CSJ grew to 65 local branches and over 3,000 members, who mostly were associated with the SDP. During 1915, WWI restrictions partially caused a drop in the CSJ membership to 1,867 members. By 1918, in Order-in-Council PC 2381 and PC 2384, the Canadian federal government prohibited the CSJ and deemed Finnish an “enemy language.” The prohibition caused the CSSJ to become what is now known as the CSJ, and they successfully ended their prohibition. By 1921, the CSJ became integral to the Communist Party, although it shifted towards workers' rights. The Canadian government continued to view the CSJ as a threat. In 1940, the CSJ was prohibited again. By the 1950s the CSJ’s members had dwindled to 36.
In Port Arthur, the Canadan Suomalainen Järjestö was associated with the "Small Finn Hall" at 316 Bay Street. Sanna Kannasto was a key figure in the CSJ's earlier years, as a co-founder and organizer.
Sources
- Wikipedia. Finnish Organization of Canada. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Organization_of_Canada
- Lakehead University. Canadan Suomalainen Järjestö fonds. https://archives.lakeheadu.ca/index.php/canadan-suomalainen-jarjesto-fonds
The Thunder Bay chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women formed in 1932 and became an official chapter of the national federation in 1933. The Canadian federation is a member of the larger parent organization, the International Federation of University Women. The local club accepts all women who hold a bachelors degree or higher from an accredited university. The goals of the organization are to promote higher education for women and encourage their research and work. The group seeks to increase the interest of its members in public affairs, and provides the opportunity for social interaction and cooperation for women with university degrees.
The club has at times been very active in the Thunder Bay community by establishing study groups on particular subjects for its members to participate in, and having regular meetings and events held throughout the year. Some of the more notable activities of the Thunder Bay chapter include the establishment of a scholarship in 1955 to support Lakehead University Students; the creation of a nursery school to assist under-privileged children from 1971-82; hosting the national conference for the Canadian Federation of University Women in 1977; and the creation of a video honouring their founding president Isabel Mackey Kelly in 1988.
The Canadian Injured Workers Alliance (CIWA) was founded in 1990. The CIWA was formed as an umbrella organization of injured workers groups.
In 1989, a conference brought injured workers groups from across Canada together; this led to the creation of CIWA. These groups included Injured Workers Consultants (Toronto,) United Steelworkers of America, Thunder Bay and District Injured Workers Support Group, and Disabled Forestry Workers of B.C. In 1990, injured workers advocates, including Steve Mantis and Wolfgang Zimmermann, organized the National Conference on Re-Employment of Injured Workers in Ottawa and created CIWA.
CIWA supports local organizing and local groups, and works nationally and beyond to educate workers and the public, protect workers' safety rights, and right to return to safe work.
Sources
- CIWA. Our History. https://www.ciwa.ca/our-history/
- Lakehead University. Canadian Injured Workers Alliance fonds. https://archives.lakeheadu.ca/index.php/canadian-injured-workers-alliance-fonds-2
- Wikipedia. Canadian Injured Workers Alliance. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Injured_Workers_Alliance