The Hoito Restaurant

The Hoito Restaurant

The Hoito was established in 1918, and is perhaps the oldest co-operatively owned and operated restaurant in Canada.

The idea for the restaurant came about in a logging camp outside of Nipigon. Finnish bush workers at Kallio's camp were concerned that, while they could find cheap lodging in Thunder Bay, they couldn't find reasonably priced home-cooked meals. The request to open a co-operative restaurant was taken to the Board of Directors of the Finnish Labour Temple and was approved. Fifty-nine people pooled their money into $5.00 "Comrade loans" and hired union organizer A.T. Hill as the restaurant's first manager.