New ideas» 6

ESPOO
ESBO
1
2015
A MAGAZINE FOR ESPOO RESIDENTS
Espoo Innovation
Garden fosters new
ideas around the city:
in Karaportti, the
centre Of Espoo
and Otaniemi.
» 6
EM
E
WELL-BEING
GROUPS
SPRING 2015
SU P P
LE
T
EN
M
•
•
T
E
NEED
MORE ENERGY?
N
S UP
PL
SU P P L
•
M
T
EN
T
EN
SUPP
LE
M
New
ideas
Exercise at Sello » 2
Superman from Koukkuniemi » 16
Column: Anssi Vanjoki » 18
Eino Ruuskanen.
Jouko Winsten and
Juhani Määttälä.
Rauha Tarkiainen,
Aune Ärmänen and
Raili Pitkänen.
Exercise
at Sello
THE WINTER WEATHER is bright
on a Monday morning. The snow
crunches under the feet. Will anyone bother to attend a walk at a
2
«
ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
shopping centre? Or will they prefer
the warmth of their home?
Despite the cold weather, a large
group of senior citizens have convened at Sello Square at around
9.30 a.m. and taken off their coats.
They are wearing their Espoo on the
Move cards around their necks.
Sports instructors Johanna
Rotko and Anne Luhtala start the
warm-up. In addition to a walk in the
shopping centre, people are exercising here!
SHOPPING CENTRES are ideal for
light exercise. The temperature is
never a problem, regardless of the
time of the year. The air is cool in
the summer, and there is no risk of
slipping in the winter.
Aune, Rauha, Raili, Annikki,
Maria, Juhani and Jouko are
stretching and doing balancing
exercises in front of shops that
have just opened their doors for
the day. The exercises involve
standing on one foot in the escalator, walking on an imaginary
tightrope across the corridor, forwards and backwards. Finally,
they stretch their hip flexors to
avoid stooping.
“The exercise is good for you,
and you make new friends here,”
says Eino Ruuskanen.
“This is a nice way to start the
week,” says his wife, Valma Ruuskanen.
Time flies when you are having fun: soon the exercise session
is over. Before going back home,
the group visits a department store
to have a look at grip devices for
shoes. The buzz of conversation
never seems to stop.
Finns are quiet? Not true. Even
newcomers join the conversation
and make new friends. Everyone is
feeling energetic. n HELEN MOSTER
Walks at shopping centres for the
elderly and people who need support
for exercise. On Mondays at Sello (Sello
Square, first floor). On Thursdays at
Iso Omena (in front of the library,
second level) from 9.30 a.m. to 10.30
a.m. Volunteers help those with limited
mobility. More info: City of Espoo
Sports Services, tel. (09) 816 60800.
PHOTO ANTTI VETTENRANTA
ESPOO STORY
ESPOO
ESBO
1
2015
PHOTO ANTTI VETTENRANTA
PHOTO HEIDI-HANNA KARHU
A MAGAZINE FOR ESPOO RESIDENTS
EDITORIAL
Mid-winter garden dreams
DARK WINTER NIGHTS make you dream about the sum-
Marjut Gerkman, Communications Manager
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MAGAZINE FOR ESPOO RESIDENTS
Public bulletin to all households Feedback and suggestions
lukijapalaute@espoo-lehti.fi Publisher City of Espoo, PO
Box 12, 02070 City of Espoo, tel. (09) 81 621, www.espoo.fi,
firstname.lastname@espoo.fi Editor in Chief Satu Tyry-Salo,
Communications Director Editors A-lehdet Dialogi Oy, PO Box
410, 00811 Helsinki, firstname.lastname@dialogi.fi Managing
Editor Katarina Cygnel-Nuortie Layout Jessica Leino Producer
Irene Dahlman Cover Antti Vettenranta and Kati Rapia ISSN
1798-8438 Online version ISSN 1798-8454
GROWN-UP
FOR A DAY
What does it mean to
have a job? What do
you need money for?
The Business Village
in Espoo provides
answers to questions
from twelve-year-olds.
Espoo houses one of
the eight business
villages in Finland.
Read more on page 6.
•
» 2 ESPOO STORY » Exercise at Sello
» 3 EDITORIAL » Marjut Gerkman
» 4 NEAR HERE » Summer vouchers
» 5 NEAR HERE » Half a century in Espoo
» 6 AT THE CORE » Espoo Innovation Garden
» 11 AT WORK » Business advisor
» 12 PEARLS » Downhill ice cross
» 14 IN THE SPOTLIGHT » Mobile library
» 15 ON THE MOVE » Exercise for adults
» 16 GOOD NEWS » Flying squirrels
» 18 COLUMN » Anssi Vanjoki
» 19 ON THE STAGE » Winter fun
» 20 ESPOO.FI » Health care in figures
OK
BO
CE
Contents 1/2015
mer and your garden in full bloom. It is time to read old
garden magazines and let your dreams fly. As an enthusiastic gardener, I love trying to make my yard lusher
summer after summer.
Gardening is a useful skill even at Espoo Innovation
Garden, which requires care around the year,
fostering innovation, experiences and enterprises.
To thrive, they need good plans, fertile soil, a great deal
of knowledge and the courage to try something new.
Espoo Innovation Garden is captivating. Everyone is
interested in making Espoo an even better city.
The innovation garden attracts new companies to
Espoo and facilitates the growth of existing ones. This
means that more and more people will find a job in
Espoo. By brainstorming and cooperating, we will be
able to enjoy an abundant harvest!
This issue of the Espoo Magazine takes a look at
what is growing at the innovation garden.
ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
»3
Service centres:
Tapiola:
Itätuulenkuja 4, 1 krs.
Haukilahti:
Haukilahdenkatu 6
Centre of Espoo:
Espoonkatu 8 A
Kalajärvi:
Ruskaniitty 4
Soukka:
Soukankaari 7
Leppävaara:
Armas Launiksen katu 9
Viherlaakso:
Kievarinpolku 1
Kauklahti:
Hansakartano 4
8 x SALOON
FOR SENIORS
ARE YOU a little too familiar with the walls of your
home already? Do you have time for new activities and
friends? The eight service centres in Espoo are living
rooms for senior citizens where they can spend time
with peers.
Well-balanced lunches are served at all service centres on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. People of all ages
– including children and grandchildren – are welcome to
have lunch. No advance registration is required.
IN ADDITION TO FOOD, the centres serve nourishment
for the mind and offer exercise for the body. Their activities include voluntary work, exercise sessions, chair exercises, arts and crafts, sing-alongs and games. You can
also sign up for well-being groups, such as Inspiration for
Life and Circle of Friends.
The computer at the info desk is available for use
free of charge. Most service centres also have a selfcare facility, where you can take your blood pressure, for
example. n
PHOTO ESPOO CITY LIBRARY ARCHIVE
ora Chapel
The Old Aur
arly
ilt
was bu ne
o.
ag
s
ar
ye
0
0
2
4
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ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
Shorter waiting times in Tapiola
WAITING TIMES to see a doctor at the Tapiola
municipal health-care centre decreased from
35 days to just over seven days in 2014. Waiting times at the emergency service decreased
as well. The headcount remained unchanged,
but the work was reorganised.
