Peab has been commissioned to build two apartment buildings in Espoo. The customer is Espoon Asunnot Oy and the contract is worth EUR 10.7 million, approximately 118 million Swedish kroner. The project comprises the construction of two apartment buildings with a total of 82 apartments as well as roofed courtyards and parking spaces. A noise barrier will also be built along with stairs to the adjoining street. The project meets the requirements for energy class A. The buildings will be heated with geothermal heating and energy production will be supplemented with roof-mounted solar panels. Low-carbon building materials will be used. "It's great that we can already start a new project with Espoon Asunnot Oy. We have worked really well together in our current project and we will continue to do so in this project," says Ilkka Laakeristo, Region Manager Peab. The project will begin in June 2025 and is expected to be completed in November 2026. The project is order registered in the second quarter 2025. Ilkka Laakeristo, Region Manager Peab Finland, +358 40 767 6187 Juha Hartomaa, Head of Investor Relations Peab, +46 72 533 31 45 Peab is the Nordic Community Builder with 13,000 employees and net sales of SEK 59 billion. With a local presence and focus on our own resources we develop, do the groundwork and build everyday life where it’s lived. Company headquarters are in Förslöv on Bjäre Peninsula in southern Sweden. The Peab share is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. Local nature is important for Finns, but how many of us recognise the significance of local culture? Espoo takes pride in its flagship cultural institutions Tapiola Sinfonietta and EMMA, which are complemented by local culture brought to Espoo residents. The versatile cultural offering is both a strength and a draw for Espoo, at least in the eyes of Tapiola Sinfonietta's Principal Concertmaster Meri Englund. Tapiola Sinfonietta is a first-rate chamber orchestra from Espoo that is widely known also outside of Finland. You can catch the orchestra in action at the Tapiola Hall of Espoo Cultural Centre, where it plays regularly. A lesser-known fact is that the Sinfonietta also performs in smaller compositions all over Espoo. Mini concerts and musical experiences are organised, for example, in day-care centres, schools and nursing homes. "The idea is to bring music to those city residents who, for one reason or another, cannot come to our main concerts," Englund says. "Espoo also hosts other local cultural events that bring the community together, such as the Radalla chamber music festival for young musicians in Kauklahti and the Children's Cultural Centre Aurora, which has fun and intimate events for families. And then there's the traditional Hevosenkenkä Theatre," Englund lists. According to Englund, Espoo could host even more low-threshold cultural activities. "I asked our kids about this. They think that Espoo lacks free, low-threshold events that young people can easily go to, such as park concerts and the like," Englund says. "There are plenty of talented young musicians in Espoo, and their bands could play at the events. There could also be different side events that interest young people, such as flea markets," she plans. Englund also calls for more visibility and resources for marketing culture. "Espoo has a high-quality and diverse cultural offering that we can be proud of. However, some events are overshadowed when there are no marketing resources. It's a pity, as there are many fine things that deserve the spotlight," she says. "I dream of a concert hall specifically designed for music in Espoo so that locals could enjoy their top orchestras in good acoustics. Cultural Centre is beautiful, but the acoustics of the hall are not designed for classical music. There's Sibelius Hall in Lahti, Tampere Hall in Tampere, and a stunning new concert hall is about to rise in Turku, so Espoo residents also deserve one. When you say your dreams out loud, they can sometimes take off," she says. Although Englund works in music, her family enjoys all kinds of culture in their free time. "We visit art exhibitions and events a lot, and the kids are experienced concertgoers. Their musical taste is even wider than mine. Music also runs in the family, because as a born and bred Espoo native, I started my music hobby at Espoo Music Institute, which is now home to my kids," she says. "My ears work overtime on the job, so I also enjoy my peace and quiet. Especially in libraries, even if I don't get to read as much as I'd like. Luckily, Tapiola Cultural Centre, where I work, has a library where I can go to breathe in the scent of books," Englund says with a laugh. Englund's work at Tapiola Sinfonietta is versatile, as the concertmaster oversees the artistic direction of concerts. The concertmaster helps the conductor and orchestra create a high-quality concert experience for the listeners. "I try to build a positive working atmosphere where everyone can relax and reach their peak already at the training phase," Englund explains. "Every week is different with visiting conductors and soloists, and the work requires situational awareness and sensitivity. Someone once described a concertmaster as a diplomat who acts as a mediator and a messenger between the conductor and the orchestra. I think that's quite spot on," she concludes. Espoo's versatile cultural offering is illustrated by the fact that choosing just five cultural tips proved a difficult task for Principal Concertmaster Meri Englund. Being a professional musician, her list naturally focuses on music: Tapiola Sinfonietta: Lintu & Yang (15 May Tapiola Hall) Tapiola Sinfonietta's 25–26 programme will be published on 15 May, and the spring season will be capped off with a long-awaited concert featuring the fresh Sibelius Competition winner, Inmo Yang from South Korea, who joins the Sinfonietta as a soloist under the baton of Hannu Lintu. Karamzin's Culture Moment: Let's sing together – Mari Kätkä (5 May Järvenperäntie 1–3, 02940 Espoo) This is a fun family event that highlights the communal local culture that Espoo has. In a singalong, everyone can participate in creating culture at a low threshold. EMO: Espoo Music Institute, Instrument Path (6 May 17–19 Espoo Cultural Centre) EMO's Instrument Path is a wonderful event for families with children, where the children can try different instruments and get excited about music under the guidance of teachers. This is where our youngest picked up cello. Tapiola Sinfonietta: Chamber Music at Dipoli (23–25 May Dipoli, Otakaari 24, 02150 Espoo) This is the second of our own events on the list. It's a weekend-long chamber music event with three concerts. Come and join us at Dipoli! With Mary's fingerprints: MOTHER (11 May Gallen-Kallela Museum, Gallen-Kallelan tie 27, 02600 Espoo) Gallen-Kallela Museum in Tarvaspää is a wonderful destination along a great cycling route. It has an atmospheric courtyard café with the most stunning view on Laajalahti Bay. The museum hosts a concert series designed by pianist Tiina Karakorpi, and the Mother's Day concert is also on my bucket list. P.O. Box 1, 02070 CITY OF ESPOOEspoo Info | switchboard 09 816 21 Chock/Bates eye GP season sweep in FinlandThe Grand Prix Series enters its fifth week with top skaters looking to secure their spots at December's Grand Prix Final See the full preview of the action in Espoo A top-three finish in Espoo will all but assure her a spot in December's Grand Prix Final Sakamoto was a run-away winner in Vancouver scoring a fourth career Grand Prix victory as she debuted two new programs including her Lauryn Hill medley free skate She's joined by fellow world champions in ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates who captured gold at Skate America in the first week of the season See a full preview of the action below - plus a full schedule of the action and how you can tune in on TV or livestream. Chock/Bates eye GP season sweep in Finland","section_level_1":"news","section_level_2":"figure-skating-2023-grand-prix-espoo-finland-preview-sakamoto-kaori-chock-bates-watch-live","discipline":"discipline-figure-skating","odf_id":null,"module_instance":"CTAs - Blue Link","module_id":"028e795f-bcd5-462e-86da-9067756e22a7","link_tag":"Start 2026 in Italy The Olympic Winter Games are just a TICKET away 🏂❄️🎿 Sign-up to get a reminder of when the next tickets go live and all the latest news of your favourite national Olympic teams and athletes trying to qualify Two-time world champion and double Winter Olympic medallist Sakamoto Kaori opens up in an exclusive interview about the pressures she felt - and faced down - this season The Japanese figure skater also reveals where she goes next Watch for more of this exclusive interview Sakamoto began this Grand Prix with a splash her 226.13 overall lifted by an impressive 151.00 in the free skate in which Sakamoto said she performed "exactly the way I wanted to." the bronze medallists from Skate America and Canada Rizzo's Italian teammate Nikolaj Memola continues to look to level up in the senior ranks It's more Italians - Conti and Macii - who will lead the pairs field, though they finished runners-up at Grand Prix de France. They should see a host of challengers, including Peng Cheng and Wang Lei the new Chinese duo that won bronze just last weekend Chock/Bates are favoured in ice dance, though should receive healthy competition from Montreal training partners Laurence Founier-Beaudry and Nikolaj Sørensen of Canada All times listed are local Espoo, Finland, time (Eastern European Time GMT +2). See a full schedule here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Olympic Games (@olympics) American fans can catch the action via livestream on Peacock throughout the weekend NBC will host a recap show at 16:00 ET on Sunday (19 November) Canadians can watch on CBC and its subsequent platforms Some regions may be geo-restricted when it comes to availability France’s number-one men’s figure skater had much to say in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com from career turning points to Olympic ambitions The Grenoble native shares how he's dealing with a race against time after injury to be in full form for Beijing 2022 Company could develop 20 quantum computers each year IQM Quantum Computers has manufactured 30 full-stack quantum computing machines to date The company revealed the milestone for its Espoo IQM has delivered and installed six full-stack quantum computers to customers including the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) in Germany as well as the Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany IQM Quantum Computers co-CEO Mikko Välimäki said of the milestone: “One of the key bottlenecks in quantum computer adoption has been prohibitively high prices We are the first quantum computer manufacturer with the goal of taking quantum computers to a much wider market with industrialized manufacturing capabilities that help drive the prices lower our production line has the capacity to deliver up to 20 full-stack quantum computers a year.” IQM's manufacturing facility spans 5,000 sqm (53,820 sq ft) and has a clean room area for producing quantum processing units “Our manufacturing capabilities are one of the key differentiators with the rest of the market,” said Tomi Riipinen we have been able to ramp up our tech roadmap and create the industry’s largest on-premises quantum computer product portfolio for every budget and price point.” IQM announced plans to develop an industrial-scale quantum processor production facility in Grenoble IQM launched a quantum cloud service in March 2024 using quantum computers located in Espoo and Munich. The Munich data center opened in June 2024 and will eventually host up to 12 quantum computers with 800kW of power capacity The Q-Era consortium integrated a 20-qubit quantum computer into the SuperMUC-NG supercomputer at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) in Germany earlier this year Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia HELSINKI FINLAND A man is suspected of luring women to Finland with false promises of marriage and employment before subjecting them to sexual and labour exploitation The National Bureau of Investigation’s human trafficking unit has concluded its investigation into the case which involved a total of 16 victims and offences committed between 2019 and 2024 The suspected offences took place in Espoo and Kirkkonummi with a total of 15 individuals under suspicion The primary suspect is a 44-year-old man who contacted women abroad using social media platforms such as Tinder and Facebook He presented himself as a wealthy businessman in search of a long-term relationship employment in his company and residency in Finland,” said Detective Chief Inspector Hannu Kortelainen in a statement The man reportedly sent potential victims a list of requirements for a partner detailing expectations regarding appearance Police allege the suspect exploited the women both sexually and economically mainly from African and South American countries some of which were filmed by the suspect and his acquaintances The man is suspected of using employment contracts and residency applications to exert control over the women contracts were also drawn up for the victims’ relatives He is also alleged to have created debt obligations related to travel and accommodation costs “He manipulated the victims into a position of subordination using economic and legal pressures,” said Kortelainen Police believe the man operated residential construction businesses in Espoo despite being under a business ban until 2021 He is also suspected of fraudulently claiming tens of thousands of euros in unemployment benefits during this time The criminal investigation includes charges of four counts of aggravated human trafficking and a number of sexual and financial crimes International cooperation was required to investigate other suspects linked to the case authorities in several European countries provided assistance He was sentenced in 2016 by the Oulu District Court to over two years in prison and banned from business operations for five years due to offences linked to two construction firms He was also previously convicted of drink-driving in 2005 The case will now be referred to prosecutors Advertisement inquiries and other after-sales issues: info@helsinkitimes.fi Helsinki Times is the first and only English language newspaper providing news about Finland in English A weekly print edition of Helsinki Times was published from March 2007 up until Feb Helsinki Times is an online-only publication and other groups and individuals interested in Finland from all around the world © Helsinki Times All rights reserved.  