50 Nordic people discussed 'who are Canadians' at a networking event in the Danish Church in Toronto 

We are both "the North" - the people from the Nordic countries and the people of Canada - and that is one of many reasons that the fellowship between Canadians and people from the Nordic countries is so solid and reliable. Our places in the world are in the North; we are neighbours in the Arctic, and we meet the world from the point of view of the North. That was one of the points at the Nordic Event "Who are the Canadians?" that took place in The Danish Church of Toronto on October 13. 

Fifty people met to discuss and listen to the three speakers Professor Dr. Michael Böss from the University of Aarhus (Denmark), Ambassador Hanne Fugl Eskjær, Denmark's Ambassador to Canada and Mr. Len Kleine, President of the Swedish Canadian Chamber of Commerce (SCCC).

The professor draws lines back in history to how the Canadian nation was created, and used current examples of how Canada and the Nordic countries handled the COVID19 pandemic to describe how there are both differences but also great similarities. The countries that came through the pandemic most unscathed were those where there is a strong sense of community. (Read more in his new book about Canadas history).

The Ambassador pointed out four pillars that the corporations work on today: The shared history, the shared geography, the shared values and Canada and the Nordic countries worked together on security in the world. Her presentation had a lot of concrete examples of the cooperation from the deal around Hans Island, the Nordic Bridges event and that Canada was the first country to welcome Sweden and Finlands as members of Nato. 

The president of the SCCC underlined that business is all about relations - and relations between Nordic companies and Canadians were built on trust and partnership. It was a win-win situation to do business between these two areas.     

After the presentations, there was a lively discussion around the tables set up inside the sanctuary of the newly renovated Danish Church; A discussion continued during the dinner. Here several participants underlined the importance of seeing modern Canada as a nation built on a multicultural foundation by migrants - a story and background most of the people present at the event shared. More than 3% of the Canadian population has nordic roots, the Ambassador said in her presentation. 

A highlight during the event was when Honorary Consul Arne Nordtorp was appointed Order of Dannebrog, Knight 1st Class by Ambassador Hanne Fugl Eskjær, who presented the order on behalf of her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.

The event was arranged by the Danish Lutheran Church in Toronto, together with the Danish Embassy in Ottawa and The Danish Canadian Chamber of Commerce. 

Professor Michael Böss

Ambassador Hanne Fugl Eskjær

President Len Kleine

Time for discussion. 

Network around the table.

50 people showed up for the event in the Danish Lutheran Church of Toronto. 

Pastor Simon Kangas Larsen led the meeting in the Danish Church. 

Honorary Consul Arne Nordtorp was appointed Order of Dannebrog, Knight 1st Class by Ambassador Hanne Fugl Eskjær, during the event. 

Fingerfood, a beer and time for networking.