“Previously, doctors had emergency service as well as telephone, consultation and
office hours during a single day. Transition
periods were needed between these blocks of
time in case a task took longer than expected
to complete. Now the work is organised into
larger blocks. For example, doctors are on
call for an entire day at a time. This freed
up more time for the actual work,” says Olli
Huuskonen, Chief Physician at the Tapiola
municipal health-care centre.
In addition, the need for consultation hours
is evaluated on a daily basis, based on earlier
actual need. Operations and shifts are planned
in a manner that ensures a sufficient number
of appointments based on evaluations.
A total of 37,000 people visit the Tapiola
municipal health-care centre every year. It is
the largest municipal health-care centre in
Espoo. In December 2014, more than 90 per
cent of customers were happy or very happy
with their visit. The new operating method
has been well received among employees as
well.
ACCORDING TO THE TREATMENT TIME
GUARANTEE, the highest permitted waiting
time to see a doctor at a municipal healthcare centre is three months. Waiting times
were shorter at all municipal health-care centres in Espoo in 2014. For example, waiting
times in December were 39 days in Espoonlahti, 33 days in Leppävaara and Kivenlahti, 15
days in Viherlaakso and eight days in Samaria.
The average waiting time to see a dentist
was 60 days, and the average waiting time to
see a dental hygienist was 24 days. The statutory requirement is within six months. n
Summer
vouchers
Speak your
mind
No to the
merger
ESPOO PAYS employers EUR
YOU ARE INVITED to take
300 for each Espoo resident born 1996–2000 that
they hire for work between
1/5/15 and 30/9/15. The min.
requirements are ten working
days and 50 hours of work.
Vouchers are available at
yESBOx at Iso Omena and at
Point at the Sello library, and
they must be picked up in
person. Bring along identification and a proof of your job
signed by your employer. n
two environmental surveys at espoo.fi/kaavoitus
by 28 February 2015. The
Future Living Environments
in Espoo survey needs your
opinion about what urban
environments should be like.
The Recreational Environments in Espoo survey features questions about topical issues in planning, such
as boating and horse stables. n
IN A VOTE on 26 January
2015 The City Council turned
down the motion to merge
Espoo, Helsinki, Kauniainen,
Sipoo and Vantaa to create a
new municipality. The motion
was based on a study about
the suggested merger. In a
hearing related to the study,
the City Board received 547
notifications from residents,
organisations and employees.
Of these 82 per cent were
against the merger. n
A MORTUARY, PIGGERY…
designed
a small Neo-Gothic building for the
Träskända manor in 1820. The building was probably intended to be used as
a granary. Today, it is known as the Old
Aurora Chapel.
The Municipality of Espoo bought
Träskända in 1923 and used it as an old
people’s home. The granary served as a
mortuary until it was renovated and converted into a piggery and horse stable
in 1933. The Espoo municipal electricity
company placed a transformer substation in the building in 1953. When the
piggery operations were discontinued in
the late 1950s, there were plans to convert the building into a cemetery chapel,
but the City Council did not grant the
required funding. The bad repair and use
of the old buildings in Träskända provoked discussion among decision-makers in Espoo throughout the 1960s.
In the autumn of 1971, the KantaEspoo church council proposed that the
ARCHITECT Carl Ludvig Engel
old granary be converted into a place of
worship for the Aurora Home. The renovation was scheduled for 1974. However,
the renovation was postponed after it
turned out that relocating the transformer substation would have been
much more expensive than expected.
Eventually, the staff of the old people’s
home suggested that the granary be converted into a multipurpose facility. The
renovation was completed in 1981, and
the facility was consecrated to be used as
a chapel in June 1983. Services were held
in the chapel, including Christmas devotional services for local residents.
In the 2000s, the parish relocated its
operations to the Aurora Chapel, which
was completed in 2000. Church activities
in the Old Aurora Chapel diminished.
Today, employees of the City of Espoo
use the building as a training and conference facility. n
Source: espoonperinneseura.net
TEXT KATARINA CYGNEL-NUORTIE
NEAR HERE
PHOTO ANTTI VETTENRANTA
NEAR HERE
The building
is the first rental
apartment building to
have been constructed
in Kauklahti. It was
designed by Kaija
and Heikki Siren,
a renowned
architect
couple.
Eila Rantala, 87,
has lived in the
same municipal
rental apartment
building since its
completion – for
more than 50
years.
“WHEN WE MOVED HERE, around
100 children lived in the neighbourhood. Many of the families in the
next building had five children. My
husband Tauno and I had a daughter and a son. A one-bedroom apartment in a new house felt like paradise. We had running water, and our
children practically lived in the bath.
In addition, the building had a sauna,
laundry room and mangle for all residents. The services in the area were
impressive as well: a school, around
ten shops, four banks and a municipal
health-care centre.
We soon made friends with our
neighbours. The residents played croquet and badminton together, and
fathers and sons played ice hockey in
the nearby ice skating rink. The children always had someone to play
with. They were all welcomed to
watch children’s programmes in the
few homes that had a television set.
AT SOME POINT, my husband and I
considered buying an apartment, but
we were not thrilled about the idea of
a big loan.
Our building was renovated in
1992. One-bedroom apartments were
equipped with balconies, and studio
apartments were combined and converted into one-bedroom homes.
When Housing Fair Finland was
organised in Kauklahti, our environment changed a lot. The school was
renovated and expanded, and a nursing home for people with multiple disabilities was constructed behind our
building. A senior citizens’ service
centre was built in Kauklahti as well.
The nursery home has been demolished and will be replaced by two sixstorey apartment buildings. Today,
the area only has a couple of shops.
HALF A CENTURY
IN ESPOO
MY HUSBAND DIED in 2007. We had
been married for 55 years. Since his
passing, I have lived here with our
disabled son. In addition to us, there
are eight people who have lived here
from the very beginning. Many have
moved away because the building
doesn’t have a lift.
Making friends with new residents
is more difficult. Young people are
not interested in issues related to the
building, and they tend to move away
when their life situation changes.
How long will I live here? For as
long as I can climb the stairs, I guess.
My son keeps telling me that I will be
living here until I’m 100 years old. My
daughter keeps reminding me that I
should submit an application for an
apartment in the assisted living facility
next door in good time.” n LILLI OLLIKAINEN
Since 2012, the municipal rental apartment buildings in Espoo have been owned
by Espoon Asunnot, a limited liability
company. The company was established
under a different name 15 years ago.
THE BUILDING WAS
COMPLETED IN 1962.
A ONE-BEDROOM
APARTMENT WITH
A TOTAL AREA OF
47 SQUARE METRES ON
THE THIRD FLOOR FELT
LIKE PARADISE AFTER
THE HOUSING SHORTAGE
IN THE 1950S.
ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
»5
AT THE CORE
TEXT MERI NYKÄNEN AND KATARINA CYGNEL-NUORTIE, PHOTOS ANTTI VETTENRANTA, ILLUSTRATION KATI RAPIA
NEW IDEAS
What does a Business Village, a
clothing cooperative and start-ups
in well-being technology have in
common? Enthusiasm about learning
and starting a business!
