Congratulations 65 Degrees North!
After its fifth anniversary 65 Degrees North received congratulation wishes from prominent city representatives and readers abroad.
The city of Oulu says in its strategic goals: “Oulu is an international, tolerant, multi-value city of culture attracting people with top-level competence, with an increasing proportion of residents and workers moving from abroad.”
To meet these targets Oulu needs to develop its innovation environment and service network for companies as well as for citizens. Actions are needed to strengthen the competitiveness of the city in this globalized world as nowadays our competitors come from all continents.
As part of this, the EFA- Expatriate Family Adjustment project started in the autumn 2003. The aim was to help expat-families adjust to the city. Good results led to more permanent arrangements as part of the central administration to develop new services for foreigners moving to Oulu. To improve the information flow and communication for non-Finnish speakers an online journal, 65 Degrees North was introduced. Editor and staff have been challenged to get the journal of the ground but with some 4000-5000 visitors per month, we can proudly say they have succeeded. The paper has not only been able to attract local readers. Nowadays readers from 76 countries worldwide check regularly what happens in Oulu.
Statistics reveal that most popular articles are those dealing with everyday expat issues such as job opportunities, new businesses, becoming part of the Finnish society and cultural differences. Over time it has become clear that readers want inside information about working and living in Oulu.
Also, 65 Degrees North has been able to utilize social media such as Facebook, Twitter and the UBI screens in town which are becoming popular communication tool among our citizens.
Despite the relatively limited resources 65 Degrees North has managed to build a good reputation among its readers. I can proudly say it has been able to develop its profile as one of the best e-newsletters in English in our country.
On behalf of the City of Oulu I´d like to express our warmest congratulations to the editorial team of 65 Degrees North. Thanks to the all those expat´s who´ve put their effort into the paper. Special thanks are due to the Editor in Chief, Mrs. Aaltje Bos who has very persistently continued her efforts in expat affairs of the city.
Finally, I wish 65 Degrees North every possible success with lots of interesting articles and new readers for the coming years!
Dr. Mikko Karvo
Director of Economic Development
Oulu Kaupunki
Dear 65Degrees North English Newspaper,
On behalf of the Irish Music Society of Oulu, we would like to congratulate you and your staff on your 5th anniversary accomplishment. The online newspaper is a valuable asset to the City of Oulu in reporting the news, happenings, and events in English to the citizens of Oulu. Personally, it is great to keep up with the latest news and happenings while traveling abroad as the articles are unbiased and easy to read in English.
Thank you for reporting on the annual Irish Festival of Oulu and attending our events. Our web statistics prove that numerous people in Oulu, throughout Finland, or those abroad find our festival website through your articles and links to our event.
Additionally, the 5th anniversary Irish Festival of Oulu will be held September 30th – October 3rd, 2010 and we very much hope to see you there. All the best, keep up the great work of reporting the news as it is, and may you have many more anniversaries.
Sincerely,
Brent Cassidy
Festival Organizer
The Irish Festival of Oulu
Dear 65Degrees North English Newspaper,
I would like to congratulate the staff of the newspaper for the 5th anniversary on behalf of the university staff working with international students. Being one of the coordinators for Education and Globalisation master’s program, I have often discussed the news of the paper with my students. It has become very clear from these discussions that the newspaper is an essential forum for the international students to get to know each other and to find out what goes on in Oulu. It is also an important space to share experiences and get involved in joint activities.
It is not always easy to find one’s place in another country – we need means and joint efforts to make it easier! Neither is it easy to reach all the international citizens in Oulu. 65Degrees North is an important and concrete meeting place and means to share information. I do hope the newspaper continues it valuable work.
Warm greetings,
Rauni Räsänen
Professor of education (emerita)
Faculty of Education
University of Oulu
Dear 65 Degrees North
When you move to Oulu from abroad, at first sight everything seems easy so and comfortable. The
City is nice, well equipped and perfectly managed. But sooner or later you´ll find out there are difficulties too. If you do not understand Finnish it very difficult to understand what happens around you. 65Degrees North is a good tool to help you out. It is more than just newspaper – it helps newcomers to see their surroundings.
When I started up a Russian language newspaper about OuluSenovosti.ru, 65DN was first informational source for us.
I want to say, “Thank you” Ata and all people who made and make 65DN during all this years – you did a great job!
Igor Osadchiy
Editor-in-Chief of Senovosti.ru
Dear 65 Degrees North staff.
Congratulations and many thanks for your charming style of reporting on life in Oulu. With your paper you´ve been able to pick up on an important, international tradition. Unfortunately, this style of reporting died out during the last 100 years in Finland. 65 Degrees North shows us how to have lively discussions and how to write freely about every possible topic. That´s is how it should be.
Your paper is the right way to promote Oulu to the world.
Finally we´re looking international again,
Thanks for that.
Markus H Korhonen
Dear 65 Degrees North
For many years, Oulu has provided a welcoming environment for foreign professionals working in the city. Much of this is thanks to the pioneering initiatives of Ata Bos. One of these initiatives is 65 Degrees North, which has provided a source of news, help, and entertainment for expatriates for the last five years. The success of 65 Degrees North has been built on a fondation of quality, content and a sense of fun.
Even though I no longer live there, I look back warmly on my few years in Oulu and the memories and friends that endure from that time. I wish 65 Degrees North many more years of success and fun!
Best regards,
Bob Hamilton, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Congratulation 65o North!
The last 10 years have witnessed an exuberant growth of visits, cooperation and incoming students and employees outside of Finland at the Department of Biochemistry of the University of Oulu. This development is strongly backed up by the University, but we need also support from the surrounding community. 65o North has served as an excellent source of updated and well edited information in English about Oulu and Oulu region for the past five years. Thank you for your contribution to make our city an attractive place for scientists from abroad to visit and work here. We wish you all the success for the next coming decade.
Kalervo Hiltunen
Professor of Biochemistry
University of Oulu.
Hello Ata,
I would like to congratulate you and your team for the 5th anniversary of 65 North.
During these 5 years I enjoyed reading all the articles on such a wide variety such as politics, art, culture, nature, employment and entrepreneurs as well as the foreign community. The best of all, it was all in English. Everyday I eagerly checked 65 North for new articles. Most of the time they evoked responses of agreement, disagreement, smiles or laughter. Thank you for that.
But I´m also looking forward for the next 5 years. Specially that I now move away from Finland I will still stay in touch with Oulu through 65 North. I will carry on reading the articles, so that I still be informed what is going on in Oulu. It makes the moving easier to know I can take Oulu with me.
Good luck for the future of 65 North.
Marion Eichhorn
Chairwoman of Oulu International Women’s Club
Dear 65 Degrees North
Congratulations on your 5th Anniversary 65 Degrees North! I can remember when this publication was merely a fragment of an idea percolating in Ata Bos’ brain. I am proud to say that I was an early contributor to the paper during its infancy. In five short years, it has evolved into a much more substantial publication. The wide ranging topics and opinions put forth are a valuable source of information for expats who have limited Finnish skills.
In my opinion, the paper has just the right mix of practical information, humour and editorial comment. Even though I have returned to my “home” country, I read 65DN regularly to keep up with what’s going on in Oulu. The city and wonderful people I met there during my time in Finland will always hold a special place in my heart.
I look forward to the next five years. Keep up the good work, 65DN!
Bonnie Hamilton, Vancouver