Terms of Use | Privacy Policy We have limited content available for some countries Find office information and country specific information through our country hub  Find office information and country specific information through our country hub Following previous successes in Tampere and Wroclaw Nokia announced an agreement where excess heat generated by the Nokia Espoo HQ campus The heat will be transferred to homes and business buildings connected to the Finnish district heating system This is the third project of its kind for Nokia Espoo Campus has significant heat sources in Data Center with a volume of 3.5 MW the heat will be distributed to the district heating networks of nearby cities The essence of the agreement lies in Nokia selling waste heat to Finnish energy company Nokia will benefit from cool water from the district cooling Nokia will help local communities reduce their Greenhouse Gas emissions as part of the collaboration Nokia is collaborating with the largest Finnish energy company for a new sustainability initiative Finland will use waste heat from Nokia's data center to warm their homes As the Kera city district develops - a population of 14,000 residents - the excess heat will be redirected to cover the needs of that area The data centers in the Espoo Campus consume great amounts of electricity While in operation the equipment generates a lot of heat and needs to be chilled to function properly The electricity consumed to cool the equipment accounts for nearly 40% of the total energy use Nokia will provide 3.5 megawatts of thermal energy in the first phase of the project and it is projected in the future the recovery of energy could increase up to 6 megawatts Nokia will receive cooled water at no cost the heat generated in the lab was expelled into the atmosphere via the air conditioning system this waste heat will be redirected to fuel heating pumps generating heat for distribution throughout the District Heating network Nokia will receive ice water required for cooling the labs While the chillers will be retained as an alternative to the district cooling offering both environmental and operational benefits This reduction in chiller usage will extend their lifespan and lead to decreased electricity consumption during the cooling season when the chillers are typically active Water cooling offers several benefits as a cooling method water's higher heat capacity enables it to store more energy than air allowing for more efficient heat dissipation water cooling systems distribute heat more evenly preventing hot spots and ensuring consistent temperature levels across the data center environment when relying on the district cooling as the primary water solution reducing the noise pollution within the facility and creating a quieter and more comfortable working environment for personnel some 93% of the buildings are connected to district heating Finland has been investing in cooling solutions for its districts since 1990 District cooling in Helsinki is already covering a large volume of buildings and is part of the city's “Espoo Clean Heat goal” efforts to become carbon-neutral " Completing this project successfully involved dealing with lease renewals and extensive negotiations with all parties to fulfill each other's objectives Nokia's commitment to reducing our environmental impact and maximizing our positive influence has been a big motivation I want to thank everyone involved for helping to make this project happen." Nokia's Tampere Data Center stands as the first waste heat recuperation project within our company's journey towards sustainable energy solutions the project started to operate at 70% of its full capacity and since last year it has been operating at 100% capacity The Tampere facility set a precedent for environmentally conscious data center operations through its adoption of natural liquid cooling techniques and the repurposing of waste heat leading to an increase in energy efficiency and a decrease in the CO2 emissions of the city of Tampere Nokia announced a similar agreement to repurpose excess heat generated by the laboratories at our Wroclaw West Gate office With the labs already operating on 100% renewable energy the clean heat produced by their equipment will now be repurposed to warm homes and businesses connected to the district heating system The contract for the construction of the first installation facilitating the transfer of waste heat to the municipal heating network with project implementation expected for completion this year Nokia remains committed to its pursuit of sustainability across global operations these initiatives focus on energy efficiency enhancing air quality and environmental impact Oscar is the Global Communications Manager for Nokia Real Estate, a versatile industrial engineer currently pursuing a Master of Science in Analytics. He has experience in marketing, data analytics, and corporate communications. Most recently, he has been working at Nokia Real Estate to solidify the organization’s reputation as real estate experts, increasing the engagement of all employees.Connect with Oscar on LinkedIn Welcome to IPE Real Assets. This site uses cookies. Read our policy By 2025-03-10T12:28:00+00:00 a Finnish social infrastructure company owned by Nordic infrastructure manager Infranode is acquiring a planned educational and research facility from NCC Property Development for SEK900m (€82m) The 13,750sqm facility will primarily function as a high school with the City of Espoo leasing the majority of the premises under a 20-year agreement Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2025 and is expected to be completed by mid-2027 said: “This investment is an excellent addition for Suohki which focuses on providing high-quality social infrastructure with an emphasis on sustainability to “As a long-term and responsible partner in essential infrastructure we look forward to supporting the continued development of Espoo.”  said: ”This acquisition enhances our position as a long-term partner in essential social infrastructure and we look forward to contributing to the local educational network in Espoo “We appreciate the project’s high ESG standards and are committed to continueing our growth in providing high-quality facilities meeting tailored requirements of our clients like municipalities and wellbeing services counties.” we are creating a new interface between the private and public sectors combining different activities under one roof I am pleased that Infranode and Suohki as investors and the City of Espoo as a tenant share our vision.” To read the latest IPE Real Assets magazine click here Copyright © 1997–2025 IPE International Publishers Limited Site powered by Webvision Cloud with Grand Prix Final qualification on the line Quad Axel star Ilia Malinin is the main draw of the fields Picture by Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports via ReutersBy ZK GohThe last eight spots at December's ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final will be decided this weekend at the last regular-season stop of the 2022/23 Grand Prix series in Espoo It is the second time Finland has hosted an ISU Grand Prix having also held the Grand Prix of Helsinki in 2018 which sits around 16km (10mi) west of Helsinki replaces the Rostelecom Cup on this year's calendar with the Russian Figure Skating Federation currently suspended by the International Skating Union The Grand Prix of Espoo from 25–27 November will be held at the city's Metro Areena which also hosts the annual Challenger Series Finlandia Trophy and will also be the venue of the 2023 European Figure Skating Championships Final qualification is on the line in all four disciplines, with two men's, three women's, one pairs, and two ice dance spots yet to be filled. Read on for a preview of the action, when and how to watch it, and permutations for Grand Prix Final qualification. has set tongues wagging this season with his quadruple Axel I thought I was going to fall on it or do a step out but the fact that I was able to hold on to my feet was just wild Malinin is the runaway favourite in a field that includes two-time Grand Prix medallists Keegan Messing of Canada and the 2021 Rostelecom Cup winner Morisi Kvitelashvili of Georgia a fourth-place finish would be enough for Malinin to obtain the points he requires to mathematically qualify for the Grand Prix Final in Turin who finished third at the MK John Wilson Trophy in Sheffield is the other man who will be eyeing a spot in Turin The 18-year-old Japanese skater will qualify with at least a second-place finish Messing himself is not mathematically out of the Grand Prix Final picture but will need to win the Grand Prix to make the top-six cut Ilia Malinin exclusive: On the quad Axel, how he's inspired by Hanyu - and being raised by Olympians US rising star Ilia Malinin became the first figure skater ever to land a quad axel in competition - something not even the great Hanyu Yuzuru could manage The 17-year-old followed that up with the Skate America title in his senior Grand Prix debut Find out what the history maker thinks about this milestone in our exclusive chat and how he feels about attempting a quintuple jump Only one of Mihara Mai and Loena Hendrickx can repeat their feats from Sheffield and the Grand Prix de France in Angers respectively and win their second Grand Prix of the season Both women clinched their career-first wins this year but with each of them in the field in Espoo podium finishes for either will confirm Grand Prix Final qualification who has already been on the podium once in the venue this year with a third place at the Finlandia Trophy needs to finish second to guarantee qualification The pairs and ice dance categories in Espoo will provide intrigue in different ways. With only one Final spot left on offer in pairs, Italy's Rebecca Ghilardi / Filippo Ambrosini and Georgia's Anastasiia Metelkina / Daniil Parkman are level in the Grand Prix standings with both teams set to compete in Espoo. On paper, it is a straight fight between the two pairs for the last spot – and the Georgians have the better career personal best score. However, their season hasn't been as smooth sailing as the Italians', with some 24 points between the best marks received this year by the two teams. That makes Ghilardi / Ambrosini favoured to qualify – but they're not necessarily runaway favourites to win the event. That's because Germany's Alisa Efimova / Ruben Blommaert, taking part in their maiden Grand Prix as a team, are barely three points back on their season best score. The ice dance event field in Espoo almost certainly means Canada's Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier and Americans Kaitlyn Hawayek / Jean-Luc Baker will earn the last two Final tickets. Gilles / Poirier and Hawayek / Baker are well clear of the rest, and a fourth-place finish for either team – who should on paper wind up one and two – will see them make it to Turin. View this post on Instagram A post shared by pipergilles (@pipergilles) As veteran orienteers go, Espoo resident Raimo Nordqvist is the genuine article, as he has been orienteering for 46 years. In addition to the wide-range of orienteering terrain found in Espoo, over the years he has become familiar with many different and wonderful nature sites all over the world. “I've orienteered in 16 countries. When you’re orienteering abroad, you get to see some really interesting places,” says Nordqvist. The 76-year-old Nordqvist started orienteering in 1979, when he wanted to become more active in his daily life. “Before that, I had been hiking and I did treks with the Scouts. When I started this new hobby, I joined the Akilles club in Espoo. The club now has about 500 orienteering members,” says Nordqvist. According to Nordqvist, the best thing about orienteering is its combination of exercise, nature and common sense. “I've noticed that many engineers are into orienteering. It has a certain technical aspect to it, which also interests me. The orienteering season in Finland runs from roughly mid-April until the end of October, weather permitting. “I've only been out orienteering ten times this year. In March, I went to an orienteering competition in Portugal. If orienteering sounds appealing, Nordqvist recommends joining an orienteering club. Clubs help newcomers get started and organise both competitions and orienteering courses for their members. “The clubs organise orienteering training a couple of times a year, which is an easy and good way to learn both how to use a compass and mark maps. Clubs also organise weekly evening or block courses during the season, which are free for members. On top of that, there are several orienteering competitions each year,” says Nordqvist. In addition, Espoo orienteering clubs jointly organise Espoorastit fitness orienteering events, which are open to everyone. After the events, the courses are kept in place for a week for independent orienteers to use. According to Nordqvist, orienteering is also an affordable hobby that does not require lots of specialised and expensive equipment. “All you need to get started is some weather-resistant clothes and shoes - or even sneakers. And, of course, you have to have your own compass.” Nordqvist’s favourite orienteering terrain in Espoo is in Nuuksio, where orienteers can cover large areas. “Our own nearby forests in Espoo Central Park are also a good place, even though all the construction there reduces the amount of area suitable for orienteering. NCC is divesting the public properties project Cleantech Garden in Espoo comprising approximately 13,750 square meters of lettable area for SEK 900 million a social infrastructure company in Finland The City of Espoo will be the largest tenant in the property with a new school.  The transaction will take the form of a company divestment based on a property value of approximately SEK 900 million The project is being carried out with forward funding and is fully financed by the buyer Transfer of the property to the buyer will take place in the first quarter 2025 and profit recognition will occur when the project is completed which is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2027 I am pleased that Infranode and Suohki as investors and the City of Espoo as a tenant share our vision This is also a welcome activity for the property market in Finland,” says Joachim Holmberg The supporting office space will comprise approximately 3,000 square meters A parking garage will be constructed adjacent to the property with some 90 spaces Cleantech Garden is expected to receive BREEAM Excellent certification “This investment is an excellent addition for Suohki As a long-term and responsible partner in essential infrastructure we look forward to supporting the continued development of Espoo,” says Samuli Kivipelto The project will be carried out in the NCC Property Development business area and the contract will be conducted by NCC Building Nordics and is expected to be registered among orders in the first quarter of 2025 The project is expected to be completed during second quarter 2027 NCC is one of the leading construction companies in the Nordics Based on its expertise in managing complex construction processes NCC contributes to a positive impact of construction for its customers and society Operations include building and infrastructure project contracting NCC had sales of about SEK 62 bn and 11,800 employees NCC’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm securing GP Final spot The two-time and reigning world champ Sakamoto ruled over a roller coaster women's event with Sumiyoshi Rion second and Amber Glenn roaring back for bronze Madison Chock/Evan Bates won the ice dance event The 23-year-old registered a 135.52 in the free skate to total 205.21 overall a status she further cemented on the outskirts of Helsinki this weekend even as she struggled to find her best form Japanese compatriot Sumiyoshi Rion claimed the silver medal with a steady weekend while American Amber Glenn soared back from a disastrous short program to jump from 11th to claim bronze (185.39) - her first Grand Prix medal outside the U.S Republic of Korea teenager Kim Chae-yeon (181.42) and Lorine Schild (175.71) of France rounded out the top five It marks the fifth Grand Prix win of Sakamoto's career who said she didn't show her "complete" skating in Espoo but aimed to "get back home [to Japan] and practice for the Final," she said via an interpreter