6
«
ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
INNOVATION GARDEN
Espoo Innovation Garden, the largest Nordic innovation hub, is located in the Otaniemi, Keilaniemi and
Tapiola regions. When the West Metro is opened in
August 2016, one of the stations will be located to the
south-west of the main building of Aalto University,
in the middle of its architectonically significant campus area.
A DAY AS A GROWN-UP
AT THE BUSINESS VILLAGE, SCHOOLCHILDREN
LEARN THAT EVERYONE’S INPUT IS
IMPORTANT.
THE FACILITIES RESEMBLE
A bank,
coffee shop and grocery
shop are located near the
city hall. The citizens are
all of the same age: enthusiastic 12-year-olds from Espoo.
The Business Village was built in
former Nokia facilities in Karaportti
in Espoo. Here children can learn in practice how
society, working life and the world of business work.
Vilma Mäkinen is preparing questions for an interview
at the Länsiväylä newspaper desk. She is going to interview a shop assistant for a story. Milja Suila and Olivia
Telaranta are working at the coffee shop. They wanted to
work here because they want to get a summer job at a
real cafe someday. They have organised the ingredients
and got some water. They still need to take care of a few
things before opening the coffee shop for the day.
At the Business Village, each company is given a loan
of EUR 500 at the beginning of the day to run their business. This helps pupils understand how money flows in
society.
When you step out of the
metro at the Aalto University station in Otaniemi, you
will immediately notice that
you have arrived in an international place for innovation, experiences, science,
art and the economy. How is
this impression created? The
City of Espoo asked students
in the Product Development
Project course at Aalto University to design the user
experience for the station.
The team of 11 consisted of
four Finnish members and a
Rwandan, Nigerian, Russian,
Taiwanese, Indian, Chinese
and Australian member.
The innovation gardeners
in the images are Verna,
12, Yasmin, 14 ja Alex,
14, from DCA Dance
School in Espoo. Established by Anitra Ahtola
in 1999, the company has
developed into one of the
most successful businesses in its field.
OTANIEMI-TAPIOLA-KEILANIEMI REGION:
43,000 JOBS
43,989 RESIDENTS
64.1% OF RESIDENTS AGED OVER 24 HAVE COMPLETED A HIGHER
EDUCATION DEGREE
EUR 5.8 BILLION IN INVESTMENTS ANNUALLY
50% OF ANNUAL TRADING ON NASDAQ OMX HELSINKI
100 NATIONALITIES
800 COMPANIES, INCLUDING 200 FOREIGN COMPANIES
1 NEW START-UP EVERY WEEK
THE LARGEST HUB FOR HIGH-TECH IN NORTHERN EUROPE:
14,100 STUDENTS, 5,000 RESEARCHERS, 25 RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT CENTRES
PHOTO HEIDI-HANNA KARHU
A MINIATURE CITY.
ENTERPRISE EDUCATION AND WORKING LIFE SKILLS are
part of the national core curriculum. The Business Village implements goals related to enterprise education
provided by the City of Espoo. Coordinated by the Economic Information Office (TAT), the village is intended
for students in Year 6 in comprehensive school. According to Viivi Viitanen, Regional Coordinator at the Business Village in Espoo, it is important to teach pupils
skills that they need in society.
The best educational
innovation in the world!
“Pupils learn here that everyone’s input is needed.
Things run smoothly when everyone does their part,”
says Viitanen.
The study module consists of ten lessons at school
and a day at the Business Village. During the lessons,
the pupils learn about the basics of society and the
economy and their role as employees and consumers.
They write job applications and attend job interviews.
During the day at the village, they not only work, but
are also paid a salary, pay taxes and try to spend the
money as wisely as possible.
The Business Village also serves to prevent social
exclusion and unemployment among young people.
The students gain positive experiences of working life
and the role of a citizen in society.
Business Villages have been established in different parts of the country. The goal is to offer all pupils
in Year 6 an opportunity to participate. Last autumn,
the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE)
selected the concept as the best educational innovation
in the world.
ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
»
»7
AT THE CORE
STUDIO POMSI WAS FOUNDED WHEN FIVE ADULT STUDENTS OF
TEXTILES AND CLOTHING JOINED FORCES. NOW THE COMPANY IS
WORKING ON A MAJOR PROJECT FOR THE FINNISH NATIONAL OPERA.
Breakdown
by age in 2014
INNOOMNIA IS a business community in conjunction
with Omnia, the Joint Authority of Education in the
Espoo Region. It encourages students in vocational education to start businesses and helps professionals find
new networks and forms of cooperation.
According to Elina Oksanen-Ylikoski, Director of Communications and Development at Omnia, providing
opportunities for various types of business owners is
important. Espoo has a strong profile as a city of technology start-ups, young business owners and major
international companies.
“I believe that this combination of competencies
facilitates innovation. Crafts and technology or vocational and academic expertise are not exclusive of one
another. Instead, they complement one another. Cooperation can generate the type of miracles that Finland
needs right now.”
8
«
ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
SOURCE: ESPOON YRITTÄJÄT
30 YEARS OR LESS / 24,10 %
31 - 40 YEARS / 24,20 %
41 - 50 YEARS / 18,00 %
51 - 60 YEARS / 10,70 %
OVER 60 / 1,40 %
AGE UNKNOWN / 21,20 %
OTHER / 0,40 %
... 9 / 92,8 % (10 901 PC.)
10... / 6,8 % (803 PC.)
250... / 0,4 % (47 PC.)
THE LARGEST
EMPLOYEES
IN ESPOO INCLUDE
Orion, Inex Partners, Rovio,
LähiTapiola, Nokia, Microsoft,
Tieto Finland, Fortum,
VTT, Aalto University and
the City of Espoo.
Source: espoo.fi
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY
OVERALL HIGHTEC EXPORTS
HEALTHTEC EXPORTS
MILJ. €
5,9 %
8,5 % 8,6 %
10 000
8 000
7,8 %
9,6 % 10,6 %
9,5 %
10,1 %
7,5 %
18,9 %
8,6 %
6 000
4 000
8,9 % 10,0 %
25,9 %
9,4 %
28,7 % 38,3 %
47,8 %
2 000
GAUGES FOR AUDI FROM ESPOO
In the new Audi A3, A6 and TT models,
the traditional instrumentation will
be replaced with Virtual Cockpit. Its
technology is provided by Rightware in
Espoo. Established by a group of ten
friends, five years ago, the company
employs 45 people in Finland and
around ten people abroad.
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
0
LÄHTEET: FIHTA JA TULLI
12 000
1998
Tailored with precision.
SOURCE: YRITYSESPOO
1996
you. That is the business idea of Studio Pomsi. Jaana
Turunen (in the photo), Johanna Illman and a few other
adult learners met while studying towards a qualification in textiles and clothing at Omnia. In the final
stages of their studies, they came up with the idea of
starting a business together. Established 18 months ago,
Studio Pomsi secured a place at the InnoOmnia business community, where they have facilities and access
to office services, a library and training for business
owners. In addition, the community offers opportunities to network with other business owners.
Personal business coaching aided the
establishment of the company.
Turunen, a chemist and engineer, resigned her job in the food
industry because she wanted
to become a dressmaker. She
wanted a hands-on job and has
not regretted her decision.
“By chance, we have three engineers in our team. Thus, one of our
slogans is: tailored with precision.”
