Persistence at Play.
Sisu Theatre Society was founded March 2020. The company provides theatrical experiences and opportunities for and by the community.
Production Highlights
2021: Summer Celebration of Pocket Plays
2023: No Wonder by Sointula founder, Matti Kurikka
2023: It's A Wonderful Life - A Live Radio Play
2024: Blue by Diana Kolpak. a professional touring presentation
2024: Italia, Italia workshop production by Ivana MacDougall
2024: The Edgar Allan Poe Afterlife Radio Show
Mandate
The purpose of the society is to: encourage participation and appreciation of the theatre; provide opportunity, education, creative collaboration and mentorship of theatrical best practices; inspire, entertain and expand the audience for theatre; create and produce theatre and other performing arts productions of historic relevance; produce exceptional local, national and international theatre; and engage local, national and international artists, both professional and amateur.
Board of Directors
Cheryl Dalton (President), Paul Wenn (Treasurer), Darryl Luscombe (Secretary), John Dudley, Michele Meisler, Marley Rosgen, Keegan Taylor.
Artistic Director, Tammy Hampel
Link to Sisu Theatre website here.
Sisu Theatre Society was founded March 2020. The company provides theatrical experiences and opportunities for and by the community.
Production Highlights
2021: Summer Celebration of Pocket Plays
2023: No Wonder by Sointula founder, Matti Kurikka
2023: It's A Wonderful Life - A Live Radio Play
2024: Blue by Diana Kolpak. a professional touring presentation
2024: Italia, Italia workshop production by Ivana MacDougall
2024: The Edgar Allan Poe Afterlife Radio Show
Mandate
The purpose of the society is to: encourage participation and appreciation of the theatre; provide opportunity, education, creative collaboration and mentorship of theatrical best practices; inspire, entertain and expand the audience for theatre; create and produce theatre and other performing arts productions of historic relevance; produce exceptional local, national and international theatre; and engage local, national and international artists, both professional and amateur.
Board of Directors
Cheryl Dalton (President), Paul Wenn (Treasurer), Darryl Luscombe (Secretary), John Dudley, Michele Meisler, Marley Rosgen, Keegan Taylor.
Artistic Director, Tammy Hampel
Link to Sisu Theatre website here.
The Sointula Museum has been a cherished part of the community for over five decades, dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history and culture of Malcolm Island. The organization's origins trace back to a grassroots effort led by a group of local women who, recognizing the importance of safeguarding the island's history, began collecting artifacts generously donated by residents. This initiative became the foundation for what is now a small but thriving museum, committed to preserving and telling the stories of Sointula’s past, present, and future. The museum is guided by a dedicated team of board members, volunteers, staff, and summer students, all working to keep the island’s history alive for both residents and visitors alike.
Housed in the original Malcolm Island Superior School building, the museum offers a window into the vibrant history of Sointula’s diverse inhabitants. While often associated with Finnish immigrants, the island’s history reaches back to the unceded Kwakwaka’wakw territories, where it is known as T’lat’lask̓udis, meaning “Seaweed Opposite Beaches.” Visitors can explore the historical Indigenous presence on the island, as well as the early days of Finnish settlement, including the socialist commune established by Matti Kurikka in 1901. Whether you’re interested in the community’s Finnish heritage, the history of the Sointula Co-Op (the oldest in western Canada!), or the island’s rich artistic and cultural legacy (check out our Summer Art Series!), the Sointula Museum’s exhibitions provides a deep connection to a unique and resilient community, shaped by sisu. Sisu is a Finnish word beloved in Sointula. It means to do what is necessary in the face of insurmountable obstacles by drawing on an inner reserve of power. A combination of courage, determination, and strength of will. What must be done, will be done.
More than just a museum, the building we are housed in is a dynamic hub for the community, serving as a dance studio, library, thrift store, and home to senior services, bringing the spirit of Sointula to life. With the Sointula History Plays, the museum will also serve as a pop-up theatre, bringing Sointula’s stories to the stage.
The museum is deeply excited to collaborate with the Sisu Theatre Society to host the Sointula History Plays, where the island’s rich stories will come alive through the power of live theatre.
Link to the Sointula Museum website here.
Housed in the original Malcolm Island Superior School building, the museum offers a window into the vibrant history of Sointula’s diverse inhabitants. While often associated with Finnish immigrants, the island’s history reaches back to the unceded Kwakwaka’wakw territories, where it is known as T’lat’lask̓udis, meaning “Seaweed Opposite Beaches.” Visitors can explore the historical Indigenous presence on the island, as well as the early days of Finnish settlement, including the socialist commune established by Matti Kurikka in 1901. Whether you’re interested in the community’s Finnish heritage, the history of the Sointula Co-Op (the oldest in western Canada!), or the island’s rich artistic and cultural legacy (check out our Summer Art Series!), the Sointula Museum’s exhibitions provides a deep connection to a unique and resilient community, shaped by sisu. Sisu is a Finnish word beloved in Sointula. It means to do what is necessary in the face of insurmountable obstacles by drawing on an inner reserve of power. A combination of courage, determination, and strength of will. What must be done, will be done.
More than just a museum, the building we are housed in is a dynamic hub for the community, serving as a dance studio, library, thrift store, and home to senior services, bringing the spirit of Sointula to life. With the Sointula History Plays, the museum will also serve as a pop-up theatre, bringing Sointula’s stories to the stage.
The museum is deeply excited to collaborate with the Sisu Theatre Society to host the Sointula History Plays, where the island’s rich stories will come alive through the power of live theatre.
Link to the Sointula Museum website here.
Photos Courtesy of the Sointula Museum