V A A S A THE SUNNIEST CITY IN FINLAND

Inner harbour Photograph by Rita Lukkarinen

The Sunny Pearl of the Kvarken! The town of Vaasa was founded in 1606 by Charles IX around the oldest harbour and trading point in Ostrobothnia. In 1852, Vaasa was burnt to the ground, and in 1862 the new Vaasa was built on the Klemetsö headland, 7 km from the old town. Due to two languages, Vaasa has two of everything; i.e. newspapers, theatres, and seats of learning. Vaasa is an attractive place; in the past two years the population, workplaces and tax revenue have clearly increased, and the unemployment level has declined by three percentage points.

The sunniest cit y in Finland, 1 900 sunny ho urs a year Population 58 001 (30.11.200 7) - Finnish spea king 70,8% - Swedish spea king 24,8% The capital of Finland from the 29th of Janu ary to the 3rd of May 1918 Shoreline 409 km

Thanks to short distances, Vaasa is an easy place to live. The grid pattern of the town plan in the Empire style has turned Vaasa into a spacious logical city. Five broad avenues and many fire lanes provide enough space for everyone to breathe.

Markku Lumio Mayor

3

Cover: Jouko Keto, oil painting

www.vaasa.fi

Photograph by Mikko Lehtimäki

Welcome to Vaasa!

Vaasa Market Square Photograph by Jaakko J Salo

Good traffic services from morning till night. You can fly to Vaasa in one hour from Helsinki and Stockholm, and the drive from the airport takes only 10 minutes. By train you arrive directly at the city centre. And the shortest shipping route to Sweden goes from Vaasa all year round. Everything in Vaasa is at a walking or cycling distance. You can easily get to work, school or hobbies without worrying about queues and traffic jams. Under the market place in the centre you can find 840 parking places, close to all shopping, restaurant and service supplies in the heart of the city.

5

www.vaasa.fi

Photograph by Mikko Lehtimäki

Everything close!

14 planes land at Vaa sa airport on weekd ays Eight daily re Vaasa and turn trains between Helsinki Four hours by ship to Umeå, Sweden Seven bat hing beac hes in the city limits Over 163 km of ligh t traffic way s

Vaasa Housing Fair area 27th November 2007 Photograph by Jaakko J Salo

Vaasa provides both charming and unlimited living opportunities. Are you attracted to an old wooden house idyll or to a modern-era stone house? Do you prefer a one-family house or a semi-detached house? Available dwellings are to be found both in the city centre and in suburban areas close to good services. Residential area planning pays attention to landscape structure and nature values. In fact, Vaasa is one of the most flying-squirrel-dominated areas in Finland. Services, parks and a sea atmosphere are combined in the city’s bosom. The award-winning walking centre is a meeting place for people and services. In the downtown section, old office buildings and historically valuable industrial buildings are converted for residential use. Nevertheless, new apartment buildings are still completed in the centre too. The quality of living can also be measured by material values: residences, summer cottages and business premises in Vaasa are much more profitable than in the densely-populated part of Finland. The National Housing Fair 2008 will be held in Vaasa. The fair area is situated by the sea in Suvilahti where Vaasa is at its fairest!

7

www.vaasa.fi

Biggest le VOAS p asers Pikipruu kki and rovide n early 7 000 flats Housing program annual me’s ta produc tion is a rget for residen pp ces, of which a rox. 500 one-fam third are ily hous es

Photograph by Mikko Lehtimäki

Live well!

Palosaari campus, seashore Photograph by Rita Lukkarinen

Sunny energy!

9

www.vaasa.fi

Photograph by Jaakko J Salo

Vaasa is a strong industrial city flagshipped by large international energy and electrical companies such as Wärtsilä Finland Ltd, ABB Ltd, KWH Group Ltd, Vacon Oyj, Citec Group and Vaasa Engineering Group. The energy cluster’s pitch position will be strengthened by developing the top industry, subcontracting networks and education in the branch. Vaasa is also rich in small and medium-sized businesses; demand for business premises and new building sites for enterprises is strong. There are three enterprise parks in Vaasa: Strömberg Park and Airport Park, as well as Science Park which concentrates on education and research in co-operation with both universities of applied sciences and the University of Vaasa. Concerning industry and information technology, Vaasa consequently represents top knowledge and modern technology in the worldwide business environment!