In ice dance, Sakamoto's fellow 2023 world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. won their sixth career Grand Prix title, scoring a 209.46 to beat Canada's Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Nikolaj Sørensen, 206.32. securing GP Final spot ","section_level_1":"news","section_level_2":"sakamoto-kaori-completes-grand-prix-sweep--title-espoo-securing-final-spot-figure-skating","discipline":"discipline-figure-skating","odf_id":null,"module_instance":"CTAs - Blue Link","module_id":"028e795f-bcd5-462e-86da-9067756e22a7","link_tag":"Start 2026 in Italy Sakamoto was some 20 points south of her 226.13 at Skate Canada a fact she was clearly aware of as her scores came through in Espoo She made several small errors that compounded in the free including an edge call on her first triple Lutz an under-rotation on her Salchow and a q (quarter of a rotation under) for her final jump But she nonetheless was the most in-command skater on the weekend her Lauryn Hill medley free still skated with moving artistry and ice coverage That helped her to a 68.73 in program components for the free There would be no triple Axel for the American like a month ago at her home Grand Prix (she singled her attempt to start) who skated with overt determination thereafter landing seven triple jumps - including four in combination Her unlikely jump from 11th to bronze helped salvage her Grand Prix season after being fifth at Skate America Sumiyoshi skated just before Sakamoto and fought through several of her own issues which was called under-rotated by the technical panel but held herself together well to claim the silver She remains in the Grand Prix Final running having won bronze at Grand Prix de France It was disappointment for 16-year-old Kim of Korea who fell on a triple Lutz early and never fully recovered getting marked down on four other jumping passes The Skate Canada silver medallist - like Sumiyoshi - now waits for NHK Trophy next week to see if she gets an invite to Beijing The reigning and two-time world champion says this Olympic quad is all about levelling up her bronze from Beijing 2022 she opens up on her infectious penchant for fun It's a double-gold season for the American veterans in ice dance Chock/Bates adding to their win at Skate America with a victory in Espoo receiving a Level 2 (of 4) and impacting the team's GOEs (Grades of Execution) They were out-scored by the Canadians on their technical marks but won the day in program components (artistry) to have a slim edge in the free dance Finland's Juulia Turkkila and Matthias Versluis captured a bronze for the home fans "For the most part we're very proud of our performances here and we'll head back home and there's lots of hard work there," Chock said Added Bates: "We want to build on this strong performance and do even better at the Final.. The passion is still burning strong." SM-viikko (The Week of Finnish Championships) will be held for the tenth time The competitions will be organised in familiar competition venues as Espoo will host SM-viikko for the first time this year SM-viikko 2026 will run from 30 July to 2 August SM-viikko competitions are ideal for Espoo where people engage in sports and a wide variety of sporting events throughout the year “We are pleased to be hosting SM-viikko for two consecutive years The event is a great opportunity for Espoo residents to see familiar and even unfamiliar sports right nearby without having to pay an admission fee,” says Merra “ Espoo has already proven to be an excellent event partner in preparing the 2025 competitions It is therefore a great pleasure to host SM-viikko once again in the same places with the same people Hosting it again in the same city allows us to develop the event and come up with new ideas because we’re already familiar with the arrangements and the competition venues have already been tested,” explains Päivi Harri Thousands of athletes will be gathering in Espoo for SM-viikko to compete for the Finnish championship of their respective sports athletes from 24 different sports will be competing for Finnish Championship medals The arrangements for the event are well underway and the final sprint to the event begins as the spring progresses “When you’re organising such a large multi-sport event SM-viikko will be put together with the participating sports Cooperation has been absolutely seamless and we are right on schedule we can rest assured as we head towards mid-August when the entire array of SM-viikko competitions can be enjoyed at Leppävaara Sports Park Espoo is the seventh host city of the event and the third city to host the event twice SM-viikko is part of the Finnish Olympic Committee’s events consortium KOKO Tapahtuma is responsible for its operative implementation in cooperation with the involved sports governing bodies SM-viikko will be held on 14–17 August in Espoo. Learn more on the SM-viikko website. (external link, opens in a new window) SM-viikko 2026 will be held on 30 July–2 August. in Espoo. The call for sport applications will open in the spring of 2025. answering call from teammate Sato ShunMiura skated last following a nearly flawless performance from Sato The 18-year-old secured his spot in next month's Grand Prix Final Picture by 2023 ISU - Photo by Jurij Kodrun - International Skating Union via Getty ImagesBy Nick McCarvelMiura Kao answered the call from teammate Sato Shun on Saturday (18 November) at Grand Prix Espoo in Finland Miura skated last and was forced to follow a brilliant free skate from Sato with one of his own his 182.93 score giving him a 274.56 overall his first-ever Grand Prix title - and stamps his ticket to next month's Grand Prix Final in Beijing "In the past I've expereienced many losses," Miura said via an interpreter I want to get back to Japan to practice and get ready [for it]." the 26-year-old Frenchman bouncing back from fifth to claim a podium spot with a 250.03 and was just shy of his personal best scores in his free skate and overall In pairs, Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany 192.72 won their first Grand Prix title, as well, making their GP debut as a team, having just joined forces this season. They leapt from third after the short program to win the free skate and claim gold. It was a dramatic finish to the men's event, with Sato winning the free skate with a beautiful performance to "Four Seasons", executing across three quadruple jumps and receiving positive GOEs (Grades of Execution) on all of his elements. Sato puts himself on the cusp of the Final, too, though he will have to sit and wait to see what happens next week at NHK Trophy, where both two-time and reigning world champion Uno Shoma and 2022 Olympic silver medallist Kagiyama Yuma could leap-frog him. Aymoz, too, is in the GPF running, thanks to another mesmerizing performance of "Bolero", this one coming a month after his chilling free skate at Skate America. After popping his opening quad attempt in the short program, Aymoz fought hard for a quad toe to start before settling in for his long, his 90.51 program component score (artistry), winning the day in the men's free skate. He joins Sato in the wait for a Grand Prix Final call-up or not. There will be no such wait for Miura, who pumped his fist in celebration as his winning scores came up. He worked especially hard in his free, fighting to save landings on a trio of quads himself. He was at the Grand Prix Final as a junior a year ago, finishing fifth.   It was a strong Saturday for Rizzo, too, the Italian bouncing from sixth place to finish in fourth. His teammate Memola celebrated his 20th birthday with a strong free of his own, landing in fifth. American Jimmy Ma, who was third after the short program, sunk to 11th overall as he struggled through his free skate. Another new pairs team in China's Peng Cheng and Lei Wang looked poised to win gold just a week after their bronze-medal performance at Cup of China in their Grand Prix debut. But the short program leaders failed to get off a successful side-by-side jumping pass, knocking them to fourth in the free and fourth overall - missing the podium by just 0.03 points. Reigning world bronze medallists Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii of Italy finished second with a 188.60, while it was Hungary's Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko who edged out Peng/Wang for bronze at 186.19 (to 186.16). Both Conti/Macii (with two silver medals) and Pavlova/Sviatchenko (with a silver and bronze) are in the mix for the GP Final, while Peng/Wang have an outside shot. Hase/Volodin go to NHK Trophy next week, where they will look to make the Beijing field with another strong outing. "We can be even better," Volodin said after their win. "We're going to try and improve next week." Added Hase: "We want to try and qualify for the Grand Prix Final." The team also said it's eyeing the European podium in January. Similarly to last year, in Espoo and elsewhere in the Helsinki metropolitan area, a variety of events and activities will take place during Cycling Week. The cities of Espoo, Helsinki, and Vantaa, together with Helsinki Region Transport (HSL), are partnering with the Helsinki Cyclists’ Association (Hepo), which is acting as the producer of the event week. Events in Espoo include:  Increasing cycling is an effective way to reduce transportation related carbon dioxide emissions. Transportation is currently the largest source of emissions in Espoo. The development of bicycle traffic has been monitored in Espoo for quite some time. The recently published traffic review provides more insights into the trends in cycling and traffic in general.  Espoo is actively developing its cycling infrastructure. Sections of the Rantaradanbaana cycling route are currently under construction as part of the Espoo urban railway project.  The city bike season in Espoo and Helsinki has begun again. The season runs from 1 April to 31 October 2025. There are 4,600 bikes and 460 bike stations available in Espoo and Helsinki. This year marks a festive milestone, as the city bikes have been rolling on Helsinki's streets for ten years. The bike stations first appeared in Espoo a year later during a pilot phase, and the system was officially launched citywide the following year. To celebrate Cycling Week, you can get a week’s access to city bikes for half price – only 5 EUR with the code PYORAILYVIIKKO. The weekly pass includes an unlimited number of trips up to one hour each. The code is valid for the entire Cycling Week, from 2 to 11 May 2025.  Efforts to increase everyday cycling are also supported through various sustainable development projects. For example, the Cycle4Climate project (EU Interreg Central Baltic, 2024–2027) aims to reduce traffic emissions by promoting cycling through various actions. In the Kestävän tulevaisuuden kaupunginosat project, different sustainable mobility and cycling solutions are being piloted in cooperation with businesses.  Finnish Early Childhood Education in Espoo has systematically developed methods to increase childrens day-to-day physical activity The early childhood education plan guides educators towards an exercise-oriented approach physical activity has many health benefits but did you know that physical activity and good motor skills are also linked to learning exercise promotes the development of social skills “Exercise has positive impacts on things such as attention memory and concentration – skills that every child needs for learning The effects are particularly substantial in early childhood when children’s brains develop rapidly and learning is intensive,” says Project Coordinator Tuuli Tepponen of Espoo’s Finnish Early Childhood Education Because physical activity plays such a significant role in terms of learning and every child’s overall well-being exercise is part of every child’s day in the early childhood education provided by Espoo “The City’s early childhood education plan also provides guidance towards this goal,” Tepponen says as a reminder Tepponen leads the Varhaiskasvatuksen aktiivinen arki (Active daily life in early childhood education) project for Espoo’s Finnish Early Childhood Education She has a background as an early childhood education teacher and physical activity counsellor The Varhaiskasvatuksen aktiivinen arki project has focused on developing concrete ways to increase physical activity in children’s day-to-day lives The project has received funding from the Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland and it started in Espoo in the autumn of 2022 the project has trained staff and purchased various sports equipment for the early childhood education sports equipment lending office Early childhood education units can gain access to skis The goal is to establish an exercise-oriented approach into Espoo’s early childhood education about a quarter of early childhood education-age children exercise less than recommended According to the recommendations for physical activity in the early years a child under school age should have three hours of physical activity every day including one hour of vigorous exercise that makes you catch your breath especially in increasing physical activity among more passive children and in inspiring them towards exercise A great deal can be done in early childhood education to promote children’s physical activity,” Tepponen says as a reminder one of the goals of the project has been to encourage children who are less active to exercise and increase inclusion in physical education Every child has the right to participate in physical activity experience a sense of achievement and appropriate challenges Studies have shown that children from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds are less physically active in their free time than those with a Finnish background the Varhaiskasvatuksen aktiivinen arki project has sought to promote the physical activity of multilingual children by encouraging families to participate in physical activity with their children “The piloting of the Kieltä liikkeellä (Language through motion) model developed within the project has involved family exercise activities for families with different linguistic and cultural backgrounds Physical activity is known to be linked to the development of linguistic abilities Playful exercise and activities also support learning a new language so exercise yields many benefits to these children and their families,” Tepponen says Equipment purchases can also promote equality and equal experiences of physical activities between children Thanks to the sports equipment lending office even children whose families cannot afford to buy the necessary equipment can try out new sports Inclusive physical education takes into account children’s different starting points “As the latest addition to the early childhood education sports equipment lending office some adaptive physical activity equipment has been procured,” says Tepponen “This includes assistive devices intended for children with disabilities such as skating sleds and special swings.” Training and inspiring the personnel have played an important role in the Varhaiskasvatuksen aktiivinen arki project Employees have been offered concrete methods and practical tools to increase physical activity in early childhood education Various workshops and sparring sessions have been organised and a wealth of material has been produced to encourage and support educators towards developing and strengthening an exercise-oriented culture Both municipal and private day care centers residents’ parks and family day care providers