Johanna Illman works part-time at
Pomsi and is involved in other projects as
well. At the cooperative, responsibilities are divided
between members, so no one needs to go it alone: one
member is responsible for the Facebook page, another
one is responsible for finances, and a third member is
responsible for the website.
Over a period of 18 months, Pomsi has mainly provided tailoring, dressmaking and clothing repair services. Currently, the company is working on a major
project for the Finnish National Opera.
“We believe in transparency, individuality and an
ecological approach. Fortunately, these trends are gaining momentum globally.”
The number of
employees, companies in Espoo.
(end of November)
CLOTHES AND COLOURS that bring out the best in
1997
A COOPERATIVE OF
PROFESSIONALS
BUSINESSES IN ESPOO
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
A FUTURE
GROWTH SECTOR
m2
Around a year ago, Anna Rukko started a campaign to
collect funds for the new Children’s Hospital in Helsinki.
Her first goal was to collect funds for one square metre of
hospital space (approx. EUR 3,000) and then for one bed
(EUR 12,000). In November 2014 she reached her most
recent goal of collecting enough funds for one room (EUR
50,000).
FACEBOOK LIKES:
21 April 2013: 650 likes j 13 July 2013: 1,250 likes j
17 July 2013: 2,000 likesj 19 July 2013: 5,000 likes j
9 December 2014: 29,283 likes j 29 January 2015: 29,523 likes
CONTRIBUTOR
Social enterprises
seek to solve social and environmental problems
through their operations. They use most of their
profits to further their causes. Companies that have
been granted the Finnish Social Enterprise Mark
create well-being through Finnish work. SOURCE: WWW.AVAINLIPPU.
FI
EXAMPLE: Ilolla Unelmatehdas is an Espoo-based social enterprise
founded in 2012. It develops services that facilitate safe, independent
living for the elderly – services that have been in demand, but not
previously available. Its services are produced by highly motivated,
experienced experts aged over 55, most of whom are retired. “Even
though we are just starting, we have helped dozens of elderly people
in various ways with services related to using a computer or living
arrangements during renovation,” says Ari Nikkola.
CROWDFUNDING
DO YOU HAVE a product idea but are
struggling with funding? Crowdfunding is a new way of testing product
ideas and collecting funding. At the
end of 2014, photojournalist Touko
Hujanen used crowdfunding to publish
Uuden Maan Sanomat, a newspaper
about the most mysterious area in
Finland.
As it happens, many of
its stories were about
Espoo: “Iso Omena, Kilo,
Tuomarila and Kera.
What are these? Espoo is
full of great secrets. It may
be the truth about Finland
as a whole.”
The print run was
500. Most of the
copies were delivered to the 379 people
who supported Hujanen via the mesenaatti.me crowdfunding service.
His goal was EUR 6,000, but he collected an impressive EUR 16,028 in four
weeks.
SOURCES: UUDEN MAAN SANOMAT AND MESENAATTI.ME
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SMALL COMPANIES ARE INCREASINGLY
INTERESTED IN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
TECHNOLOGIES
THE IDEA OF A SHARED devel-
opment platform for operators
in well-being technologies was
based on the needs of Kenneth Salonius and his friends.
“Together with two other business
owners, we were thinking about what would
be the most effective way of networking. Much is going
on in the field in Finland, but I was not able to find an
operator that coordinates cooperation.
Two years ago, Salonius established HealthSpa with
his colleagues. It has already helped around 200 companies begin operations in the field of health and wellbeing. HealthSpa is run by four people.
“We offer matchmaking services. We bring experts,
investors and the media together to facilitate visibility and funding. We organise events and participate in
trade fairs and networking events.”
According to Salonius, health and well-being technologies offer good growth potential, in smartwatches,
sensors and real-time body monitoring, for example.
Circly and Navigil are good examples of companies
aided by HealthSpa.
Need business coaching
for your product idea?
is a service that helps friends and relatives
keep in touch via video chat. It is easy to use, regardless of age or skill level. Circly enables relatives to keep
in touch with an elderly member of the family who lives
alone, for example.
It includes a mobile device, an Internet connection,
an application and a stand, delivered to the home. The
settings of the device cannot be changed by accident, as
it is locked to the service, with no need for a user ID or
a password. Relatives can download the application to
their existing devices.
Navigil develops intelligent safety solutions. It has
developed a watch for elderly people living alone that
looks like an ordinary, stylish watch, but is a versatile
safety bracelet. The idea is for the watch to be easy to
use and elegant – not all elderly people want to use
devices that resemble hospital bracelets.
HealthSpa has helped Circly and Navigil participate
in trade fairs and networking events to meet investors, among other operators. Their attendance has also
brought visibility for their products.
What if a reader in Espoo is currently entertaining
a revolutionary idea related to health and technology?
Salonius encourages business owners to be proactive.
“They can contact us even at the idea stage. If they
need help with an existing product, we will help them
figure out what to do next.” n
CIRCLY
ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
»9
AT THE CORE
Brave new Kera
Once an area built around
a ceramics factory, Kera is
developing into an urban centre.
“NEXT STATIONS: Kilo, Kera, Kauniainen.” Kera, an area
located near Karamalmi and Karapelto at the core of
Espoo, may be unknown to many, but those using the
Finnish Coastal Railway know the name from train
announcements. Built in 1946, the Kera station services
local trains. It was named after a ceramics factory that
was founded in 1917 and operated until 1958.
During its prime in the 1930s and 1950s, the factory
employed more than 100 people. Red clay collected from
nearby fields was used as a raw material for flowerpots,
bowls, vases, dishes and plates.
The factory was discontinued in 1958. Its operations
became unprofitable because of increased competition and
the growing popularity of plastic, among other reasons.
connections, Kera has since
attracted other industrial operations as well as offices and
warehousing and logistics services. For example, Algol’s
central warehouse has been located in the area since the
1960s. The area also used to house an AGA gas factory.
Office construction in Karamalmi accelerated when
Nokia became interested in the area in the late 1960s.
Today, Nokia Siemens Networks is the largest employer in
the area.
10
«
INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS in the area have dwindled since
the 2000s, which is why Inex Partners is relocating to
Sipoo. Large areas in Kera have freed up and are freeing
up for new uses.
The plan is to build an urban centre of at least 14,000
residents and 10,000 jobs in the area. Kera is intended to
become an urban centre that supports environmentally
friendly lifestyles near nature, with excellent public transport and cycling connections. Its existing public transport
connections are very likely to be complemented by the
Espoo City Rail Link and the Matinkylä–Suurpelto–Kera
light rail connection.
If the project progresses as planned, construction can
begin in 2017 or 2018. The brave new Kera will be completed in the late 2020s. n KARI LATVANEN
BEFORE
–1920
TIMELINE
PHOTOS ESPOON KAUPUNGINMUSEO (1950) AND ESPOON KAUPUNKISUUNNITTELUKESKUS
WITH ITS GOOD TRAFFIC
Kera also served as the location of the SOK warehouse,
which had its own railway. The location developed into
the Inex Partners logistics centre, with its storage area of
10 hectares.
The companies in the area have also made use of
freight traffic by rail. This traffic decreased in the 1990s
and was discontinued in the summer of 2009.
