Ilvesjoki

The village of Ilvesjoki with more than 400 inhabitants is located in the southwest corner of Jalasjärvi along Ilvesjoki. The village is long and narrow because the settlement has been formed along the river bank. When approaching the village from the direction of Highway 3, Ilvesjoki flows deep in the canyon. The river is partly hidden from passers-by behind trees and willows, but there it winds close to the Ilvesjoentie road that runs through the village. Main roads, well-maintained private roads and trails managed by "kökka" (kökkä) form a network that enables living and provides a good framework for business life.

Services

Ilvesjoki's agent post works in connection with the Kauppila's car dealership. Community spirit among the villagers and helpful neighbors are an important asset of the village, as shops, a pharmacy, medical services and many other important services of society are located in the church village. Neighborly help and care for relatives have also made it possible for elderly people to live in the village. Elementary school children in Ilvesjoki go to Koskue school, and middle school and high school are in Jalasjärvi church village.

Shared spaces and hobby opportunities

The center of the village's activities is the Toimela youth club. It is good to organize a party in the house, when there is reason to celebrate. There is a different activity almost every week. Drama enthusiasts from the Ilvesjoki youth club's Saappa Nähärä theater perform plays, and other hobby circles also gather in Toimela, such as the broadcasting circle and some circles of the civic college. The versatile road network also provides opportunities for jogging and cycling. In winter, a well-maintained network of slopes maintained by volunteers is a skier's dream. The resting place can be found at Takkavuori's home.

Associations operating in the area

In addition to the village association and the Youth Club, three agricultural and household clubs operate in the village. The hunting club Ilvesjoki erämiët has got a lot of young people in its ranks, so there is no fear of "getting lost". The club has its own hunting lodge. The diaconia circle and the Iki iliveks, who cherish the tupalita tradition, meet in the villagers' homes.

Village events

Dinners have been held in Toimela for over 30 years. There has been a break for a few years now, but possibly at some point the dinner tradition will be revived again. Christmas is welcomed by singing the most beautiful Christmas carols, and for a few years the youth club has organized a fun porridge party for villagers of all ages. 

The annual Winter event, which has become a tradition, gathers the villagers together, and depending on the current weather and snow situation, the event has various activities for both children and adults. 

Nowadays, the hundred-page Christmas newspaper Kajastu tells how the village wentfrom the past as well as from the present, and this is how the history of the village is preserved for future generations. The magazine has been produced in its current form for over 40 years.

The village's strengths and opportunities

The strength of the village is versatile business activities. In Ilvesjoki, you can find a wide variety of business activities, from small "knife workshops" to nationally known companies. Agriculture has been practiced in Ilvesjoki as long as the village has been inhabited. The number of farms has decreased here as elsewhere, but the remaining farms invest in the future by building newer, larger and up-to-date production facilities.
Peat production has long been a significant source of employment in the village, and Ilvesjoki has always used both material wood and firewood from the forests.

Fiber optic network

In 2017, the Ilvesjoki village association built a fiber optic network in the village, which was joined by around 60 companies and households operating in the village. The fiber optic network enables functioning and good broadband connections from the village to the world and creates even better conditions for business activities as well as, for example, access to various official services offered online.

Updated February 2, 2023