Residents of South Helsinki invited to Mayor's Residents' Evening on 28 November

Residents of Eira, Hernesaari, Kaartinkaupunki, Punavuori, Kaivopuisto, Munkkisaari and Ullanlinna are invited to discuss current issues at Helsinki City Hall (Pohjoisesplanadi 11–13). The event square can accommodate about a hundred participants. If you are unable to attend in person, we highly recommend participating in the event online through the Helsinki-kanava(Link leads to external service) channel and send questions to the event via the message wall. 

“You are invited to engage in a lively dialogue on issues of interest in the southern districts of Helsinki. Mayor's Resident Evenings are great opportunities to hear from residents directly. That is why I value them so highly,” says Mayor Juhana Vartiainen. 

Before the start of the discussion, a pop-up market will open at City Hall at 5:30 pm. At the market, you will have the opportunity to discuss matters related to Southern Helsinki with the city's specialists and other actors in the area until 6:30 pm. 

Resident opinions are collected with a KerroKantasi survey

With the KerroKantasi survey,(Link leads to external service) you can send the event organisers your opinions and ideas about the development of the southern districts in advance. The survey closes at 11:59 pm on 27 November. 

“We will be sending Invitations in Finnish and Swedish to homes in the area approximately two weeks before the mayor's residents’ evening. It will be nice to have residents of the southern districts present and participating online,” says Borough Liaison for the Southern Major District, Lotta Jäättelä. As a borough liaison, she helps residents participate in the development of their area and find the right channels for personal influence. 

The mayor's residents’ evenings have a long tradition

In the mid-1970s, the initiative of Mayor Teuvo Aura gave birth to Helsinki hours during which experts would answer the questions of residents and journalists.

Even now, the residents’ evenings remain forums that allow residents to ask questions about the city's operations directly from the mayor and city experts. 

“Holding the Mayor's Resident Evenings is a pleasure. They are a way to support resident participation and the sharing of opinions for the common good directly with decision-makers,” says Interaction Specialist Jarkko Laaksonen, who is responsible for the practical arrangements of the events.

The city switched to the mayor model in June 2017, and at that time, it was decided that the event would be named the mayor's residents’ evening. Since then, the mayor's residents’ evenings have consisted of two parts: the pop-up market that starts off the event and the following discussion section.

The mayor's residents’ evening is held 3–4 times a year for the residents of a specific district or area. Issues raised by the residents of the area are discussed in the event.

The partners that help arrange the event include the district's residents' associations and other non-profit actors.