Located near the
Kauniainen market
town, the area now
known as Kera was
practically empty.
ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
IN THE FUTURE
1920–1960
The establishment,
flourishing and
closing down of the
ceramics factory.
1960–2000
Industrial operations, warehouses
and logistics supported by rail traffic, including Aga,
Algol and Inex
Partners.
1970–
The construction
of the Karamalmi
office district
accelerates after
Nokia becomes
interested in the
area.
2000–2015
Industrial operations dwindle.
Facilities and areas
are freed up.
2015–2030
Kera develops
into an urban centre that supports
environmentally
friendly lifestyles,
with excellent public transport and
cycling connections.
AT WORK
EXCITED AND SCARED. Many types
of questions and emotions are spinning in the mind. Those starting
a business have an idea for serving customers and securing a livelihood in the process. But will the
company find its markets? How can
funding be arranged? What are the
risks involved in starting a business?
What if everything goes wrong?
Fortunately, new business owners
do not need to find all the answers
on their own. EnterpriseEspoo
serves people starting a business
in Espoo, Kauniainen and Kirkkonummi. It helps with all issues related
to establishing a business.
It also serves existing companies,
helping them with questions related
to developing operations, securing
funding and changing owners, for
example.
THE EXPERTS AT ENTERPRISEESPOO know what type of issues
puzzle business owners. Accord-
ing to Business Advisor Päivi Kuusivaara, EnterpriseEspoo has
around 1,500 appointments with
customers annually. She meets hundreds of business owners every year.
“We start with thinking about
which company type would work
best: self-employed, a limited liability company or a cooperative, for
example?
“We also review the customer’s
business plan and think about the
market situation, funding and the
type of help the customer needs. We
have a network of 65 experts in various fields for this purpose.”
NEW BUSINESS OWNERS in Espoo
range from one-man IT consulting
firms to hairdressers and from personal trainers to massage therapists.
A typical new business is a one-man
or one-woman enterprise. EnterpriseEspoo also helps larger start-up
projects.
According to Kuusivaara, being
new is the greatest challenge for
new business owners. For example,
inexperienced business owners may
enter into unfavourable agreements.
“Many also struggle with their
revenue model. Their expectations
for cash flow may be unrealistic, and
they often underestimate the costs,”
says Kuusivaara.
“In addition, the importance of
sufficient statutory pension insurance payments can never be
stressed enough. Social security is
important, as anything can happen.”
n KARI LATVANEN
Päivi Kuusivaara has work experience
from around 20 organisations. She has
worked as a business advisor for six
years. Of this time, she has worked in
Espoo for two and a half years. In her
free time, she loves to travel. She is
particularly fond of Japan and Paris. In
Finland, she loves spending time with
her husband and two dogs in their summer cottage near Hämeenlinna,
taking care of the garden and greenhouse.
ENTERPRISEESPOO FACTS
1,500+
visits by customers
in 2014.
80%
of the customers are
starting or planning
to start a business.
Existing companies and
high-growth start-ups
each represent 10% of
the customers.
80%
of the customer companies operate in the services sector. Around 50%
start as self-employed.
EnterpriseEspoo
helps new
and existing
companies.
PHOTO ANTII VETTENRANTA
DO YOU
WANT TO
START YOUR
OWN BUSINESS?
Päivi Kuusivaara and her
colleagues make dreams
come true by helping
people start a business.
ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
» 11
Not for
sledging!
TEXT MARKKU NYKÄNEN, PHOTO •RED BULL, CRASHED ICE 2014 HELSINKI
PEARLS
HEADFIRST
ON SKATES
EARS ARE HUMMING. After the
audience has quieted down, the
only thing you hear is your heartbeat. The start buzzer goes off. The
first kick with the blade against the
ice for speed at the start gate, and
off you go.
In downhill ice cross, four competitors at a time skate on an ice
track. The walled track features
sharp turns and high drops, ensuring high speed and exciting situations.
At Serena, visitors can try downhill ice cross. However, it is not
a sport for complete beginners.
Navigating the sharp turns at high
speed requires practice. Anyone
who wants to give downhill ice
cross a try must be at least able to
brake with ice skates effectively.
In addition to a good sense of
balance, downhill ice cross requires
specific equipment. In addition to
skates, you must wear a helmet
with a cage or chin guard as well
as shoulder, elbow, knee, hand and
back pads and ice hockey pants.
Equipment is available for rent at
Serena Ski. Access to the ice track
is prohibited without the required
protective equipment. Visitors can
also use their own protective equipment if it meets the requirements.
The ice track at Serena is intended
for skaters only.
Visitors enter the ice track at their
own risk. The ice track has signs
with instructions, but no training
is available. Not all insurance companies cover injuries from downhill
ice cross.
SERENA, Tornimäentie 10
12
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ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
» 13
TEXT KATARINA CYGNEL-NUORTIE, PHOTO ANTTI VETTENRANTA
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Swarm
intelligence
YOU MIGHT THINK that books
and mobile devices are complete opposites. You might also
think that mobile devices are
gaining users at the expense of
books. However, this does not
need to be the case. Books and
mobile devices can complement
one another, as they do in the
Välkky mobile library that visits
primary schools and day-care
centres.
Välkky has a collection of
books on display that have both
a QR code and a NFC chip. Both
provide access to short videos
made by children and young
people about the books. The
videos can also be found on the
Kirjasto vinkkaa (“Library Tips”)
channel on YouTube.
The channel currently features 70 videos. Even if the
experiment is expanded, not all
books will be equipped with QR
and NFC stickers.
“The books are carefully
selected. And when the tips
are given by peers, they may
work even better than recommendations provided by librarians,” says Eva Wilenius, Services Manager at the Espoo City
Library.
THE CITY LIBRARY has an
open-minded approach to using
new technology to enrich library
services.
“In my opinion, swarm intelligence is now needed more
than anything else,” says
Jaakko Sannemann, Educational Librarian at the Espoo
City Library.
By swarm intelligence, he
means that library users are
producing content in cooperation with library professionals.
In future, book club members
and other enthusiastic readers
could produce book reviews in
addition to schoolchildren. This
would offer many benefits. Book
club members, who are usually a little older, would learn
how to make short videos on
their mobile devices. This would
expand book tips to cover books
for adults. n
Would your book club like to create book tip videos? Contact the
Espoo City Library to arrange for
a training session or invite the
Välkky mobile library to the location of your choice! Email: eva.
wilenius@espoo.fi.
14
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ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
“When
I read this
book, I felt like
I was eating a
pizza.” What is the
book? Read the QR
code with your
mobile phone!
FACTS
NFC is short for near-field communication. It enables devices to be
connected wirelessly in the same
manner as Bluetooth. Many new
smartphones have NFC. It is usually active as a default and does
not need to be switched on separately.
How it works: If your smartphone
has NFC, place your phone near this
NFC symbol. The video will start to
play automatically.
QR is short for quick response.
A QR code is a square-shaped
bar code that provides effortless
access to websites with additional
information on products.
How it works: Download a free QR
reader app to your mobile device.
Launch the app and read the QR
code on a book with your mobile
device. Open the link provided by the
QR reader by clicking on it, and you
will be able to watch a book review.