have been involved participation in the training has shown how small changes can add physical activity to children’s everyday lives “If there are decals for jumping games on the floor of the day care center or the physical activity equipment is constantly and freely available to everyone more movement will be added to the day almost without any effort,” Tepponen describes almost 80 per cent of municipal day care centers are already involved in the national Liikkuva varhaiskasvatus (Physical activity in early childhood education) programme This is a national exercise and well-being programme aiming to ensure that every child has the opportunity to engage in physical activity and enjoy the joy of sports every day “The goal is to get all municipal day care centers in Espoo to join the programme,” says Saara Salmi-Rautiainen the early childhood education specialist responsible for Espoo’s Liikkuva varhaiskasvatus network “The aim is to integrate physicla activity into all early childhood education activities as an overarching work method.” exercise is also combined with outdoor recreation The opportunities provided by local nature are used actively A special feature of Espoo is that even in an urban environment there is usually no need to go very far as forests and outdoor recreation areas are available nearby we organise the Mennään metsään (Let’s go to the woods) week twice a year in Espoo the learning environment is expanded to nearby nature and the usual daily activities of early childhood education are introduced to a forest environment,” says Tepponen the benefits of both exercise and spending time in nature can be combined “The seeds for an active lifestyle are sown early on "Early childhood education plays a significant role in forming a positive relationship with physical activity and igniting the joy and spark of physical activity,” says Salmi-Rautiainen In Espoo, children in early childhood education are also activated through the Leiki ja liiku activities. The Exercise Through Games project brings exergaming to schools and teaching. Construction work on the Espoo Rail Line will cause disruptions to railway traffic from May to the end of September Individual disruptions will last for a day or a weekend The longest continuous disruption will last for five weeks from Midsummer to the end of July The disruptions will affect both commuter and long-distance services between Helsinki and Turku The Espoo Rail Line project will continue until 2029 The Espoo Rail Line project involves building two additional tracks between Leppävaara and Kauklahti to streamline commuter and long-distance train services on the coastal railway line It is also a step towards more sustainable and cleaner rail transport on the busy route bridges and other structures requires excavation pile driving and soil reinforcement in many areas Platform structures and routes around the stations will also be renovated and much-needed platform shelters will be built at the stations that do not yet have them such as the Rantaradanbaana cycling route and new underpasses will be built in connection with the rail line project Both shorter disruptions and the five-week disruption from Midsummer onwards are needed so that work related to the structures of the existing tracks can be carried out and that the working conditions around the tracks are safe Y and X commuter trains and long-distance trains travelling between Helsinki and Turku A trains will run between Helsinki and Leppävaara as usual during the disruptions During the five-week disruption in the summer U trains will provide a faster connection between Helsinki and Leppävaara U trains will run every 20 minutes during rush hour on weekdays reduced night services will be operated on the coastal railway line The replacement buses have an open fare collection system Replacement bus timetables for the spring are already available in the Journey Planner(external link, opens in a new window) Summer timetables will be added to the Journey Planner during the spring Other public transport services will run as usual during the service disruptions on the coastal railway line the metro provides an alternative transport link from Espoo to Helsinki There are a number of bus services that run frequently to metro stations During the service disruption in the summer some bus services will be operated more frequently The City of Espoo is not responsible for the replacement transport services More information about the Espoo Rail Line project replacement transport services and timetables is available on the following websites: HSL Journey Planner(external link, opens in a new window) HSL information page for the project(external link, opens in a new window) Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency’s project page(external link, opens in a new window) Press release by Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency(external link, opens in a new window) (in Finnish) City of Espoo information page City of Kauniainen information page(external link, opens in a new window) (in Finnish) VR traffic interruption page(external link, opens in a new window) Espoo Cathedral will soon be closed for renovation but you can still come and celebrate Easter at the Cathedral in concerts or the Vigil (in Finnish) Photo: Jukka Granström / Espoon seurakunnat Espoo’s Evangelical Lutheran parishes will offer a full programme of spiritual and cultural events this Easter The season also offers a final opportunity to attend events at Espoo Cathedral before it closes for a two-year renovation The Easter season remains one of the most visited times of the year for Espoo’s churches interest has been especially strong among younger audiences with last year’s Stabat Mater concert drawing a full house The Good Friday Stabat Mater performance at Espoo Cathedral will again feature the vocal ensemble Munx Gregoriana known for its focus on medieval sacred music While the Cathedral’s church hall will fall silent after Easter services and events will continue elsewhere throughout the city the Easter season includes gatherings that reflect the city’s international population Events at Suvela Chapel include a multicultural women’s evening on 10 April and a bilingual Palm Sunday worship service on 13 April Ukrainian Easter will be celebrated at Chapple in Iso Omena on Easter Monday while an Arabic-language Maundy Thursday Mass takes place on 17 April Kilonristi offers a worship and Eucharist service in Igbo and English on Sunday 13 April Espoo International Lutheran Worship will also hold a bilingual Palm Sunday service that day at Suvela Chapel Soukka Chapel will host a fellowship and dance party on 12 April For those seeking informal interaction with local church staff pastors and deacons from Olari Parish will be available for conversation at Naapuruustalo Matinkylä on 17 April Espoo parishes are continuing their community lunch initiative at Olari Church with the next lunch scheduled for 10 April The Easter Vigil takes place across all Espoo parish churches at 11 PM on Saturday 19 April the vigil begins with Easter bonfires before a pilgrimage to Leppävaara Church Easter Sunday’s international service at Tapiola Church includes a family-friendly worship A supervised play area will be available for children The service will be streamed online via the parish’s YouTube channel Churches advise visitors to use public transport due to limited parking Espoo has approximately 40 kilometres of nature trails routes intended for educational and recreational use Along the trail there are signs providing information on the characteristics and special features of nature The twenty nature trails located throughout Espoo offer a great opportunity to explore the city’s diverse nature “Even though the nature trails are not illuminated or maintained in winter are five kilometres long,” says Katrin Aia Environmental Planner of the City of Espoo Espoo’s nature trails are not difficult to walk - they are easily managed if you are otherwise used to walking in nature they are not suitable for those with limited mobility Some nature trails can also be walked with prams but there are only two actual accessible nature trails in Espoo “Nature trails suitable for children can be found near Villa Elfvik where you can follow a story about the trail,” explains Aia there are several birdwatching towers in Espoo three of which can be found along the nature trails of Finno Most of the Espoo nature trails are located in nature reserves which would not be accessible at all without the trail and the services it provides “Nature reserves offer people a safe opportunity to get out into nature and even see rare habitats up close Nature trails are never made in completely pristine areas - they are always built upon an existing path or track visitor access must be controlled while protecting nature the recently completed Kalajärvi fitness stairs have brought more visitors to the nature reserve a new nature trail is now being planned so that we can have better control over visitor access,” says Aia The City of Espoo has not prepared its own guidelines on the use of nature trails “Metsähallitus’ Outdoor Etiquette is a good guideline There is no waste management on the trails so you have to bring your own rubbish out with you And generally ensure that there are no unnecessary traces left out in nature,” emphasises Aia There are no actual campfire sites or rest areas along the nature trails in the nature reserve due to their location or short distances There is only one cooking shelter maintained by the City of Helsinki along the Sorlampi nature trail Aia gets a lot of outdoor exercise because of her work She does not have a favourite nature trail which offers a wide variety of things to see Get to know the nature trails in Espoo. Get to know the outdoor recreation areas in Espoo. This article was also published in an Espoo liikkuu advertising supplement in the Länsiväylä newspaper on 23 April 2025. Artistic Director of the SoundScapes event The SoundScapes #5 festival will take place on 2–3 May at Espoo Cultural Centre’s Louhisali gathering thirteen acclaimed musicians for a series of live improvised performances that challenge the boundaries of traditional music the event highlights contemporary improvisation through spontaneous making every concert a one-of-a-kind experience Finnish saxophonist and long-time Berlin-based figure in the avant-garde music scene Sjöström also performs during the event and is the creator of the SoundScapes concept It’s like jumping into cold water,” he said Key performers include trombonist Giancarlo Schiaffini and violinist Philipp Wachsmann They will be joined by both veteran artists and newer voices reflecting more than six decades of music history Musicians will form ever-changing ensembles throughout the two-day programme The festival format allows for surprising interactions and unexpected sonic directions Harri Sjöström (soprano and sopranino saxophones) The festival is organised by the City of Espoo and presents a rare opportunity for Finnish audiences to experience world-class improvisation in an intimate setting The performances will explore the full spectrum of spontaneous musical creation from subtle textures to intense soundscapes © Helsinki Times All rights reserved.  Terms of Use | Privacy Policy Tokmanni     Press release     25 November 2024 at 5:15 p.m Tokmanni has a very comprehensive range of products for the Christmas season The photo above is from the Tokmanni store in Mäntsälä located on the second floor of the Entresse shopping centre offers a comprehensive selection of products focusing on the product range in the new store is more versatile than in the Tokmanni store that served its customers for a long time in the neighbouring Espoontori shopping centre designed in line with Tokmanni’s newest store concept emphasising convenient and pleasant shopping which is around 750 square metres more than its predecessor had Customer service at the Entresse store is provided by a team of around 15 retail professionals led by Store Manager Sanna Viita The store is open on weekdays from 8 am to 9 pm on Saturdays from 8 am to 8 pm and on Sundays from 10 am to 7 pm The address of the Tokmanni store and at the same time the Entresse shopping centre is Siltakatu 11 A shop-in-shop department of the Tokmanni’s Miny lifestyle brand can be found in more than 40 Tokmanni stores including the Tokmanni store in the Entresse shopping centre in Espoo The photo above is from the Tokmanni store in Hyvinkää Convenient services and smart energy choices In addition to offering a comprehensive and affordable product assortment and a pleasant shopping experience Tokmanni focuses on services that make customers’ daily lives easier and on smart energy choices The variety discount retailer purchases fossil-free electricity for its Tokmanni stores and uses energy-efficient LED lightning Opening offers and surprise buckets with product gifts in true Tokmanni style Tokmanni always celebrates the openings of its new stores with generous opening offers. In the Tokmanni store in the Entresse shopping centre, the opening offers will be valid from Thursday 28 November to Sunday 1 December 2024 500 of the Tokmanni’s famous surprise buckets filled with product gifts will be handed out for free to the first customers in the Entresse store on the day of the opening on Thursday 28 November Two of the surprise buckets will also contain a EUR 50 gift card At the store opening ceremonies on Thursday morning 28 November, Tokmanni will be represented by Mika Rautiainen On the opening day of the new Tokmanni store in the Entresse shopping centre on 28 November, Tokmanni will also celebrate its fully refurbished store in Kuusankoski The refurbishments were based not only on Tokmanni’s goal of improving the shopping experience but also on the extensive renovation of the commercial building by the property owner In addition to the store in the Entresse shopping centre in Espoo new Tokmanni stores will be celebrated in Nikkilä in Sipoo and Sodankylä this year the new store will replace the current store which will be closed at the end of November this year The latest new Dollarstore store opened its doors in Karlstad in September this year The latest new Big Dollar store was opened in Frederikshavn in May this year New Dollarstore stores will be celebrated next in the Strömpilen shopping area in Umeå and in Burlöv municipality on Friday 29 November new Big Dollar stores will be celebrated in Randers and Grena (or Grenå) on the same day Tokmanni Group has announced that it will open several new stores in 2025–2026 as well. More information about the stores can be found on the Group's website. the victim was 29-year-old former professional ice hockey player Janne Puhakka Open image viewerFile photo from 2023 of former professional hockey player Janne Puhakka STT14.10.2024 17:43•Updated 14.10.2024 18:28Police in Espoo have opened a murder investigation into the death of a man in the city's Henttaa district on Sunday evening Police said that officers detained a 65-year-old man who is suspected of shooting Puhakka to death Ilta-Sanomat has reported the suspect is Rolf Nordmo the victim's longtime Norwegian boyfriend told news agency STT there was reason to believe the suspect's actions were deliberate and cruel The police declined to comment about the identities of those involved or "The suspect and victim knew each other That much I can say," Högman told STT Officers were called to the apartment on Sunday at around 8 pm the call to emergency services came from a third party the suspect