Personne

Lindström, Varpu

• Lindström-Best, Varpu

1948-2012

Varpu Lindstrom was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1948. Lindstrom is recognized both nationally and internationally as an expert in Canadian immigration history, particularly that of Finnish-Canadians. Her family immigrated to Canada in 1963, settling in Niagara Falls, Ontario. In 1968, Lindstrom became both a Canadian citizen and a student at York University where she pursued her university education, completing a general BA (History) in 1971, followed by an Hons. BA (History) in 1977, an MA (Social history) in 1979, and culminating with her PhD (Social history) in 1986. She pursued a distinguished career as a teacher and scholar at York University beginning with her appointment as an assistant professor in 1984, and was promoted to full Professor in 2001, and University Professor in 2006. She served in a variety of administrative and service capacities including Chair of the Department of History from 1991-1992; Master of Atkinson College from 1994-1997; Chair of the School of Women's Studies from 1999-2001; and as a member of York University's Board of Governors. She also served as docent at the University of Turku in Finland. Lindstrom's academic work was recognized with numerous awards including an Atkinson Fellowship (2002); Finlandia Prize, Non-fiction, Honorable mention (1991); and the first annual Atkinson Alumni Award for Teaching Excellence (1989). Her research manifested itself in several publications, and in the critically-acclaimed National Film Board production "Letters from Karelia" for which she served as historical consultant. Lindstrom was also a founder of the Canadian Friends of Finland. In 1992, she was awarded the Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland, First Class, in recognition of outstanding service to Finland and Finnish Canadians. In 2012, Lindstrom was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Lindstrom passed away 21 June 2012.

F0558

ON00370

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Created 2012-03-20; revised 2012-07-20.

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