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The electric-assisted rickshaw bikes of Raahe will be awarded as the organisation act of Northern Ostrobothnia in 2020. Raahe Cycling Club Ry, which coordinates the activities, receives a prize of 1,000 euros to support its activities. Riksawheels will be used by service homes and other elderly people in Raahe. in cooperation with the Riksapyörä, the elderly get to go outdoors and meet people. Electric-assisted rickshaw bikes are a new way of producing well-being and have emerged as a good service for the elderly. Raahe Cycling Club Ry has brought together new players and managed to build an extensive cooperation network behind the operations. The award, which will be presented on Monday 2 November 2020 at the Regional Parliament of Northern Ostrobothnia, was received by Marko Alatalo, chairman and Tomi Karsikas, vice-chairman of Raahe Cycling Club. The prize was awarded for the second time and was presented by Matias Ojalehto, Chairman of the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, and Esko Hassinen, Chairman of the Advisory Board for Organisations.…

Northern Ostrobothnia regional Day 2.11.2020 Dear Minister, Members of Parliament and Members of Parliament, I am very pleased to welcome you to the traditional regional Parliament! This year, exceptionally, we have only one regional day and we meet each other through telecommunications connections. Today's theme is The state of public finances - how can the municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia in cooperation withstand? We focus strongly on the municipal economy and changes and opportunities in the business environment, and we end the day in cooperation with social and health care discussions. In particular, I would like to welcome today's speakers. We have a really versatile and great programme, thank you to the office holders of the Regional Assembly for that! Oh, my good friends. Last spring, the COVID-19 pandemic hit our society and the whole world unexpectedly and violently, regardless of national borders. Corona has caused a lot of trouble and worries. It's …

In 2014, a joint thematic programme for the extractive sector was drawn up for the Eastern and Northern Finland (IP area). On 27 August 2020, the Regional Assembly of North Karelia and the Regional Assembly of Lapland invited stakeholders and stakeholders in the extractive sector to a discussion event on the update of the theme programme for the extractive sector in Eastern and Northern Finland. After the event, the preparatory work has progressed and on 18 September 2020 the regional leaders of the IP region made a decision to prepare an update of the thematic programme. The aim of the work to be launched is to update the theme programme drawn up in 2014 into an action plan for the extractive sector in Eastern and Northern Finland for 2021-2024 to reflect the changed business environment at national and international level. The Action Plan outlines common key measures to be promoted by the IP region in the extractive sector in the upcoming EU programming period 2021-2027. This will also pave the way for building EU projects in cooperation with international partners. The work is based on the Commission's pilot project in the Economic Transformation of Eastern and Northern Finland (ELMO). Work on the action plan will be carried out between 1 October 2020 and 31 January 2021…

Jari Leathernen, member of the Regional Board of the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, was elected President of the Baltic Sea Commission at the General Assembly on Wednesday, 21 October 2020. Leathernen won her opponent Annika Sandström from Stockholm. Tomas Mörtsell from Västerbotten, Sweden, was elected Vice-Chair.  He has been running the organization for two years. His two-year extension began at the General Assembly. Jari Leathernen considers his re-election a success during the previous Presidency. It's great that Northern Ostrobothnian expertise is valued in an international network of regions," says Leathernen. Significant advocacy work for the Baltic Sea regions continues towards the European Union on transport, energy, climate and maritime issues. In addition, I would like to shift more focus to smart specialisation, the bioeconomy and the Arctic dimension. These are the key areas of Influencing for my next Presidency, stresses Leathernen. The Baltic Sea Commission is one of the six Commissions in the European Joint Organisation…

Digital skills are civic skills, and taking care of them is a matter for the whole of Finland. The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region will continue the regional coordination of digital support in the Northern Ostrobothnia Digital Support project in cooperation with further funding from the Ministry of Finance. In 2020, a total of 14 regional projects were granted state aid for the regional coordination of digital support, of which 11 are follow-on projects and three are new projects. The state aid was granted by the Ministry of Finance. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency takes care of the national coordination of digital support and also guides the work of the Regional Assemblys. – Digital support belongs to everyone and we are looking forward to further developing it in our own region. It is also a pleasure to involve new regions in the digital support cooperation, says Maria Puotiniemi and Heidi Niemelä of the Northern Ostrobothnia digital support project. The organisation of digital support contributes to ensuring that all citizens have sufficient digital skills and the opportunity to use the services of the authorities equally in Finland. The projects of the Regional Assemblys gather…

Well-being and participating young people are the biggest fstakeholders in the vitality and competitiveness of municipalities and the region. It is natural that young people in the region of young people can Influencing their own future and what kind of place Northern Ostrobothnia is to live and live in the future. The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region has received grants from the Regional State Administrative Agency for Northern Finland (PSAVI/4806/2020) for the development of local and regional activities in the field of youth. The POPNUVA – Involving and influencing young people project has now started to promote the growth, independence and Participation and Inclusion of young people from Northern Ostrobothnia in society. The project develops the operating model and working methods of the Northern Ostrobothnia Regional Youth Regional Assembly and strengthens the participation and advocacy skills of regional and local Regional Youth Regional Assemblys, municipal youth services, decision-makers and officials, and develops participation and advocacy structures and operating methods. The project is managed by the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region and implemented by the municipality of Tyrnävä. Steering group organized…

The presentations of the Northern Ostrobothnia Welfare Forum held on 13 October 2020 can be found here.

Kuusamo Summer Oasis has won the Northern Ostrobothnia Welfare Act of 2020 award at the Northern Ostrobothnia Welfare Forum on 13 October 2020. The Northern Ostrobothnia Participation and Inclusion Network, which acted as an expert jury, selected three finalists from the competition candidates, and the seminar audience of the Wellbeing Forum voted for the final wEnabler. A total of 18 proposals for the well-being work of the year were received through an open call for proposals related to practices that have increased opportunities for participation in the life of different age groups and in events organised in the municipality, practices that have increased opportunities for participation in joint planning and development, and practices that have provided opportunities to promote the common good in exceptional circumstances during the past year The Summer Oasis, located in front of Kuusamo Library, has created a positive atmosphere around it where people have been able to participate in the production and sharing of the common good on an equal basis in cooperation with other municipal residents. Summer oasis…

The statement of the Eastern and Northern Finland Forum can be found here.

The Arts Regional Assembly has appointed the members of the State and Regional Arts Regional Assemblys for the term 2021-2022. A member of the Arts Regional Assembly of three states has been elected from Northern Ostrobothnia. They were also proposed by the Northern Ostrobothnia Regional Assembly. The members are: Architect Janne Pihlajaniemi, Arts Regional Assembly for Architecture and Design Dancer Petri Kauppinen, Arts Regional Assembly for Performing Arts Writer Pauliina Vanhatalo, Arts Regional Assembly for Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu Region The composition of the Arts Regional Assembly for Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu is as follows: Choir leader Mihkel Koldits Dance teacher Milla Korja Author Essi Kummu Actor Joose Mikkonen Intendent Elina Vieru Photographic artist Vesa Ranta Musician Dimitra Sidiropuolou-Salo Visual artist Jaakko Heikkinen Coordinator Marko Karvonen (Chairman) The decision on the candidates for the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region was made by the Regional Board at its meeting on 18 May 2020. The Arts Regional Assemblys are expert bodies of the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike). They decide on peer-reviewed artists and artist groups…