came out of the apartment without incident and that bystanders were not in danger during the incident Yle and STT published the names of the victim and suspect because they have both appeared in the media in a number of contexts Puhakka's played for the Espoo Blues in Finland's top ice hockey league The Espoo native also played in the country's second-tier league He moved on to France's top-level Ligue Magnus in 2017 Puhakka's pro hockey career came to a close after his stint in France Puhakka told newspaper Helsingin Sanomat that he was gay — the first big league Finnish hockey player to make such a public announcement The interview was well received by the public Puhakka also featured in the latest season of the TV series Petolliset a reality show franchise from the Netherlands Nelonen Media said that it would not broadcast the reality show's final episode on Thursday the network said it and the show's production team were deeply shocked by the news of Puhakka's death "We have come to the decision that now is not the time to show the episode We will return to the question of possibly presenting the episode later," Nelonen Media's statement read About UsThe TeamOur ValuesAdvisory Panel Our Clients What is a Smart City? Terms and ConditionsCookie PolicyRegistrationLogin © 2025 SmartCitiesWorldSmart Cities World Ltd "+ articleTitle +" Guardians are increasingly satisfied with their children’s early childhood education but they are still concerned about the adequacy and high turnover of staff Guardians’ satisfaction with early childhood education has increased according to the results of the assessment surveys carried out in Espoo in 2024 Responses were received from a total of 2,170 guardians in the spring and 1,971 guardians in the autumn The survey has been conducted twice a year since 2021 The survey is conducted by Espoo’s Finnish Early Childhood Education Unit to monitor client satisfaction The results are used as part of the assessment and development of early childhood education The survey was directed at the clients of municipal and service voucher day care centres surveys were also conducted for day care centre directors and staff most guardians were satisfied with their children’s early childhood education unit and the quality of early childhood education the average satisfaction score among guardians was 5.6 (on a scale of 1–6) which is the highest level since the autumn 2022 survey Guardians were also satisfied with their children’s wellbeing and learning in early childhood education the average score for this question was 5.2 (on a scale of 1–6) “The results indicate a high level of satisfaction They are consistent with the results of the capital region municipalities’ joint early childhood education client survey which were published in January 2025,” says Development Manager Raija Laine from Espoo’s Finnish Early Childhood Education Unit Most of the guardians’ open-ended answers were also positive it is clear that guardians are still concerned about the adequacy and high turnover of staff and the resources allocated to early childhood education as it has also been raised in previous years’ surveys We are working hard here in Espoo to improve the situation we have focused more on improving working conditions the number of qualified childcarers in our recruitment processes increased compared to previous years,” Laine says A total of 415 staff members responded to the survey in the spring and 459 in the autumn Most of them were from municipal day care centres Employees’ satisfaction with their work and workplace slightly improved in 2024 staff satisfaction in terms of the two questions measuring satisfaction increased with both reaching an average score of 4.7 (on a scale of 1–6 The City of Espoo’s positive approach to training and the opportunities for additional training received praise from staff employees also mentioned experiences of work stress The suggested areas for improvement included the level of pay for demanding work as well as the sufficient number and expertise of substitutes the open-ended responses show that support from supervisors and co-workers as well as flexibility increase staff wellbeing “We have been systematically working to strengthen employee wellbeing and leadership in early childhood education and the indicators we monitor show that we are moving in the right direction employee turnover has decreased and employees are more willing to recommend Espoo’s early childhood education as an employer there is still a lot of work to be done,” Laine says Approximately 40 day care centre directors responded to the survey Their average satisfaction score regarding their work and workplace was 4.9 (on a scale of 1–6) and remained at the same level as in 2023 Satisfaction with the pedagogical work and activities in their units received an average score of 4.7 in the autumn of 2024 (4.6 in the spring) Directors feel that the challenging staffing situation and tight budget put a strain on leadership the development of deputy and assistant director models received praise from the directors Support received for developing leadership structures pedagogical work and development activities promotes staff wellbeing “We have already taken many measures to support leadership and reduce the burden on directors the number of assistant directors has been increased The entire work community benefits from sufficient leadership resources,” Laine says The first assessment survey in 2025 will be conducted from 17 April to 3 May. Active participation by guardians and staff will provide valuable feedback and up-to-date information on the state of early childhood education. You can take the survey here.(external link, opens in a new window) The City of Espoo and Fortum have committed to introducing carbon-neutral heating in the district heating network in Espoo, Kauniainen and Kirkkonummi in the 2020s. The intermediate target is to phase out coal by 2025. Espoo has committed to the goal of becoming a carbon-neutral city by 2030. Fortum and the City of Espoo have committed to introducing carbon-neutral heating in the district heating network in Espoo, Kauniainen and Kirkkonummi in the 2020s. The district heating network provides heating to 250 000 end-users in homes and offices. Coal will be completely phased out by 2025. The new generation of district heating will replace fossil fuels with smart and flexible solutions, including the use of waste heat from data centres and waste water, renewable electricity and heat pumps and bioenergy. AI optimises the way in which the system functions. Espoo wants to take care of nature as the city grows. The city has prepared an ambitious plan and goals for how we will maintain and increase biodiversity in the coming years. This will require new kind of thinking, operating methods and cooperation – nature wisdom. The City Board approved the road map at its meeting on 10 February 2025. The Nature-wise Espoo roadmap aims to improve biodiversity in Espoo. One of the key goals for 2035 is that the ecological network is highly functional and coherent. The term “ecological network” refers to key nature areas and their interconnecting green corridors along which plant and animal species can move and spread. Another goal is to revive biotopes and species. In Espoo, there are plenty of different types of biotopes, such as forests, rocks, sea shores, river valleys and traditional biotopes, that have their own species. The sea area and other bodies of water will be in at least good condition by 2035. Espoo residents appreciate their local nature and opportunities for recreation. One of the goals of the roadmap is to have plenty of green space and urban green and to have them support biodiversity. Promoting biodiversity in a growing city is a major challenge. The goals can be achieved through systematic action, which includes the development of operations to reduce harm to nature and increase nature benefits in all operations of the city. “During the roadmap work, we surveyed our current practices and found that a lot of good is already being done. New operating models and tools are developed in the long term, and the development work is already underway,” says Olli Isotalo, Deputy Mayor of Urban Environment. The Urban Environment Sector carries out a wide range of work, from planning to construction and nature management. New operating methods will be established as part of the work of professionals in different fields. “Nature-wise Espoo is a common cause for all Espoo residents. The city promotes the goals through concrete actions. We need help from our residents, organisations, companies and all other stakeholders,” says Director of Environmental Affairs Tarja Söderman. Residents can promote biodiversity by, for example, participating in various community efforts. Valuable nature can also be found in residents’ own gardens and courtyards: places like garden meadows are oases of diversity. and company visits have helped many foreigners secure employment Open image viewerIita Turkka (left) and Lauren Jung from Espoo help highly skilled jobseekers in Espoo with its rapidly growing foreign-born population has taken a specialised approach to employment services for highly skilled immigrants The city operates a Competence Centre for Highly Educated Immigrants opportunities to connect with local business leaders in Espoo the city runs a second Competence Centre that assists other immigrants in finding work and educational opportunities Last year, career counsellors and business coordinators who work for the unit helped around 500 highly educated immigrant job seekers in Espoo. Roughly half of them had degrees in technical fields. Despite Finland's difficult employment situation International migration has played a major role in Espoo's population growth in recent years According to preliminary data from Statistics Finland the city's population increased by 7,000 residents last year now a community coordinator for the City of Espoo was one such professional who received help from this service who moved from Los Angeles to Finland 10 years ago worked for a company offering language courses When she sought new challenges and was uncertain about her next career step she turned to the City of Espoo's Competence Centre visiting the office weekly while unemployed Jung wanted to network and took full advantage of community events such as the Centre's morning porridge sessions which are also attended by local business leaders from Espoo Jung spoke about the importance of networking to break into the “Finland Club,” where you have to know the right people More proactive approachEspoo’s general employment services typically meet job seekers only once every three months whereas these special units take a more proactive approach by meeting clients almost daily and organising company visits the customer manager who oversees these units justified the need for a specialised service for highly skilled professionals She explained that the principle of equal service focuses on achieving the same outcome for everyone — securing employment — not offering identical services to all One requirement to access the Competence Centre for Highly Educated Immigrants is a Finnish language proficiency of at least B1 which means having enough language skills for daily life Silfver however believes that rigid language requirements at Finnish workplaces need to be relaxed if the goal is to get educated immigrants into work The best way to learn the language is through work itself Employees of the service have noticed that certain characteristics of Finnish work life can make it more challenging for immigrants to find jobs it’s unheard of to directly call a hiring manager when job hunting she thought the phone numbers shared in Finnish job ads were merely a formality Lauren Jung recounts how her first call to a potential employer went: the flat hierarchy in Finnish workplaces is new and unfamiliar to many immigrants and it's perfectly fine to call the company's directors when job hunting "A recruiter might easily overlook an applicant who doesn't seem relaxed and acts too formally the right person for the job may not get hired," he said who moved to Espoo from Germany with his Finnish wife spent a year unemployed after Volta Trucks laid off most of its staff at the end of 2023 due to financial difficulties The support provided by career counsellors was the most important help for Grzegorski in his job search the career counsellors cheered me up saying 'we’ll get through this together'," he said Employees at the service believe supporting clients is at the heart of career counselling as job hunting is lonely and often filled with setbacks Grzegorski started working at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland where he leads a 17-person team researching sustainable drivetrains for the next generation of vehicles It felt uncomfortable to claim unemployment benefits in a new country I want to contribute by paying taxes and being an active part of society," he said Open image viewerAndreas Grzegorski, who moved to Finland from Germany, now works in VTT. Image: Andreas GrzegorskiUsers with an Yle ID can leave comments on our news stories. You can create your Yle ID via this link. Our guidelines on commenting and moderation are explained here. In last autumn’s My Espoo survey we asked residents about their views on Espoo and its future. The results show that Espoo residents particularly appreciate their city’s closeness to nature, safety, and overall pleasantness. When thinking of Espoo, the first things that come to mind are nature, greenery and forests. This was the response of nearly one third (32%) of respondents. Around one fifth of respondents primarily see Espoo as their home (19%) and a maritime city (18%). 