Local author explores Swedish-Canadian history in new book

News Release

The Lakehead Social History Institute is pleased to announce the launching of Thunder Bay author Elinor Barr’s much anticipated Swedes in Canada: Invisible Immigrants.

Everyone is invited to the launch at the Thunder Bay Museum, 425 East Donald Street, on the 26th of September at 2:30 pm at the conclusion of the Northwestern Ontario Historical Assembly.

The launch includes a book signing for those who have already purchased Swedes in Canada: Invisible Immigrants. Additional copies will be available for purchase at the event.

Swedes in Canada: Invisible Immigrants chronicles the immigrant experience of more than 100,000 Swedes arriving in Canada over the past 240 years. 

Barr’s research notes that this previously-undocumented migration is visible in almost ever facet of Canadian life from constructing buildings to a wide range of social involvement. Research for the book includes numerous interviews with Swedish immigrants across Canada as well as in Northwestern Ontario.

In addition to exploring the legacy of Swedish immigration, Barr considers why they remained “invisible immigrants.” Swedes in Canada: Invisible Immigrants is published by the University of Toronto Press.  It can be purchased locally at the Thunder Bay Museum and The Finnish Book Store. 

This book is also listed online with Amazon and Chapters/Indigo.