Eeva and Martti Reijonen – Longtime Volunteers at Pärnävaara

Eeva and Martti Reijonen from Liperi have dedicated many years of volunteer work to Pärnävaara. Eeva ran a cafe for over ten years, and Martti has contributed to improvements and organizing competitions over an even longer period. Now the couple enjoys their retirement, but memories of their time at Pärnävaara remain fondly alive.

"Martti was already the chairman of Liperi Ski Club, and I was the chair of Ylämyllyn Yllätys. There was no entrepreneur to run the new cafe building at Pärnävaara, so I took over for the ski club. At first, the cafe was run alternately with Joensuu Kataja. Later Kataja stopped, and I continued alone for several years with the ski club. Then Ylämyllyn Yllätys joined in, and we again took turns running the cafe," Eeva recalls.

The couple ran their own painting business on weekdays, while evenings and weekends were devoted to volunteer work. Following their son’s skiing hobby and attending competitions inspired them to get involved. Volunteering became their passion.

"I’m not a sports fanatic. I played volleyball myself, but just for fitness. Mostly, this has been about doing something good for others. The traditional volunteer spirit has been strong all these years – no ordinary person would do this much," Eeva laughs.

Volunteer Work on the Gravel Hill

Martti has been involved in volunteer work throughout Pärnävaara and in organizing skiing competitions across North Karelia.

"I was heavily involved when the ski trail foundations were being made. In the evenings, big groups of us were out cutting trees and planning. I had many business contacts at the time, and we got support from several local companies. Erkki Vienola from Joensuu Kataja helped a lot – his truck and tractor were used frequently during the volunteer work. Vienola was an avid skier, and his son was also a strong skier. We got the bridge structures from Mantsi, which are still in use today. We received all kinds of major help back then," Martti recalls.

Martti was also involved when the first building was brought to Pärnävaara.

"That info kiosk, which is still in use today, was moved from Liperi using a transport beam. We heard the old R-kiosk was going to be demolished, and the demolition crew could take the structures for free. A tractor driver from Liper brought it here. Back then, there was nothing here but the gravel hill," Martti explains.

"One weekday I was digging gravel with a shovel to pour the foundation. By chance, the municipal building inspector drove by and asked what I was doing. He asked if we had the permits, and of course, we didn’t," Martti laughs.

Fortunately, through the same inspector, the building later received the necessary permits, and the volunteers’ work was not wasted. The old kiosk served as a competition office and a warming place for skiers. Later, Martti also brought in three construction site containers for changing rooms and ski waxing. This was how things went for several years before additional buildings were added to Pärnävaara.

Cafe Hits

Eeva Reijonen began running the cafe at Pärnävaara in the late 1990s after the main building was completed. She hired long-term unemployed people for work trials and occasionally received extra help from the ski club on weekends. Eeva’s own volunteer hours sometimes extended longer than her regular work. The café work also brought her a lot of joy.

"I’m talkative, so it was fun. Here you meet people from all walks of life. Titles don’t matter; everyone is ordinary. There were nice people around, so I wanted to be involved too," Eeva explains.

The cafe had regular visitors and occasionally customers came from farther away. The reason? One unmatched delicacy: fresh finnish donuts.

"It’s funny that people still remember the donuts. Once, a familiar-looking man came into the shop and said he still skis at Pärnävaara and always wishes the donuts were still available," Eeva says happily.

"I developed my own recipe here, and it was very popular. People loved how it just melted in your mouth. Often, people were already lining up outside when the smell of donuts drifted from the cafe."

Filled buns were another hit and a favorite of long-distance skiers, all baked by Eeva herself.

Major Events at Pärnävaara

Over the years, Pärnävaara has hosted several significant skiing competitions. Particularly memorable for the Reijonens were televised events and international stars.

"The competitions were always very interesting. The Finnish Defense Forces championships stand out strongly in my memory. The first competitions were negotiated several times in Kontioranta with the then-colonel. The catering was always excellent! I handled it alone, but I managed to make a good deal for Pärnävaara. They even ordered the competitions again for two more years. Later, the Finnish Border Guard also became interested in organizing competitions here, and they accepted our offer," Martti recalls.

"The 2000 Finnish Championships left the strongest impression on me. It was televised, and it was a huge effort to make everything work. There were no proper changing rooms yet, just those barracks next to the kiosk. I even fell on the grandstand stairs and broke my hand. It was hectic," Eeva remembers.

"It’s a pity we didn’t record all this back then. We always had two or three big events in winter, and sometimes something in summer too. We just did it, and now we try to recall everything we accomplished over the decades," Eeva laughs.

A Future Full of Possibilities

Now retired from their volunteer days, the Reijonens watch with interest what the next generation will achieve at Pärnävaara. They praise the plans for the future.

"Pärnävaara has great scenery and facilities. There aren’t many sports centers like this in Finland in terms of terrain. Now it will surely rise to new heights. Of course, we hope for Finnish Championship competitions here," Martti hints.