In the photo: Eva Wilenius
and Petri Müller.
ON THE MOVE
City
of Espoo
Sports
Services
organises
exercise for
adults.
TRY NEW SPORTS
FREE OF CHARGE
GYM INSTRUCTION
FOR WOMEN
What on earth is a pull-down
machine? Sports instructors provide advice for women on the use of
gym equipment on Mondays from
7.30 p.m. to 8.25 p.m. at the Central
Espoo swimming centre (Kaivomestarinkatu 2). Until the end of May,
excluding 16/2 and public holidays.
Standard admission fee to the swimming centre, no advance registration
required. Age limit: 16.
Try the sport you have always
wanted to try. Tue from 6 p.m. to
7 p.m., Ruusutorppa School (Leppävaarankatu 24, entrance G1),
no advance registration required.
Pilates on 24/2. Volleyball on 3/3
and 10/3. Kettlebell on 17/3 and 24/3
(bring your own). Circuit training on
31/3 and 7/4. Pilates on 14/4 and
21/4. Badminton on 28/4 and 5/5.
Kettlebell on 12/5. Stretching on
19/5. Power walking on 26/5 (with or
without poles).
HYDROBICS
FOR EVERYONE
Gentle on the joints, hydrobics is
suitable for people of all sizes and
fitness levels. Thursdays from 8.05
p.m. to 8.35 p.m. at the Tapiola
swimming centre (Kirkkopolku 3).
Until the end of May, excluding 16/2
and public holidays. EUR 2.50 +
standard admission fee to the swimming centre. Tokens become available for sale at the swimming centre
ticket office at 7.05 p.m.
TECHNIQUE TRAINING
IN THE EVENING
SWIMMING
WITH A FRIEND
Exercise evenings for adults on
Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at
the Tapiola swimming centre (Kirkkopolku 3). Standard admission fee
to the swimming centre, outdoor
classes free of charge. No advance
registration required. Gym instruction on 25/2 and 4/3. Aquajogging
on 11/3 and 18/3 (technique and
equipment). Circuit training on 25/3
and 1/4. Aquajogging on 8/4 and
15/4. Nordic walking on 22/4 and
29/4 (main entrance, bring your own
poles). Aquajogging on 6/5 and 13/5.
Gym training on 20/5. Gym training
and body fat and muscle percentage
measurement on 27/5.
When did you last visit a swimming centre with a friend? The
Espoonlahti, Central Espoo and
Tapiola­swimming centres are open
on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. Admission: EUR 5 for adults.
Buoyancy­belts and kickboards are
available at all swimming centres.
TREAD WATER
IN ESPOONLAHTI
Hydrobics on Fridays from 2 p.m. to
2.30 p.m. at the Espoonlahti swimming centre (Espoonlahdenkuja 4).
Until the end of May, excluding 16/2
and public holidays. EUR 2.50 +
standard admission fee to the swimming centre. Tokens become available for sale at the swimming centre
ticket office at 1.00 p.m.
EXERCISE AND WEIGHT
MANAGEMENT COURSES
Courses for women with a waist
of more than 90 cm and men with
a waist of more than 100 cm, or
women and men with a BMI of 30
or higher: The sessions start with
a 30-minute discussion. After that,
the participants try basic exercise,
such as Nordic walking, gym training
and hydrobics. 90 min. New courses
will start in Espoonlahti, Central
Espoo, Leppävaara and Tapiola in the
week beginning on 9/3. Course fee:
EUR 15. Registration: espoo.fi > Culture and sport > Sports and outdoor
recreation > Exercise classes
More info: tel. (09) 8166 0800,
Mon–Fri from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and
Thu from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Beneath
the surface
» Niina Leimuvaara, 49, goes to the swimming
centre straight from work.
“I became interested in hydrobics
after my employer had given me an
opportunity to try a class. In addition
to attending instructed hydrobics
sessions, I occasionally go aquajogging on my own.
Hydrobics sessions resemble traditional exercise classes, but the water
makes it gentler on your body. The
instructor stands by the pool, and the
participants exercise to music. Dumbbells are replaced by a variety of
water fitness equipment to increase
resistance.
“A buoyancy belt keeps your head
and neck above the water, and you
can focus on exercising instead of
keeping afloat. The intensity of the
workout depends on the instructor
to a great extent. After some sessions, you are exhausted – but feel
good. You do not realise how effective hydrobics is until you get out of
the water.”
Hydrobics is suitable for practically everyone, even people recovering from an injury or illness.
“People of all ages attend the
classes, from twentysomethings to
pensioners. My mother loves hydrobics as well, even though she cannot really swim,” Niina says with a
smile. n
HYDROBICS
TEXT LILLI OLLIKAINEN, PHOTOS LILLI OLLIKAINEN , FOTOLIA AND A-LEHTIEN KUVA-ARKISTO
EXERCISE
ALL WEEK
Towards the spring
EXERCISE AT THE ADULT EDUCATION CENTRE » Registrations
for courses are taken for as long
as spaces are available. Classes
include pulse-monitored exercise in
Kuunkehrä in Olari and new types of
exercises for the elderly in Haukilahti.
Visit ilmonet.fi for information on
available spaces, or call 020 692 444
(local network charge) Monday to
Friday from 12 noon to 3 p.m.
ASK ABOUT EXERCISE » Beginning in May, exercise classes will
be offered outdoors. Exercise sessions in parks are suitable for men
and women. No advance registration
required. Admission: EUR 3 per session, collected on-site. Weather permitting. First classes: outdoor exercise
session in Suvis and a themed exercise class at the Espoonlahti swimming centre on 4/5. Outdoor exercise session in Silkkiniitty and Matin­
kylä residents’ park on 5/5. Outdoor
Zumba and Latin dance class at the
Espoonlahti swimming centre on 7/5. n
ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
» 15
GOOD NEWS
SUPERMAN FROM
KOUKKUNIEMI
It flies at night and sleeps by day.
It enjoys its secretive life in an urban
environment, unaware of its huge
popularity.
TEXT HELEN MOSTER, PHOTOS A-LEHTIEN KUVA-ARKISTO / BENJAM PÖNTINEN (PONTINEN.FI)
ROOPE STICKS his head out of his nesthole
and smells the air. He has big eyes but a small
body: he weighs slightly over 130 grams. During one night, this silver grey rodent can fly a
distance of more than one kilometre with the
help of the furry glide membranes between
his front and rear legs.
Male flying squirrels are particularly
mobile.
Roope lives in peace in his nesthole high
up an aspen. Evidence of its presence is left
under the tree: mustard droppings the size of
rice grains. Sometimes people come to look
for the signs to prove that this mysterious flying creature lives in the forest.
During the mating season in March and
April, Roope is on the move, even more than
usual, and may leave piles of droppings on the
snow. He is busy meeting females. Rumour
16
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ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
has it that beautiful girls live near the Western
Highway and Matinkappeli Chapel, among
other places.
Roope knows the best routes to food and
dates. Matinkylä has high treetops at ideal
distances from another, meaning that Roope
can glide easily and safely at night. Is it time
to go already?
ROOPE LIVES in the forest near the Koukku-
niemi sports park. His life was studied in a
tracking collar project in winter 2012–2013. In
addition to Roope, four male and two female
flying squirrels were monitored using tracking collars.