11% of respondents emphasise its pleasantness and beauty. Residents identified construction as the most important area for development, though slightly less frequently than in the survey conducted four years ago. According to respondents, the city should do a better job of considering nature and green spaces in construction. They would also like the city to improve its cycling infrastructure and make the city more pleasant and visually appealing. Other development priorities mentioned by respondents include services, public transport, sports and recreational opportunities, and elderly services. Residents also want the city to ensure sufficient resources for schools and day care centres. School-aged respondents particularly emphasised the importance of sports facilities, schools and shopping centres. Future visions vary across different age groups. Young people value pleasant and clean surroundings, residents aged 35–44 highlight nature and safety, and those aged over 65 emphasise the functionality of services. Overall, residents see future Espoo as a green and nature-friendly city. Forests, natural parks, safety and reliability are highlighted as important features of the future city. Respondents would recommend Espoo as a place to live. The Net Promoter Score (NPS) remains relatively high at +24, though it has declined from the previous survey in 2020 (NPS +31). Espoo is particularly recommended by over 65-year-olds (NPS +31) and by English-speaking respondents. Criticism is mainly directed at the uncontrolled growth of the city, construction and planning solutions, and housing costs. Those who would recommend the city, on the other hand, highlight the accessibility of services, the closeness of nature, and the city’s peacefulness. Among these people, 45% consider the proximity of services as the most important reason for recommending the city. The results of the My Espoo survey serve as the most important dataset reflecting residents’ views in the preparation of the city’s new strategy, known as the Espoo Story. The new City Council will be elected in April and is expected to decide on the new Espoo Story in September–October 2025. The Auroranportti pedestrian and cycling route will be closed from 28 April to 30 September 2025 The construction of the 20 kV cable route related to the Espoo data centre project begins on Monday 28 April 2025 a 600-metre section of the pedestrian and cycling route next to Ring Road III The construction work is scheduled to continue until the end of September 2025 A detour for the closed section will be arranged via the pedestrian and cycling route along Kylänportti Road users are advised to take note of the temporary traffic arrangements and to follow the signs and traffic control instructions at the construction site Teijo Viinikainen, Destiakaapeliurakka110@destia.fi Merja Narvo-Akkola started as Deputy Mayor for Growth and Learning in Espoo on 1 April 2025 The Growth and Learning Sector ensures a smooth learner-centred learning path from early childhood education to the upper secondary level Our youth services also reach children and young people in their free time young people and their guardians throughout the learning path This allows us to create conditions for a seamless learning path and support the socially sustainable growth and learning of individuals and the entire community regardless of their background,” Narvo-Akkola says Narvo-Akkola served as the Head of Education Services at the City of Järvenpää She also has international experience as well as extensive experience in development tasks in the City of Espoo’s Education and Cultural Services the sector has been called the Growth and Learning Sector Superintendent of Schools for Basic Education development of shared leadership and collaborative culture in schools 11 years as Principal at Tähtiniityn koulu and Tähtitarhan koulu in Espoo Narvo-Akkola holds a Master of Arts degree in education Read more about her appointment on the city website. Open image viewerThe coin was found in a park in Espoo on 24 January 17:57A copper coin discovered by a schoolchild in a park in Espoo last month is believed to be about 230 years old A local residents' association handed the artefact over to Espoo City Museum where a curator estimated the coin was minted in 1795 during the reign of Russian Empress Catherine II also more commonly known as Catherine the Great This was evident from the year stamped on the coin as well as by the initials "IE II" "It may have been lost by a Russian soldier during the Finnish War," the association quotes the unnamed curator as saying in an Instagram postOpens an external website referring to the 1808-1809 conflict between Sweden and Russia as part of the Napoleonic Wars Open image viewerThe discovery was made in this park on 24 January Image: Taina KärhäThe discovery of historical artefacts has become increasingly common in Finland in recent years due to the rising popularity of metal detecting as a pastime according to Sami Raninen of the Finnish Heritage Agency But objects can also be found during everyday activities such as children's games If a coin that is more than 100 years old is found on land or in water the discovery must be reported to the Finnish Heritage Agency as decreed by Finland's Antiquities Act While the agency stores photographs and information about discoveries such as the one made in Espoo the artefact itself is usually returned to the original finder the schoolchild who made the discovery gets to keep the 230-year-old coin this one would probably have a story or two to tell," the agency wrote to the residents' association Users with an Yle ID can leave comments on our news stories. You can create your Yle ID via this link. Our guidelines on commenting and moderation are explained here 10.4.2025 11:23:26 EEST | Espoon seurakuntayhtymä | Press release the Evangelical Lutheran Parishes in Espoo are preparing for one of the most significant times of the year—second only to Christmas in terms of visitor numbers you can look forward to an impressive lineup of concerts featuring works by renowned composers such as Verdi there are special multicultural Easter events everyone is welcome to join regardless of your mother tongue This Easter offers a unique opportunity to attend concerts at Espoo Cathedral before it closes for renovations The church hall will fall silent for approximately two years with worship and events moving to nearby chapels and churches during that time  List of classical concerts featured below.  “Easter events have always drawn large crowds Some concerts have been so popular that we’ve had to close the doors before they even began,” says Sheldon Ylioja “Last year’s Good Friday Stabat Mater performance was completely full with a particularly strong turnout from young adults In addition to concerts, many are expected to attend Holy Week services, including the traditional Good Friday Service, which will feature the popular vocal ensemble Munx Gregoriana Palm Sunday and Holy Week include diverse events for all ages. Traditional Easter markets and craft events (also here) will be held throughout Espoo April 10th 12 noonCommunity lunch weekly at Olari Church (Rälssitilankuja 1) every Thursday from 12 noon to 1PM The upcoming lunch is scheduled for April 10.  Please note that there will be no lunch on April 17 due to Holy Week observances The fee for the lunch is €4; exact change is appreciated If you are experiencing financial difficulties you may request a voucher from a deacon or church worker present at the event Multicultural Women's Evening: Women Ambassadors of Transformation April 10th 6PMSuvela Chapel (Kirstintie 24) warmly invites women from diverse backgrounds to a special evening of fellowship and prayer This gathering offers a unique opportunity to connect with women from various cultures and communities And connect with multicultural worker Shazia Sabir and Pastor Marja Malvaranta. Multicultural Family Club April 11th 10AM Suvela Chapel (Kirstintie 24) in Espoo invites families to a Multicultural Family Club.The event offers a welcoming space for families of all backgrounds to connect April 12th 5PMJoin the fun at Soukka Chapel (Soukankuja 3) for a Fellowship & Dance Party on Saturday This lively evening brings people together to enjoy music and community spirit in a warm and welcoming atmosphere contact Jukka Pelkonen at 040 580 4416 4.30PMYou're warmly invited to a bilingual Worship and Eucharist Service in Igbo and English at Kilonristi (Vanharaide 1) on the 1st to 3rd Sundays of each month at 4:30 PM.Children are welcome and will have their own guided program during the service.  This inclusive service celebrates faith across cultures and languages Come experience a joyful and spirit-filled gathering The service is led by Anglican Pastor Isaac Ohaju. Contact: 044 019 7344 PALM SUNDAY: Espoo International Lutheran Worship (EILW) 3PMJoin us for worship and fellowship this Palm Sunday Espoo International Lutheran Worship Service at Suvela Chapel (Kirstintie 24) on Sunday Sunday school in Finnish during the service Meet the Church staff at Naapuruustalo Matinkylä 10AMCome and meet the pastors and deacons of Olari Parish at Naapuruustalo Matinkylä (Matinkatu 7) on Thursday April 17th from 10AM to 11:30AM. You're warmly invited to stop by for a friendly chat or a personal conversation and support you.  Other spring dates are May 8 & 22. All are welcome!Arabic Maundy Thursday Mass 6PMSuvela Chapel will host a Maundy Thursday Mass in Arabic on Thursday The service commemorates the Last Supper and offers Arabic speakers a chance to reflect and worship in their own language 5PMCome and celebrate Easter together!  aster worship Easter egg hunt and potluck after the service The service is bilingual (Finnish-English) Supervised play area for kids available during the service The service will be livestreamed on Tapiola Parish YouTube Channel.  and Easter egg decorating.  All welcome! Easter Vigil Services Across Espoo – Saturday 11 PMAll Espoo parish churches will hold Easter Vigil services on Saturday visitors can gather around Easter bonfires before joining an Easter pilgrimage to Leppävaara Church Please note: Parking is limited at churches and chapels visitors are encouraged to use public transportation or alternative travel options 6 PM – Tapiola Church.Palm Sunday ConcertSunday More information about tickets and other detail about the concerts (in Finnish) •    Holy Week: April 14–20, 2025•    Good Friday (Pitkäperjantai): April 18•    Holy Saturday (Lankalauantai): April 19•    Easter Sunday (Pääsiäissunnuntai): April 20•    Easter Monday (Toinen pääsiäispäivä): April 21•    Ascension Day (Helatorstai): May 29For more information on all multicultal activities, check our website.  Subscribe to all the latest releases from Espoon seurakuntayhtymä by registering your e-mail address below Perinteisten muskariryhmien lisäksi Espoon seurakunnissa on tarjolla uusia ryhmiä erityistä tukea tarvitseville lapsille Nu är det dags för anmälning till höstens musiklekgrupper för 0-5-åringar Espoon seurakuntayhtymä hakee ensimmäistä kertaa erityisdiakonia oppilaitostyöhön Tällä seurakunnat vastaavat erityisesti maahanmuuttajataustaisten opiskelijoiden lisääntyneeseen tuen tarpeeseen Esbo kyrkliga samfällighet delar årligen ut musikstipendier för sammanlagt 26 000 euro till det andliga musikarbetet i Esbo I år önskade man att särskilt unga musiker under 30 år skulle ansöka Sista inlämningsdagen för ansökan var den 28 februari 2025 Espoon seurakuntayhtymä jakaa vuosittain musiikkiapurahoja Espoossa tapahtuvaan hengelliseen musiikkityöhön In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases documents and other relevant information about us Tietosuoja JUser: :_load: Unable to load user with ID: 58 Crime-scene tape outside a detached home in Henttaa Western Uusimaa Police Department revealed yesterday that a roughly 65-year-old man is suspected of killing a 30-year-old man in a private residence in the neighbourhood on Sunday a former player in the top-tier ice hockey league in Finland JANNE PUHAKKA, the first openly gay player in the top-tier ice hockey league in Finland, Liiga, was killed in Henttaa, Espoo, on Sunday, according to Ilta-Sanomat Western Uusimaa Police Department on Monday reported that it was notified of a violent crime in a private residence in the neighbourhood at about 8pm on Sunday the responding officers arrested a roughly 65-year-old man on suspicion of shooting a roughly 30-year-old man Ilta-Sanomat on Monday published a report identifying the victim as Puhakka, 29, and the suspect as Rolf Nordmo, the 66-year-old Norwegian partner of Puhakka. Ville Luoto, the defence counsel of Nordmo, confirmed both identities to Helsingin Sanomat on Monday relationship or the nationalities of the involved parties Matti Högman, the officer leading the pre-trial investigation at Western Uusimaa Police Department, said to Helsingin Sanomat that the incident has been pushed up from manslaughter to murder due to details that point to deliberation “There are factors that suggest there’s reason to believe the suspect acted with stable deliberation the act is believed to have been very brutal and cruel,” he commented to the daily newspaper “We have a provisional understanding of the motive Puhakka came out as gay in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat in 2019 He went on to become a role model for gender and sexual minorities and was presently participating in Petolliset a Nelonen show based on the Dutch format De Verraders the final episode of the show has been cancelled due to the homicide Outgoing Mayor of Espoo Jukka Mäkelä and Chairman of the Espoo City Council Markku Sistonen congratulate Minister of the Environment and Climate Kai Mykkänen of the National Coalition Party at the Espoo City Council meeting on October 21 Mykkänen was elected as Espoo's new mayor during the meeting Kai Mykkänen has been elected as the new mayor of Espoo following the retirement of long-serving mayor Jukka Mäkelä currently Finland’s Minister of Climate and the Environment won the election held by the Espoo City Council on October 21 securing 44 votes in the second round of voting with his opponent Tuula Antola receiving 31 votes holds a Master of Social Sciences degree and has extensive experience in public administration He has served as a Member of Parliament and held various leadership roles in government making him a strong contender for the role of mayor His selection followed a thorough recruitment process that involved interviews and a comparison of the candidates' qualifications The position of mayor in Espoo is a fixed-term role lasting seven years with the possibility of additional terms of up to four years Mykkänen was selected based on a range of qualifications 12 candidates met the qualifications for the role with six advancing to the final interview stage he will be tasked with continuing to shape the city’s future particularly in areas like climate policy and sustainable urban development The highlight of the event will be the unique video and sound artwork projected on the wall of the Cultural Centre Our family-friendly event will also take over the Cultural Centre Kupla-klubi and the Venturo House in Tapionpuisto A sparkling atmosphere will be created by the impressive animation work futuristic lighting around Tapiola and at the Cultural Centre and children’s Glow Disco and glitter tattoos SOUND AND LIGHT SHOW: A WINDOW TO THE FUTURE The highlight of the night will be the audiovisual spectacle combining technology and creativity in a fascinating way The work will be shown every 20 minutes from 18:00 onwards Video and sound are the main elements in this year’s work Projected on the wall of the Espoo Cultural Centre the unique animation will bring the architecture of the building to life The entire square will turn into a time machine the audience gets to see exciting visions of what New Year’s festivities could be like in the future All visitors can take part in colouring this immersive journey in time Anyone wanting to join can connect their smart device to the light system allowing the work to spread through the audience Together we will create a wonderful night blazing with the colours of the future You can find the QR code needed for participation below Concept design and overall dramaturgy: Tomi Flyckt / Muheva Concept Lighting design and smart devices: Janne Kauranen / Rajupaja Sound design and music: Viljami Lehtonen / Äänilouhos Technical design and implementation: Rajupaja Technical production: Pasi Välimäki / Rajupaja Artist Pasi Rauhala’s light artwork Kudos breathes new life into the building Kudos is a tribute to the design and conceptual ideology of architect Matti Suuronen the installation combines spatiality and experiential elements with the artist’s interest in public space and architecture The symmetrical and futuristic design of the Venturo House is highlighted by the streaks of light moving inside the building creating an interactive connection between the interior and exterior The Cultural Centre’s activities kick off at 17:00 and offer many fun things to do for both kids and adults Families can dance at the Glow Disco in Louhisali and experience encounters offered by the Snägäri art installation in and outside of the Ahjo exhibition space adults can visit the fascinating Future Bar where DJs Alec Sibbald and Timjam will play disco hits from the 70s and 80s until midnight The candle acrobatics show in the bar will make the night even more magical Visitors of all ages can capture the magic of the night in the 360° Panorama Photo Booth Kupla-klubi will offer both DJ and live music DJ Kenno will fill the room with a carnival atmosphere whose music has been characterised as neoclassical troubadour rock will deliver the entire spectrum of emotions during his gig The event is produced by City Events Espoo together with Espoo Cultural Centre Let’s celebrate New Year’s Eve together in Tapiola the shops in the Ainoa shopping centre will be open until 18:00 so you can access the event area via Ainoa throughout the evening Some of the restaurants will be open later Classic Pizza & Makaronitehdas until 21:00 Visit the Ainoa website(external link, opens in a new window) to check all opening hours The New Year’s Eve event will take place in the centre of Tapiola We recommend that visitors use public transport or walk You can find public transport schedules and routes in the HSL Journey Planner The Tapiola metro station is located right next to the event area and the metro will run later than usual on New Year’s Eve Several bus lines run through the Tapiola bus terminal, offering easy access to the event area. Go to HSL website(external link, opens in a new window) for further information about Tapiola area public transport routes Taxis can drop off passengers at the Tapionaukio taxi stand We do not recommend driving to the area due to heavy traffic. The nearest paid parking area is the Tapiola Park parking garage at the Ainoa shopping centre. The parking garage is open until midnight, and you can exit the garage 24/7. The parking garage is operated by Aimo Park. Click here for more information(external link, opens in a new window). Please note that you are not allowed to use your own fireworks at the event. 