Photo: Sointula Malcolm Island Aerial British Columbia Canada

Sointula lines the shore in this aerial view of Malcolm Island, British Columbia, Canada. In the background of this aerial view, Vancouver Island and Johnstone Strait are visible.

Sointula on Malcolm Island is a community of about 800 residents and it can be seen clearly in this aerial view of the island, Rough Bay and the Broughton Strait in British Columbia, Canada. In the background Vancouver Island and Johnstone Strait can be seen clearly as well.

Sointula was once a Finnish settlement, founded in 1901 and the name means 'place of harmony' in Finnish. Sointula was established by a group of people as a place of sanctuary after they had moved to the New World at the beginning of the 20th century. They wanted to create a place to live where there was no hierarchy, everyone pitched in with the work and everyone was able to share in the benefits. After four years of trying hard to make this ideal work, and facing numerous challenges in the form of natural disasters and bad luck, the investors moved out, but the community that remained behind formed the basis for Sointula as it still exists today. ... continue below the picture...

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The community was, and still is, heavily tied to the ocean and to commercial fishing and life goes on here in some similar ways to the way their ancestors lived their lives. Visitors come here and not only fall in love with the beautiful scenery, but also with the simpler way of life and walk back through time.

Aerial view of Sointula on Malcolm Island, Rough Bay and the Broughton Strait, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver Island and Johnstone Strait in the background.