Photo above: Mural by Toivo Aro.
If you’ve visited the Sointula Museum, you’ve probably noticed this mural just inside the entrance. It’s hard to miss—it covers almost an entire wall, measuring roughly 15 feet by 9 feet. (Give or take—it’s not easy to measure solo without a ladder!) This striking piece was hand-painted by Toivo Aro, on old denim, and it tells a story of hope, freedom, and the Finnish community’s journey toward a new life. Keep reading below to learn more about Toivo and his life. A special thank you to Vern Aro for providing information and lending us personal family photographs.
Photo above: Photograph was taken in 1932, when the mural was a stage curtain in the Finnish Organizational (F.O.) Hall. Doris Wirta Collection #507. Sointula Museum.
The Story Behind the Mural
Aro’s mural depicts (the affectionately named) Lady Liberty leading Finnish people away from industrialization and the Russian Empire toward a simpler, more traditional way of life. This reflects the ideals that inspired the founding of Sointula in the early 1900s. The mural was used as a stage curtain for plays and background decor in the F.O Hall for many years. It actually has another mural by Toivo on the reverse side of waves, which can be seen in the background of a photograph that is on display in the Bandstands to Backdrops display.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Finland was under Russian rule, and industrialization was changing Finnish society. Factories were expanding, and many people moved to cities for work. While these jobs were available, they came with tough conditions, long hours, and low wages. Many Finnish workers, influenced by socialist ideas, felt that industrialization pulled people away from nature and a peaceful, self-sufficient life. At the same time, Russia’s control over Finland led to political tension, as Finns fought to preserve their own culture and language. Aro’s mural captures the hope of escaping industrial hardship and foreign control, aiming to create a new, independent way of life.
Photo above: Toivo Aro, Lyyli Aro, Reino Aro, and Victor Aro on the steps of the family’s home in 1935.
A Life Well Lived
Aro was born on August 24, 1879, in Keuruu, Finland. He came to Canada in 1910 and arrived in Sointula later that year. In 1913, he became a Canadian citizen, and in 1922, he married in Sointula. That same year, his son, Victor Aro, was born. Kyllikki, Toivo’s wife passed away in 1931, and some time after, he placed a newspaper ad seeking pen pals. Lyyli Lahde, living in Sudbury, Ontario, responded. In 1934, she and her son Reino traveled to Sointula, where she married Toivo. Together, Toivo and Lyyli had another son, Donald.
Toivo was a talented painter, known not only for his mural at the museum but for many other artworks. His house was decorated with intricate designs he had painted directly onto the walls. He also did makeup for Finnish plays at the F.O. Hall and was one of the physical education instructors for the men’s Athletic Club.
From 1913 to 1930. he served as the lighthouse keeper at the Pulteney Point Lighthouse. When he requested a raise, the government told him to find additional work to supplement his income. In response, he started building boats with his brother, Victor Tuulos, at the lighthouse. One of the boats they built, the Orca G, was completed in 1926.
Photo above: Orca G. at Pulteney Point. Courtesy of Vern Aro.
After leaving the lighthouse in 1930, Toivo moved into Sointula and built two boat shops, where he constructed many boats of all sizes. In fact, Toivo constructed the hull of Sturgeon I, which visitors to Malcolm Island can view the restored vessel today at its location at the Sointula Harbour, or click here to read about this gillnet’s local history. He was known as a remarkably skilled painter—so precise that he never spilled a drop. When he painted a room, people said you didn’t even need to cover the furniture.
Photo above: Toivo’s two boat sheds and house in the background. Courtesy of Vern Aro.
More Murals
In 1928, Toivo Aro traveled from his home in Sointula to Maple Ridge to share his artistic talents. While this might seem unexpected, Webster’s Corners in Maple Ridge had become home to a Finnish community after Matti Kurikka and many families left Malcolm Island in 1904. Much like the F.O. Hall in Sointula, the Finnish settlers in Webster’s Corners built Sampo Hall in 1915, creating a central gathering place for social events, dances, and cultural celebrations.
Aro painted a mural for Sampo Hall, depicting peaceful lakes and farmland—the kind of landscape Finnish settlers longed for. Compared to his Sointula mural, which carried a more political message, this piece focused on an idealized vision of home. The mural remained in Sampo Hall for 91 years, serving as the backdrop for countless community events, until the building was torn down in 2019. Fortunately, the artwork was preserved and is now housed at the Maple Ridge Museum.
To learn more about its history and restoration, check out the Maple Ridge Museum’s January/February 2022 newsletter.
Through his artwork, craftsmanship, and contributions to the community, Toivo Aro left a lasting impact on Sointula and we at the Museum feel very lucky to be able to enjoy looking at this mural so often. legacy lives on through the mural, the boats he built, and the many stories of his skill and creativity. Toivo Aro passed away on December 31, 1957, in Alert Bay.