1. Download the app with the QR code!  Scan the QR code below and download the app to your smart device in seconds. The QR code is also clearly visible in the event area.  NOTE! Data security is important to us. No personal data will be collected in the app and your device connection will not be used for any other purpose than this evening. You can participate without worry and concentrate on enjoying yourself! 2. Connect your device to the light system.  When you open the app, it will automatically connect to the event's lighting system - no adjustments, just the pleasure of participating! 3. Experience the show closer than ever.  During the show, your device will vibrate with the lights: shining, flashing and becoming part of a collective work of art. Each participant makes the evening even more spectacular! The Bemböle mill site from the 18th century Leppävaara’s seasonal camp related to seal hunting in the Stone Age Laaksolahti’s limestone quarry from the 15th century Sperrings’ Early Comb Ceramic settlement and Tapiola’s barrack area from the First World War These are some of the 12 nationally significant archaeological sites (VARK sites) in Espoo which differ greatly from one another and date back to different periods The VARK inventory carried out by the Finnish Heritage Agency comprises a total of 1,391 sites in mainland Finland The inventory approved by the Government in November 2024 will enter into force on 1 March 2025 The inventory was carried out in cooperation with the regional museums in charge of cultural environment tasks and Metsähallitus during 2018–2024 The regional museum in charge of cultural environment tasks in Espoo is KAMU Espoo City Museum The steering group also included the Association of Local Authorities the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of the Environment The sites have been selected on the basis of their archaeological or cultural and historical significance events and different aspects of life associated with their time period the sites provide an impression of Finnish archaeological cultural heritage that is comprehensive both historically and regionally as well as in terms of monument types The oldest sites date back to the end of the Ice Age more than 10,000 years ago and the youngest to the early decades of the last century The sites in Espoo also reflect the layeredness of time and remind us of the early history of the area It is therefore worth familiarising yourself with the sites and deepening your knowledge of your home region and Espoo as a whole “The cultural environment and layeredness of time contribute to the identity of the area Knowledge of the history and values of the cultural environment of your residential area promotes familiarity with the area appreciation of it and rootedness and attachment to it,” says Paula Kangasperko Architect at the Espoo City Planning Centre There are around 60,000 archaeological sites in Finland A total of 4,785 of the sites were assessed in the recent VARK inventory and 1,391 of them were considered to be of national significance KAMU Espoo City Museum was involved in the assessment of the many sites in Espoo and proposed the most significant ones 12 of which were finally selected as VARK sites All antiquities are protected under the Protection of Antiquities Act and the VARK status does not add any new direct legal effects to it Many of today’s VARK sites are located in forests fields may be cultivated and forests managed but any antiquities may not be damaged or covered Since the Government has approved the VARK inventory as an inventory referred to in the national land use guidelines based on the Land Use and Building Act the planning solutions must ensure that the national land use guidelines are met In addition to the Protection of Antiquities Act it must be taken into account in the VARK sites that the values defined for them must not be compromised when land use plans are implemented new construction is being carried out.“The VARK sites are treated more strictly in planning than other areas so if there are plans for construction in such an area KAMU Espoo City Museum must be contacted right at the start of the planning process or other measures so that it can take a position on the matter The values of the cultural environment are one of the many factors to be taken into account in land use planning,” says Kangasperko The cultural environment refers to the natural environment shaped by people built environments and cultural landscapes where the Espoo Master Plan 2060 is currently being prepared The VARK sites were not yet included in the draft stage of the plan as they had not yet been selected the VARK sites will be taken into account in some way on an appendix map of the cultural environment,” explains Kangasperko You can find all of Espoo’s 12 VARK sites and their map locations here(external link, opens in a new window) (in Finnish) You can read more about the VARK sites(external link, opens in a new window) on the website of the Finnish Heritage Agency. Sources: www.museovirasto.fi and interview by Architect Paula Kangasperko Espoo’s Environment and Building Control Committee and Building Control Department grant the Hurraa! award to an outstanding project related to the built environment. The 2024 award has been granted to the new Tiistilä day care centre and school building and its yard. Updated on 4 April 2025: Contractor and developer information was added. In its decision, the committee highlighted the importance of timber construction for both the climate and comfort. The wooden structures create a warm atmosphere, and the open spaces improve school satisfaction. According to the committee, it is important that children have functional, healthy and safe learning environments. The committee also praised the yard area for being well-designed for children’s activities. The principal designer of the building is Arto Aho from Arkkitehtitoimisto Lehto Peltonen Valkama Oy. The contractor was YIT Suomi Oy and the developer was Espoo’s Premises Department. An honourable mention was given to the assisted living facility Rinnekodit Kielomäki in Lakisto. The committee stated that the wooden building is cosy and functional. In addition, the building is visually attractive and takes account of the importance of the surrounding nature for the residents. The principal designer was Matti Ponkala from Arkkitehtitoimisto Ponkala Oy. The contractor was Temotek Oy and the developer was the Deaconess Foundation. The Hurraa! award is the City of Espoo’s way of recognising particularly creditable and successful projects related to the built environment. Hurraa! awards have been granted since 2014. Last year, the award was given to Metsolan päiväkoti in Tapiola. The Leppävaara outdoor swimming pool will open its summer season on Saturday 10 May at 9:00 Check the opening hours on the Leppävaara outdoor swimming pool website. The outdoor swimming pool is open according to the opening hours of the Leppävaara swimming pool until 15 September From 15 September the outdoor swimming pool will open at 10 every day and will be closed according to the opening hours of the Leppävaara swimming pool only the 50-metre swimming pool will be open The other pools and the slide will be closed Check the opening hours of the swimming pools on their own websites. Open image viewerThe accident occurred in Tapiola, Espoo, in May 2023. Image: Kristiina Lehto / YleSTT21.3. 11:39Police suspect that the Espoo pedestrian bridge collapse in May 2023 was due to the negligence of several individuals The temporary metal and plywood bridge spanning Itätuulenkuja in Tapiola collapsed on the morning of May 11 Police reported that 24 individuals fell about five metres when the bridge gave way A preliminary investigation found that eight individuals including representatives from both the company that built the bridge and the city of Espoo The police suspect all eight of endangerment and 25 counts of aggravated bodily harm two are suspected of negligent violation of official duty Police said the incident is a result of multiple contributing factors and there is no suspicion of intent in the case The preliminary investigation has now been completed and the case is moving to the consideration of charges 23 were students from Kalasatama Comprehensive School one person not on the bridge at the time of the collapse was also injured Police had stated that none of the involved people sustained life-threatening injuries but the incident caused various degrees of physical and psychological harm According to the preliminary investigation which had been in use for about a year and a half was structurally inadequate for its intended purpose — its load-bearing capacity did not meet the required standards the investigation revealed that no official body was responsible for overseeing the temporary bridge structure noting that it was intended for short-term use Police said the investigation took time due to the need to examine the bridge's structure along with interviews of eyewitnesses and City of Espoo staff The process involved support from the National Bureau of Investigation's forensic lab and external experts Espoo's population reached 321,490 at the end of January 2025 according to preliminary data from Statistics Finland The city's population grew by approximately 460 residents during the month International migration accounted for 62.1% of the growth Natural population increase contributed 24.7% while migration between municipalities added 13.2% The city's natural population growth remained positive Finland's overall population change was negative in 2024 Migration within Finland brought about 150 more people to Espoo than in the same period last year Natural population increase declined slightly compared to the previous year and 6,489 people had been without work for over a year There were 1,717 open job listings in Espoo’s employment services Unemployment has been rising since March 2023 after nearly two years of decline before the COVID-19 pandemic affected the job market the unemployment rate in Espoo was 3.3 percentage points higher the number of unemployed people in Espoo rose by 20.6% (3,078 more people) The unemployment rate increased by 1.6 percentage points unemployment was up 11.9% from the previous year The number of job seekers under 25 in Espoo rose by 27.9% (338 more people) while long-term unemployment increased by 30.2% (1,505 more people) The number of open job vacancies fell by 28.6% (689 fewer jobs) compared to January 2024 Job openings in Espoo increased from early 2021 until autumn 2022 but have declined since November 2022 Tschabalala Self's Negligee 1 (2023) at Espoo Museum of Modern Art (EMMA) Tschabalala Self's Dreamers (2021) at Espoo Museum of Modern Art Tschabalala Self's 12pm on 145th Street (2022) at Espoo Museum of Modern Art Tschabalala Self's Harlem Sphinx (2024) at Espoo Museum of Modern Art Tschabalala Self at Espoo Museum of Modern Art Tschabalala Self's Anthurium (2023) at Espoo Museum of Modern Art Installation view of Tschabalala Self's 'Around the Way' at Espoo Museum of Modern Art Tschabalala Self’s new show at Finland's Espoo Museum of Modern Art evokes memories of her upbringing For Harlem-born artist Tschabalala Self's first solo exhibition in Finland – on show at the Espoo Museum of Modern Art (EMMA) until May 2025 – she pays homage to her birthplace assembling and staging a convocation of its inhabitants at ease with their surroundings is a Black-American colloquialism that signifies the distinctive characteristics or charms of one’s neighbourhood evoking a sense of familiarity and belonging abstracting the essence of her community in vibrant multi-dimensional vignettes Tschabalala Self's Negligee 1 (2023) at Espoo Museum of Modern Art (EMMA) and three newly commissioned pieces that naturally evolve from the expressive pluralistic practice that Self is recognised for Tschabalala Self's Dreamers (2021) at Espoo Museum of Modern Art The shared experiences and encounters of Self’s Harlem take place across three sites within the exhibition Here we encounter the large-scale triptych 12pm on 145th Street (2022) which takes its name from an intersection in Harlem and features a shadow-like figure striding across the canvas the paintings in this space truly embody the sensation of being enveloped in the bustling cityscape and for Self recall memories of walking through the neighbourhood with her older sister Tschabalala Self's 12pm on 145th Street (2022) at Espoo Museum of Modern Art the zone of interaction shifts to domestic scenes; lovers dance across chequerboard tiles Self depicts a woman reclining in her pattern-clad boudoir the view through the ornamentally welded bars stunted by brick 'Harlem Sphinx is an imagining of a woman in a typical Harlem brownstone,' says Self 'The room is meant to look somewhat bourgeois which is often the aspirational aesthetic of a brownstone but directly outside her window is another building so you know she’s in a densely populated metropolitan space like Harlem.' escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox Tschabalala Self's Harlem Sphinx (2024) at Espoo Museum of Modern Art The final setting of the exhibition isn’t necessarily a location but rather a state of mind 'It’s dealing with interiorities; a reflection of the feelings and interpersonal relationships occurring between characters that we’ve previously encountered in the street and the home,' says Self 'I imagine the show as someone travelling deeper into knowing the community of characters depicted in my works.' Speaking particularly to those scenes depicted beyond the public eye such as Dreamers (2021) or Anthurium (2023) Self’s figures seem to possess