Southern Espoo and areas near Matinkylä
are good living environments for the species,
with large spruces that offer protection. The
areas also have high aspens for nestholes and
birches, black alders and goat willows for food.
A small forest is sufficient, as long as its
trees are sufficiently diverse, and the forest is
connected to other forest areas.
“Flying squirrels also travel through yard
areas and along trees by the roadside,” says
environmental researcher Paula Salomäki.
She participated in the study and monitored
Roope’s movements. The study was carried out
by Environmental Research Yrjölä. It revealed
that flying squirrels thrive near people.
“They can glide over a jogging trail without
anyone even noticing. Those with particularly
sharp ears may hear the sounds they make:
soft chittering sounds and bird-like chirps.
Of all species, why have flying squirrels
been studied so thoroughly?
“The flying squirrel is what is known as a
directive animal, meaning that strict regula-
Forthcoming:
Flying Squirrel
Evening
THE FLYING SQUIRREL was selected as the
official animal of Espoo in a vote in the late
1990s. The flying squirrel is traditionally considered to be an animal of the wilderness.
However, according to many observations
and studies, it has taken a liking to our city
as a living environment in recent years.
You are welcome to visit Nature House
Villa Elfvik to learn more about where flying squirrels move and how this strictly protected species is taken into account in city
planning.
You can help flying squirrels thrive in
Espoo. At the event, you will learn how. Time
is allowed for discussion at the end of the
event and, weather permitting, a small trip
will be made to a nearby forest favoured by
flying squirrels.
Bring a torch. n
A flying squirrel always
glides downwards and can
curve in the air and even
fly an S-shaped route.
tions apply to its protection. Within the European Union, flying squirrels are found only in
Finland and Estonia,” says Salomäki.
In Finland, the flying squirrel is an endangered species, a Saimaa ringed seal of the forests, if you will. It is particularly sensitive to
changes in the environment. For example, if
important trees are felled along its routes, it
will not be able to move and reproduce. For
this reason, its habits have a direct effect on
land use. This poses a tough challenge: can
the needs of the flying squirrel be combined
with those of Espoo, a growing city?
YES, THEY CAN, says the Espoo City Planning
Department. The earlier it learns about the
habitats of flying squirrels, the better they can
be taken into account in planning. So far, no
planning projects have been rejected because
Flying Squirrels in Espoo, Wed 25/2/2015
from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Villa Elfvik, Elfvikintie 4.
of flying squirrels – the locations of houses,
for example, have been changed.
City planners have made extensive use of
the information received through tracking
collars.
“We always carry out environmental
impact assessments before making decisions
about land use. Flying squirrels can be found
practically everywhere. We locate them as
part of environmental impact assessments,”
says Mikla Koivunen, Landscape Architect at
the City of Espoo.
The City of Espoo has used computer analyses to identify tree routes suitable for flying
squirrels.
“This enables us to inform street planners
and other professionals about the routes so
that they can take them into account in their
work,” says Koivunen. Sometimes street plans
need to be changed, or a construction tunnel
at the metro site needs to be moved. Sometimes trees cannot be felled, or new ones need
to be planted – by Gräsanoja near the Western Highway, for example, so that Roope has
several alternative routes.”
Roope is not disturbed by people or buildings. He likes living in an urban forest environment. People are known to like such environments as well.
“Densely built urban areas and real nature
can exist side by side,” says Koivunen. In
other words, to experience nature, you do not
always need to visit Nuuksio National Park.
However, successful coexistence means
that builders, planners and biologists must
compromise. Good planning ensures sufficient space for both Superman from Koukkuniemi and two-legged Espoo residents. n
ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
» 17
PHOTO ANTTI VETTERNRANTA
ON THE STAGE
3
”It is time to believe
in dreams, roll up
the sleeves and get
to work.”
×
winter break
COLUMN
New energy for Espoo
key industrial cities are undergoing a painful transformation as a result
of changes in the global competitiveness of
local industrial companies. There is no going
back, no matter whether the changes are
related to raw materials, quality, expertise,
globalised markets or the digital revolution.
There is no option but to change.
MANY OF OUR
I HOPE WE have seen the end of the layoffs. It
is time for new energy and renewal. The situation in Espoo is unique, even in the global
context. The city houses the leading university of technology, business and design in
the country and has attracted major high
value adding industrial companies. Multiculturalism is present everywhere in Espoo.
The market for digital experts is vivid as a
result of the breakdown of the Nokia cluster
and the rise of the gaming industry. In addition, new companies are being established
at a faster pace than in other key cities.
Espoo is well positioned for the global competition between metropolitan areas.
IT IS TIME to believe in dreams, roll up the
sleeves and get to work. Many young people seem to heed this advice, and we all
should follow their example. Only
through joint effort we will cre-
18
«
ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
ate sufficient added value, and maintain and
increase the level of well-being in our country. Dreams are coming true at an increasing
pace at start-ups in Espoo that are encouraged to develop and succeed by venture capitalists, business angels and public-sector
operators.
Innovations are usually created by
chance, but they can be facilitated by creating environments where ideas, expertise,
determination and inspiration meet funding. Espoo has better chances of making this
happen than any other city in our country.
It is refreshing to visit the Otaniemi campus area, the Keilaniemi business district,
the Suomenoja commercial district or the
extensive construction site in Tapiola. In all
of these places, you can sense the spirit of
innovation, the chance of creating something new.
FINLAND IS A SMALL but successful nation.
Espoo is a large city in Finland and an
important one in creating a successful
future. The strengths and highly advanced
networks of Espoo and its residents and
business owners lead the way for Finland
into the future. n ANSSI VANJOKI
The writer works as a professor
at Lappeenranta University of Technology
n RIDE A DOG SLEIGH!
14/2/2015 from 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Come snow or
shine, dog sleigh rides are
organised for children to
celebrate Shrovetide. In a
workshop supervised by
textile artist Birgitta Haataja,
you can create a surprise for
your valentine or best friend.
Free admission. Little Aurora.
n HOP ON, HOP OFF
16–20/2/2015 from 10 a.m.
to 3 p.m. Ball games, a trick
course, games, arts and
crafts, outdoor activities.
Bring your own equipment
and snacks. More info: espoo.
fi/liikunta. Free admission.
Esport Ratiopharm Arena.
n FREE FILM!
19/2/2015 at 12 noon:
Onneli and Anneli (Finland,
2014), a film about two
seven-year-old girls and the
summer of their dreams
without their parents. 1 h
20 min. No age limit. Free
admission. Kannu Hall.
At 2 p.m.: Nicostratos,
the Pelican (France, 2011).
A story about a boy called
Yannis and a nestling that
grows into a big pelican.
1 h 30 min. Age limit: 7+.
Free admission. Kannu Hall.
FACTS
Winter break
The winter break, previously
known as the skiing holiday, was invented in Kouvola. In 1926, Santeri Hirvonen, a local physical education teacher, suggested that
schoolchildren spend a week
skiing in fresh air to improve
their endurance, to counterbalance all the time they
spend learning indoors at
school.
