Votes can be cast between January 7 and January 23. The winner will be announced at the Turku City Theatre on January 30.
Turku and being Turku-born inspire, offer experiences, and enrich people’s lives. Which well-known or lesser-known resident of Turku has, through their actions, best highlighted Turku and Turku identity in 2025? Whose achievements deserve special recognition from their home city?
Votes can be cast between January 7 and January 23 on the Turun Sanomat website at ts.fi/vuodenturkulainen and on the Auran Aallot website at http://radioplay.fi/auran-aallot/osallistu/kilpailut/vuoden-turkulainen-2025/.
In the now traditional Turku Citizen of the Year vote, there are six individuals from different fields and one working group nominated. Voters may also nominate their own candidate outside the official list. The winner will be announced at the Turku City Theatre on January 30 at 10:00, when Mayor Piia Elo will present the award — an old Market Square stone decorated with a brass plaque.
The Turku Citizen of the Year has been selected and awarded since 1985. In 2024, the title was awarded to long-distance runner Mustafe Muuse.
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Nominees for Turku Citizen of the Year 2025
Aikamatka 20360 - Working Group
The community art project Aikamatka 20360 filled a former library and youth center in Runosmäki, Turku, which was awaiting demolition. Between March and August, the exhibition attracted over 52,000 visitors.
The work — consisting of installations, murals, sculptures, sound art, and literary art — was awarded the Turku Medal on Turku Day.
The project was coordinated by professional artists Pia and Sophia Bartsch. For them, the most meaningful part of Aikamatka was the strong sense of community among nearly 300 volunteers.
"Everyone helped one another and learned new skills at the same time. It was a joy to share so many moments of success as participants exceeded their own expectations," the mother and daughter say.
"The project gave us the feeling that our work could genuinely impact people’s lives — both those who created it and those who experienced the exhibition," the Bartsches add.
Aram Behbodi
Private chef Aram Behbodi has skyrocketed this year to become one of the most recognizable Turku figures on social media. Known for his vibrant personality, he creates videos featuring "naughty" sandwiches and overflowing girl dinner dishes.
It all began when the longtime restaurant professional decided to host dinner parties for strangers in his home. At first, people in Southwest Finland were slow to warm to the idea.
"I knew there would be better chances of success in a bigger city, but moving away from Turku was never an option. I’ve always said that Turku is the greatest love of my life," says Behbodi, who was crowned Ice Queen in 2024.
The home dinners became a hit. He also organizes From Turku with Love pop-up dinners together with Jessica Sorsakari.
"In Turku, I can be exactly who I am. I don’t have to pretend."
Onni Helén
Footballer Onni Helén played a major role in leading TPS back to Finland’s top football league. The 19-year-old striker was his team’s most effective player last season, scoring 14 goals and providing seven assists in 26 Ykkösliiga matches.
The physically strong center forward is part of Finland’s under-21 national team pool. Helén has described himself as an old-school player, something that shows on the field through his bold playing style.
A TPS youth academy product, Helén started playing football at the age of three on the gravel fields of Vasaramäki in Turku.
"I will never call football my job, because I love it. It’s my greatest passion," Helén says.
His favorite places in Turku include all the pitches in Kupittaa. He particularly appreciates how easy it is to get around the city.
"Turku is also a safe place to live."
Rauno Lahtinen
Non-fiction writer Rauno Lahtinen has been making Turku’s history accessible to a wide audience for the past 20 years. He is known for his works on the city’s cultural and architectural history, examining demolished buildings, the civil war era, and local crimes.
"Turku has Finland’s best combination of history, culture, nature, and an international atmosphere," Lahtinen praises.
This year, Lahtinen received the National Non-Fiction Book Award.
Last year, he delved into Turku in the 1960s. He is currently working on a book about the 1970s, as well as a biography of Finland’s oldest city, Turku 800. In addition, he has researched the concept of Finnish sisu.
Having lived in Turku for nearly 40 years, Lahtinen walks to the Market Square every morning for coffee and takes long walks around the city.
Juho-Jari Laine
Juho-Jari Laine is the father of a young child and a co-parent. Co-parents share parenthood without being in a romantic relationship with one another.
Laine has raised awareness of this family model by speaking openly about his own experience in the media. His home in the Martti district has also been featured in newspapers and on television.
"Turku is just the right size. You can go swimming almost anywhere, housing prices are still reasonable, and early childhood education is excellent — which is very important to me because of my child," Laine says.
He does, however, hope that the city would organize more events and activities for minorities and diverse families.
Laine often stops by Luostarin välikatu with his daughter after museum visits. As a family, they also frequent Seikkailupuisto and KBC Taproom.
Maija Pääkkönen
Entrepreneur Maija Pääkkönen of Bageri Å has turned sourdough croissants into a favorite treat among Turku residents through her craftsmanship. Coincidentally, her birthday falls on International Croissant Day.
Earlier this year, people lined up for Bageri Å’s laskiaiscroissants at the Market Hall and the Kakola bakery, selling out within hours. Pääkkönen can be found both baking and serving customers, and she is also a board member of the Market Hall Association.
"I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I want to be deeply involved in developing Turku further as Finland’s food capital," Pääkkönen says enthusiastically.
In the summer, she spends all her free time at her allotment garden cottage Villa La Luna in Peltola with her partner, child, and dog.
"I love the sense of community in the association and the area’s magical atmosphere."
Kalle Talonen
Journalist Kalle Talonen hosted Turku broadcasts on Yle Radio Suomi for many years, covering local news with his distinctive humor. Morning radio listeners remember characters he created, such as Myllysiltamies and Neighbor Mäkinen.
Talonen hosted his final morning broadcast last spring when Yle discontinued regionally hosted radio programs.
He is also known as a performance poet and has published two poetry collections inspired by Turku’s suburbs.
Among his favorite places is the Hepokulta neighborhood.
"I’ve learned to love my nature-oriented and peaceful home district. Hepokulta is like its own village within the city."
In addition to Turku’s rich cultural history, Talonen lists Finland’s best lunch restaurants as one of the city’s strengths.
+ Your Own Nominee
In addition to the official nominees, voters may also cast their vote for their own candidate.
The Turku Citizen of the Year vote is jointly organized by Turun Sanomat, Auran Aallot, and the City of Turku.