a desire and authority to claim their space and determine how they are seen and understood have been pulled directly from the artist's 2019 painting Damsel Their very presence in the three-dimensional space embodies the illusion of having entered a private sphere 'The sculptures serve to name the gallery space as that of the characters in the artworks,' says Self 'Often it is felt that the subjects in an artwork are there for the edification of the viewer but here that power and spatial dynamic has shifted and the viewer is made to understand that they have the privilege of entering into the space of the subject.' Tschabalala Self's Anthurium (2023) at Espoo Museum of Modern Art the conflation of interior and exterior gestures towards the polysemy of home as both a physical and psychological locale Self uses portraiture as a way in which to emphasise the body as a home for one’s consciousness 'I have always thought of home as the origin,' she says 'A lot of these works are somewhat nostalgic envisioned as memories of my neighbourhood [while I was] growing up that are perhaps not realistic depictions but more an attempt to capture the feeling of my birthplace.' Tschabalala Self: Around the Way is presented in collaboration with the Saastamoinen Foundation at EMMA–Espoo Museum of Modern Art until 5 May 2025 as part of the In Collection exhibition seriesemmamuseum.fi Installation view of Tschabalala Self's 'Around the Way' at Espoo Museum of Modern Art Millen Brown-Ewens is a book publicist and art and music writer based in London surprising – Espoo is now seeking ideas from its residents on what urban centres of the future could look like every one of them with their own special qualities The city wants that each centre will flourish and develop now and in the future on the basis of its own strengths When preparing the master plan that goes all the way up to 2060 one of the city’s objectives is to ensure the attractiveness of urban centres and regional and local centres Idea Sprint is a series of three workshops during which residents will generate ideas for the best future of urban centres What are the best qualities of urban centres and what works best in them – how can we preserve and strengthen these characteristics elsewhere too And what new and different – perhaps even surprising – things would we hope for their future we will gather residents’ views and ideas on the future of centres and areas surrounding them The aim is to rise above the present moment and collectively envision life in Espoo their children and other future Espoo residents will live,” says Essi Leino Master Planning Manager at the City Planning Department Experts from the City Planning Department will examine the ideas received They will be exhibited and discussed during Espoo Day The draft Espoo Master Plan 2060 is currently being prepared and the ideas from the Sprint and the discussion of these ideas will give planners valuable insights into what Espoo residents want from the future of urban centres “When the draft master plan was available for public viewing last summer we received a lot of feedback from residents on the preliminary plans Now it’s the residents’ turn to brainstorm on ideas,” says Leino Submit your Idea Sprint application between 3 and 31 March 2025 We are looking for a wide range of ordinary unique Espoo residents from all over the city to take part in the Sprint People of all ages and different genders and people with disabilities and from different linguistic cultural and other groups are all welcome to participate a diverse group of 20–30 people will be assembled at the start of April Read more about Idea Sprint and apply by 31 March 2025! Team USA will head to the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Torino 8-10 where the top six Grand Prix point-earners in each discipline will compete Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Open image viewerEmergency flares will be fired until 5pm on Sunday Image: Mikael Albrecht / Espoon Meripelastajat ryYle News23.2 11:18Hundreds of emergency flares will be launched over Espoo on Sunday as part of a maritime rescue exercise allows boaters to practise firing red distress flares The flares will be launched from the Haukilahti Marina until 5pm and will also be visible from the Helsinki coastline according to the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard Authorities urge the public to refrain from calling 112 and emergency services about the flares unless there is an actual emergency The rescue association recommends that all boaters familiarise themselves with distress signals "If someone has never even read the instructions on a flare before an emergency using it correctly can be difficult," said Espoo Sea Rescue (Espoon Meripelastajat in Finnish) spokesperson Anni Muukkonen in a statement Different types of flares have varying firing mechanisms and it is essential to distinguish between handheld distress flares and aerial signal rockets "Practising how to launch a flare is especially important to ensure proper use in an emergency without causing harm to oneself or others," Muukkonen added It is also critical to know where flares are stored on board so they can be accessed quickly in an emergency emergency flares should be launched every 3 to 5 minutes The use of pyrotechnic distress signals is prohibited except in actual emergencies or authorised training exercises The last similar drill in Espoo took place in February 2023 The exercise is organised by Espoo Sea Rescue Aalto University logo at the startup event Slush in Helsinki Espoo stands out as the most business-friendly major city in Uusimaa, according to a new survey by the Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce The survey results show that companies operating in Espoo gave it the highest marks in all measured categories particularly in perceived attitudes towards business The survey collected responses from 284 companies located across the Uusimaa region between 10 February and 7 March 2025 Respondents assessed their own municipality’s business climate based on three key criteria: attitude towards business the functionality of business and employer services and overall attractiveness as a location for business The average score across Uusimaa was 3.5 out of 5 The lowest scores in Helsinki related to its perceived attitude towards entrepreneurship and business activity "The results suggest a need for Helsinki to rethink how it engages with its business community," said Markku Lahtinen Director of Public Affairs at the Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce "Espoo’s example shows that a proactive and supportive stance can make a real difference in the way businesses experience their operating environment." The poorest performance across the board was reported in municipal labour services Businesses gave workforce services an average score of 2.6 This trend was consistent regardless of municipality size The open comments section revealed further dissatisfaction with the accessibility and relevance of employment services Respondents noted that current services often lack targeting and are not easy to find "There is an urgent need to streamline municipal employment services across the region," Lahtinen said "Companies must be able to access services through a single employment area without being forced to deal with multiple municipalities across Helsinki’s nine different employment zones." The findings form part of a broader survey report titled Uusimaa business expectations and perspectives for municipal policymakers The Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce represents over 7,000 member companies and covers 21 municipalities in Uusimaa © Helsinki Times All rights reserved.  Terms of Use | Privacy Policy A digital experiment carried out in the Employment services investigated how an online test on Finnish language proficiency could affect employment which was developed and tested in the experiment measured writing and speaking skills as well as understanding of audio and text materials The aim was to develop a test that could be taken independently and shared digitally In addition to assessing the level of proficiency the test provided tailored recommendations on city services and training Espoo currently has more than 12,000 foreign-language jobseekers most of whom do not know their Finnish language proficiency level The number of foreign-language speakers is constantly increasing and the long-term goal is that for almost everyone would know their language proficiency level A cost-effective online test would be a good option and a tool for quickly assessing language proficiency without costly and time-consuming National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) tests The experiment started at the beginning of 2024 Jobseekers and Finnish learners got the chance to take the test at 20 different events one of the positive aspects of the test was that it was free of charge Many felt that the test was a useful tool for assessing their language proficiency and helped or could help them prepare for the National Certificate of Language Proficiency test Some were unhappy because the test result was not official and felt that this caused a lack of motivation.‘One of the most important lessons learned in the experiment was that it must be possible to utilise the test result as soon as possible This will help employment services manage the job search more effectively and improve employment opportunities,’ says Valia Wistuba Development Manager of the Espoo Digital Agenda experiments The people who took the test found it relatively easy to use even if the test could have progressed more slowly Respondents hoped for more clarity and examples in the initial instructions but the privacy statement opening in a separate window got positive feedback Users hoped to receive more detailed and encouraging feedback ‘We learned that the test should be encouraging at all levels it could support language learning in addition to evaluation,’ Wistuba adds Some challenges arose during the experiment Social situations and physical spaces may have hindered completing the test This affected the test results and their utilisation we learned that independent testing requires personal motivation people wanted to respond to the speaking tasks in private It was challenging to reserve a peaceful space for the customer here at the employment services office as the spaces were often reserved or had access to staff facilities,’ says Project Manager Olga Silfver from the Employment and Economic Development of Espoo The experiment highlighted many possible applications for the test in employment It has also attracted interest in different cities both nationally and internationally the personal coaches from the employment services assess the language skills of jobseekers themselves as the duration and price of official language tests limit their use A quick online test would clarify language proficiency and facilitate the work of personal coaches There is national demand for this,’ says Silfver The practical implementation of the browser-based test was carried out by Rouhia Oy whose Reactored learning environment enables a versatile learning experience ‘The experiment process of the City of Espoo was well structured and it provided us with good resources for our own processes We now also understand the complexity of the city's processes The working group had a good attitude to learning and we are very pleased that we were a part of this experiment,’ says Kari Savolainen Espoo is currently assessing the procurement of a digital language proficiency test The aim is to find ways to launch the test more extensively and to support the employment of jobseekers Video presentation of the Language Proficiency Test (external link, opens in a new window) Digiagenda / Language Skills Experiment The Digital Agenda’s aim is to promote the digitalisation of municipal services, utilisation of new technology, introduction of electronic services and adoption of new operating methods. espoo.fi/digiagenda  The design phase of Espoo Cultural Centre's new theatre hall is at its final stages. Next, the project will move to implementation planning, after which a building contractor will be selected for the theatre. The Cultural Centre's theatre project is taking another step forward as it moves from the planning phase to the implementation planning and construction phase. During the planning phase that is now coming to an end, the focus has been on designing the functionalities of the new theatre hall located in the expansion of the Cultural Centre, as well as the training room and auxiliary facilities. The new theatre hall has been designed for 455 spectators, and it complements the current halls of the Cultural Centre. In its basic form, the capacity falls between Louhi Hall (296 spectators) and Tapiola Hall (733 spectators), but it can be adapted to the needs of large performances and events through various stand arrangements. The expansion serves primarily as a stage for the Espoo Theatre.  In addition to the stage and stand facilities, the new theatre includes training facilities, production and storage facilities, changing rooms, audience facilities, working and social facilities for staff as well as technical facilities. The theatre encompasses approximately 8,600 gross square metres. According to current estimates, the construction of the Cultural Centre's theatre could begin in winter 2026 and the new facilities could be introduced in autumn 2028. The costs of the theatre expansion amount to approximately EUR 61.4 million based on current calculations. The main and architectural design of the project has been the carried out by Arkkitehtitoimisto ALA Oy, which has also designed numerous international cultural facilities. The lead designer in the project is Juho Grönholm. More information: Olli Isotalo, Urban Environment Director, City of Espoo  There was a buzz at the Opinmäki campus as Espoo’s sixth graders gathered to celebrate the traditional Independence Day party on Friday, November 22, 2024. The event was attended by over 4,000 guests. "At first, everyone might be a little nervous, but once we relax a bit, we’re going to have a lot of fun," said Janica, a student from Lagstads skola, who had just arrived at Opinmäki. "It’s nice to dance and see people from other schools. We’ve had dance rehearsals at least five times. I’m really looking forward to the party,” said Elis, a student from Meritorin koulu. The atmosphere was electric as the Navy Band’s music filled the Opinmäki gym, and the sixth graders sang the national anthem “Maamme laulu” in both Finnish and Swedish. The day’s program also included greetings from city representatives, speeches, and communal dances such as the kikapo and waltz. Students from Lagstads skola agreed that the kikapo is more fun to dance than the waltz. "Kikapo is more energetic than the waltz, that’s why it’s more fun to dance,” the students said in unison.  The first celebration’s keynote speech was delivered by Harri Rinta-aho, Director of Growth and Learning. “Schooling and learning are the most important factors for happiness and success. Education, understanding, and the ability to discuss things are what have made Finland the happiest country in the world. Asking good questions and finding answers to them is the most valuable thing you young people can do,”  said Harri Rinta-aho in his speech to the guests. “Finland’s independence means the freedom to go to school and move around safely,” commented Lumi and Aleksandra, students from Meritorin koulu.