Culture Shock |

Sointula

Political and economic turmoil motivated many Europeans to immigrate to North America at the end of the nineteenth century. They spread across the country looking for freedom, social justice and economic opportunity.

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Way & Stay

There are a variety of options to find your way to Sointula. For your convenience, we have provided some general information on travel, and links to further explore your travel plans.

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Register

Online registration and mail-in registration forms and Information

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Program

Keynote Speaker, Dr. Edward Dutton and Guest Speakers, Andrew Scott, Dr. Elizabeth Powers, Shaun Macpherson, Charles LeWarne, Justine Brown and Dr. Anne Curry will offer a wide range of presentations around the theme of “Culture Shock”.

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Activities

We will be offering a variety of pre and post conference tours for registrants to enjoy. View the Activities Page for more information.

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"What better place to explore the origins of culture shock than in the community where it reputedly began – Sointula! "

And what better part of the world to spend three days taking in presentations from respected scholars, writers and researchers on the topic of Utopian initiatives and communities.

Culture Shock

Posted on Apr 22, 2013

At this conference, keynote speaker Dr. Ed Dutton, from the University of Oulu in Finland, unravels the seeds of the concept of culture shock, traces it back to Canadian-born anthropologist Kalervo Oberg and the community of Sointula, and illustrates how it is a common feature of utopian communities and initiatives.

Andrew Scott and Justine Brown provide a tour of Utopian experiments and colonies in British Columbia.

Washington State historian Dr. Charles LeWarne takes a look at Utopian settlements across the border, while New York-based Dr. Elizabeth Powers outlines some 18th Century sources of modern Utopianism.

University of Victoria graduate student Shaun Macpherson presents the ‘Occupy Movement’ as a Utopian instrument of global cultural and economic change and Dr. Ann Curry reflects on the supporting role of information in Utopian movements.

And all this takes place in a kayaker and wilderness watcher’s paradise, on the edge of the Broughton Archipelago, near the heart of the British Columbia raincoast…come, and join us!

Great News!

Posted on Apr 20, 2013

The Culture Shock Conference Committee is excited to announce that on the Saturday evening of the conference the Masalan nuorisoteatteri (Masala Youth Theatre) from Finland will be performing their original play Sointula that opened to much interest and critical acclaim in Finland last summer.

Check out the following links from the Sointula Ripple:

http://sointularipple.ca/2012/05/curtain-going-up-for-sointula

http://sointularipple.ca/2012/06/sointula-premiers-in-masala-finland

http://sointularipple.ca/2012/07/first-reviews-from-finland-for-sointula-play

http://sointularipple.ca/2012/08/latest-sointula-play-review/

http://sointularipple.ca/2013/02/culture-shock-for-visitors/

http://sointularipple.ca/2013/04/conference-scores-sointula-play/

Our Sponsors

Posted on Jan 1, 2013

We gratefully acknowledge our Sponsors who have helped make this Conference possible:
Finnish Institute of Migration	Sointula Recreation Association

Regional District of Mount Waddington	Malcolm Island Lions Club

Sointula Ripple	Ragged Edge Community Network

Sointula Info Centre	Coastal Community Credit Union

"What better place to explore the origins of culture shock than in the community where it reputedly began – Sointula! "

We gratefully acknowledge our Sponsors who have helped make this Conference possible:

Sointula Recreation Association