The skiing holiday became
official in the early 1930s
when Lauri “Tahko” Pihkala, also known as the father of Finnish baseball,
wanted to offer all pupils an
opportunity to take a skiing
holiday from school. The
National Board of Education
approved his proposal, and
the skiing holiday was included in the national curriculum in 1933.
PHOTO ANTTI VETTENRANTA
Events
TUE 10/2 at 7 p.m. (performances
until 9/5): Who’s Afraid of Virginia
Woolf? Espoo City Theatre. Featuring Satu Silvo and Minka Kuustonen,
among others. Tickets: EUR 35/30/15.
Tel. (09) 439 3388, or Lippupiste.
Revontuli Hall.
During the winter
break, the Finnish
Nature Centre Haltia
is open every day from
9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SAT 14/2 at 3 p.m.: Tourist. Directed
by Ruben Östlund, Sweden 2014.
1 h 59 min. Age limit: 12+. An avalanche messes up a family holiday in
the Alps. The film won the Jury Prize
at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.
Tickets: from EUR 6 at Lippupiste,
EUR 6 at the door. Kannu Hall.
SAT 14/2 at 7 p.m.: Stand-up comedy
by Anitta Ahonen, Heli Sutela and Ida
Grönlund. Tickets: from EUR 22/18,
Lippupiste. Sello Hall.
SUN 15/2 and TUE 17/2. Shrovetide
at Glims. Guided tours at 1 p.m. and
2 p.m.: Shrovetide traditions. The
cafe sells pea soup and Shrovetide
buns. On 17/2 (Shrove Tuesday) from
10 a.m. to 12 noon: a guide discusses
Shrovetide traditions. Glims Farmstead Museum.
TUE 17/2–22/2. Museums organise workshops for the entire week.
The WeeGee Exhibition Centre offers
backpack tours, a fun way for children to discover exhibits in its five
museums. WeeGee.
WINTER BREAK AT HOME
THE BEST WAY to prepare for varied winter
weather is to decide to spend the winter break
in Espoo. Regardless of the weather, Espoo
offers a diverse range of activities.
Skating is a traditional winter break activity. The artificial ice rink in the Tapiola Central Basin and the 330-metre route around the
basin are in a good condition even in abovezero temperatures. At the cafe, you can enjoy
a break and a hot beverage. Skates are available for rent. Instructors from the Espoo Figure
Skating Club are available for tips and advice
Monday to Thursday (16–19/2) from 10 a.m. to
12 noon.
ESPOO OFFERS the most beautiful setting in
southern Finland for enjoying peace and quiet
in winter nature. You can try snowshoeing
and skiing in Nuuksio. Guided hiking trips are
organised in Kattila on Sundays, with a sauna
after the trip.
In addition, Nuuksio is worth visiting
because of the impressive Finnish Nature Centre Haltia. Besides the exhibitions, you can
enjoy lunch. During the winter break, Haltia is
open every day from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
IN ABOVE-ZERO TEMPERATURES, the HOP ON
HOP OFF event at the Esport Ratiopharm Arena
in Tapiola is an ideal activity for the whole family. It offers ball games, a trick course and arts
and crafts from Monday to Friday (16–20/2 from
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.). You can join the fun at any
time! The event is free of charge, and no advance
registration is required. Bring your indoor and
outdoor exercise clothes and your own lunch.
The Espoonlahti swimming centre offers
snorkelling, diving and water polo as well as
water fun for small children in the children’s
pool (Mon 16/2 and Wed 18/2 from 10 a.m. to
7 p.m.). The Wiibit trick course is scheduled for
Thursday and Friday (19–20/2). Visit the City of
Espoo website at espoo.fi for more options.
Espoo also offers cultural events and activities during the winter break, and the libraries
have a diverse programme. The calendar on
the right features further suggestions as well. n
MARKKU NYKÄNEN
WED 18/2–10/5. Pop Art Design.
An extensive exhibition at EMMA.
Produced by the Vitra Design
Museum and the Louisiana Museum
of Modern Art in Denmark and the
Modern Museum in Sweden. WeeGee.
WED 18/2 at 2 p.m.: Winter break
cinema. Ricky Rapper and Slick Leonard. Free admission. The seats are
filled in order of arrival. Advance registration required for day-care centre
groups, email: kulttuurikeskus.ilmo@
espoo.fi. Louhi Hall.
WED 18/2 at 7 p.m.: Swan Song.
An homage to ballerina Minna Terva­
mäki. 30th career anniversary of
artist and director Marita Liulia.
Tickets: from EUR 29.50, Lippupiste.
Sello Hall.
19/2–16/3. Tears in One Eye. Paintings by Anne Ovaska. Mon–Fri from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In conjunction with
events in the evenings and at the
weekends. Free admission. Kara
House.
THU 19/2 at 2 p.m.: Winter break
cinema. Korso. Age limit: 12+. Free
admission. The seats are filled in
order of arrival. Louhi Hall.
ESPOO MAGAZINE 1/2015
» 19
» facebook.com/espoonkaupunki
» espoo.fi
» twitter.com/EspooEsbo
A city at your service
» youtube.com/EspooEsbo
IMPROVED HEALTH-CARE TELEPHONE SERVICES
Online health advice at espoo.fi/terveysneuvonta
The numbers for making appointments remain unchanged and now also provide health advice. The new numbers for
nurses and the contraception clinic will be introduced in January to March as follows: Kivenlahti on 13/2, Espoonlahti on 18/2, Leppävaara on 25/2, Kilo on 4/3 and Viherlaakso on 11/3. Other numbers for health-care centres will
be discontinued.
Appointments and medical results
Mon–Fri from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Nurses and contraception clinic
Health advice
Mon–Fri from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Mon–Fri from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Health-care centres
Espoonlahti
09 816 45911
09 816 45414
Kalajärvi (appointments Fri from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) 09 816 32870
09 816 32590
Kilo (appointments Fri from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) 09 816 35400
09 816 35636
Kivenlahti
09 816 33100
09 816 45507
Leppävaara 09 816 35200
09 816 35957
Matinkylä 09 816 42280
09 816 42232
Samaria 09 816 32600
09 816 32590
Tapiola 09 816 38900
09 816 38918
Viherlaakso 09 816 35500
09 816 35494
All services Mon–Fri from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Your Doctor Espoontori
09 855 4303
Your Doctor Puolarmetsä
09 855 4100
Health advice is available on weekdays also from these numbers
n Maternity and child-care clinic
appointments and advice from 8.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.
n Oral health care
appointments and advice from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
n Mental health and substance abuse services
appointments and advice from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
09 816 22800
09 816 30300
09 816 31300
When you call us, your number will automatically be saved.
We will call you back as soon as possible, usually within the hour.
On weekdays from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m., at the weekends and on public holidays
advice for seeking treatment is provided on
In life-threatening situations, call 112.
REVAMPED CITY OF ESPOO
WEBSITES
The Visit Espoo website is now responsive, meaning that its content
automatically adapts to the terminal device used. This also applies to
espoo.fi and espoonkaupunginmuseo.fi as well as the Länsi-Uusimaa
Rescue department at lup.fi.
visitespoo.fi
is a tourism and conference website serving visitors, local residents
and conference and event organisers.
Visit the site to discover what is going on in Espoo – right near you!
09 87 10023