The first engine plant in Finlan d (and the second in the Nordic Co untries) was founded in Vaasa in 19 06 Finland’s first steam mill was founded in Vaasa in 18 49. Today, the wellknown Vaasan & Vaasan brea d derives its orig in from the fo rmer mill. Vaasa is one of the main expo rtdriving indust rial cities in Fi nland Approx. 80% of all the com panies in Vaasa have le ss than five em ployees

Pedestrian street Photograph by Unto Heinonen

In November 2007, Vaasa’s employment exchange office had 505 vacancies, and the unemployment rate has continuously declined. Approx. 24 % of the vacancies are within industry where most of the new jobs are also created. Public sector employers – the city, state institutions, and Vaasa hospital district – are the large-scale employers in Vaasa. Besides industry, almost every branch has an evident demand for a skilled labour force; social and health sector, trade and services in particular. Enterprises are continuously making new investments in Vaasa and their order portfolios are in good shape. Due to the retirement of so-called large age groups in the coming years, the demand for a labour force remains permanent!

11

www.vaasa.fi

Wärtsilä and ABB employ approx. 4 800 pe rsons Compared to the earlier year (2006 ), the unemploymen t rate declined most in Ostrobothn ia (-19 %) Workplace self-s ufficiency in Vaasa is 130 % In October 2007, the unemploymen t rate in Vaasa was 6.2 %, and in the entire country 7.6 % Vaasa region’s un employment rate is the second smallest in Finlan d (after the Uusimaa Region)

Photograph by Jaakko J Salo

Work for the working population!

Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art, studio room Photograph by Mikko Lehtimäki

One is never too old to learn!

15

www.vaasa.fi

Over 700 an nu in two open al courses colleges Education and course s in Finnish, Sw edish and E nglish

Photograph by Rita Lukkarinen

Vaasa makes sense: proportioned to the population, Vaasa is the second largest school town in Finland. Compulsory education after preschool can be spiced-up with music classes or language immersion learning. Vaasa is the pioneer of language immersion in Swedish. Even after primary education, there is no need to go away from the city. Bilingual Vaasa vocational institutes and secondary schools ensure trade skills and provide facilities for post graduate studies, e.g. in some of the seven institutions of higher education, the University of Vaasa being the largest of them. Different evening classes, from coast skipper courses to university studies for adults, provide residents who are eager to learn with educational pleasure in the evenings. More than 30% of Vaasa residents have a university degree. Thus, many students from a total of 12 000 have found their own place and own branch from more than thirty multilingual examinations. Even becoming internationalized doesn’t require a Vaasa resident to leave their hometown, since close to 600 foreign students or exchange students arrive annually to Vaasa institutions of higher education.

Every third oncoming person is a school child or a st udent Every fifth oncoming person is a college student Close to 4 000 adult educat students in ion

Outdoor winter swimming in Hietasaari Photograph by Rita Lukkarinen

Vaasa provides several alternatives for people interested in different leisure activities: sports halls, gyms, many outdoor courts, maintained ski tracks, conditioning tracks, and a 27-hole golf course. Walking routes, jogging tracks, trails and long cycle paths along the seashore are like winning the first prize in the lotto for outdoor and keep-fit enthusiasts. The fresh air and variable nature found in the “City by the Sea” provide everyone with a lot of free resources. Even a sports fan doesn’t have to stay idle! Innumerable clubs, societies and many courses offer a wide array of interests from visual arts to parachute jumping, and from dancing to sport fishing. Because Vaasa is surrounded by the sea there are many opportunities for boaters and yachtsman. Canoeing and outdoor winter swimming naturally have their devotees here too.

17

www.vaasa.fi

The round open field of Söderfjärden was created 520 millio n years ago as a result of a meteorite collision, and nowadays the area is a paradise for both birds and ornith ologists. Finland’s first bicycl e was seen on the Vaasa market pla ce in 1869 Bothnia Hall is the lar gest hall for athletics and ball gam es in Finland. Even Finland’s large st gym is situated in Vaasa. Over 2 000 boat places in the city, and a guest harbour in Vaskiluoto

Photograph by Rita Lukkarinen

Go in for leisure activities!

Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art, Andy Warhol: Mao 1972 Photograph by Mikko Lehtimäki

Choose music from rock, jazz and pop to opera and symphony concerts. See the art museums’ enormous art treasures from the Golden Age to contemporary art, take a closer view of handicraft villages and Vaasa’s 400 year history, or get acquainted with the Kvarken nature through a virtual aquarium. Have theatre experiences from dramas to musicals and enjoy students’ or children’s theatre either in Finnish or Swedish. Note that the cultural immersion is provided for children and youngsters too! Art City Vaasa – a city of music, theatre, dance, art and handicraft – ensures events all year round: Winter Vaasa – international ice sculpting competition, Vaasa Choir Festival, Nature film festival Wildlife, Fishing day, Rockperry Festival, Korsholm Music Festival, Night of the Arts, Vaasan Marssi, Baltic herring and whitefish market, Vaasa Littfest Vasa, Conducting Competition, Opening of the Christmas season.

19

www.vaasa.fi

2 profession al theatres, st udent theatres and 4 other thea tres, 22 different mus eums and ga lleries, 3 art museums, ci ty orchestra, and 5 internationa lly-known m usic festivals Finland’s ne west museu m of modern art, Kuntsi, w as opened in Vaasa in 2007 Popcity 2007 Meet Tarja H alonen or th e Unknown Soldier in th e bosom of nature on th Edvininpolku e path Vaasa city lib rary (1794) is the first common lib rary founded in Finland

Photograph by Virpi Laakso

Consume culture!

Tropiclandia Water Park Photograph by Esa Siltaloppi

Vaasa is a place where history meets the present, culture meets nature, and shops meet the market hall. Squares and large parks in the centre, together with a rocky archipelago, create a seaside resort with a unique atmosphere. And the sun often shines in the sunniest city in Finland. During your visit to Vaasa you can have a nice stay at one of the many high-class hotels, on a campsite by the sea, or you may even spend an idyllic night in the former barrack area. Conference guests are provided with high-standard meeting rooms in an inspiring environment including services radiant with experience and hospitality. Spa Tropiclandia and the Wasalandia amusement park ensure recreation and amusement for the entire family. Are you planning to visit the Vaasa Housing Fair in summer 2008? Put the plan into practice and order a Family Fun holiday package including hotel accommodation for 2 nights, breakfast, a family ticket to the Housing Fair, plus a family ticket to the Wasalandia amusement park or Tropiclandia Water Park. More information about Vaasa’s all-round tourism offers: www.vaasa.fi /matkailu.

21

www.vaasa.fi

Attractive spa packages to and amusement S the Wasalan pa Tropiclandia and dia amuse ment park High class art galleries. Fi museums and nland’s first work of Picasso ca n be found in Vaasa Interesting archipelag o cruises from the ci ty centre Large hote l ca the Bothnia pacity together with Hall and V aasa Arena make arran gements fo r major events poss ible Tempting shops in th e newlycompleted walking ce ntre

Photograph by Mikko Lehtimäki

Happy holidays!

The Kvarken Archipelago Photograph by Jaakko J Salo

The Kvarken forms a shallow threshold between Finland and Sweden, and the Finnish part of it was added to the Unesco World Heritage list in 2006. The archipelago’s uniqueness is based on its purity, rich nature and avifauna as well as on the distinctive culture of its settlements. Due to land uplift, the nature, vegetation and fauna of the Kvarken are in a constant state of change. The beautiful Kvarken nature is easily within your reach. There are three nature stations, approx. 40 km worth of trails and nature paths. Canoeing, motorboating or taking an arranged public cruise are all ways to go out sightseeing there. World heritage guides are available for school trips, conferences etc. Start to make your acquaintance with the natural heritage landscape at the Kvarken nature centre, Terranova, which also provides more information about nature interests and nature tourism in the region. World heritage guidance can be booked from Terranova or the Vaasa Tourist Office!

23

www.vaasa.fi

The Kva rken Arc hipelago only pla is ce in the world to the endemic find 16 species rep the Baltic seashore resentative of Area 19 4 400 he ctares o which 8 f 5 % is s ea 2 416 kil ometres of coastl 5 600 is ine lands Land up lift appro x. 1 cm a year

Photograph by Rita Lukkarinen

Unique part of Finland!

www.vaasa.fi

Layout:Jouko Keto, City of Vaasa, Graphic services

The Vaasa Housing Fair area