Our Story
Greetings!
Terveisiä (Ter-vay-see-a)
We Believe in Taking Time
Time is precious.
It will slip by unnoticed if we let it.
Today, we reclaim our time.
We choose how we spend it.
We will cherish every second.
Today is your time to take.
What Guides Us
Our Values
reconnect
Our guests are reconnecting with what’s important to them. Whether it be a quiet moment with their inner thoughts or a social day with loved ones, their mind, body, and soul are taking the time to reawaken.
relaxation
We want our guests to breathe a sigh of relief when they come to Vettä. Our goal is to help them experience pure physical and mental relaxation as their daily stressors fade away.
nature
Immersion in nature contributes significantly to feelings of relaxation. We have surrounded ourselves with natural elements and offer a dining experience that embraces natural ingredients from local sources.
tradition
For centuries, the Finnish culture has embraced the sauna lifestyle of steam, cold, relaxation, repeat, and social connection. Sauna life is full of meaningful and beautiful traditions that Vettä Nordic Spa embraces.
health and wellness
Vettä is all about taking care of yourself. It’s essential to have balance and a place to go recharge. We have created a space to prioritize our guests’ overall health and wellness.
time
We are very aware that our guests have chosen to spend their precious time at Vettä and are looking for an authentic Finnish experience. For that reason, we are committed to giving them an exceptional experience.
Some background
Our Roots
Our story is finnish
(has only just begun)
In 1957, Yrjö Harkonen left Finland, his family, his sweetheart, and everything he knew for Canada. All on a chance that the rumours were true and that the mining industry in Elliot Lake, Canada, would give him a better life. Though it was not a comfortable journey, it was worthwhile. One night, while playing poker at the mine, Yrjö won a jackpot. He bought a car (Chevy Impala) and flew with it back to Finland for a visit, hoping to impress the woman he loved.
His plan worked, and Kaisa flew back to Canada with him. Yrjö and Kaisa settled first in Thunder Bay, then Manitouwadge, then finally in Elliot Lake, building a life on a Finnish foundation. That meant living among nature, being resourceful, and integrating relaxation and friends into daily life. Their son Eric (the man behind Vettä ) grew up understanding that quality time in the sauna each day was as important as brushing his teeth.
Fast forward to years later. Eric and his wife Donna had started a family of their own. Eric worked as a mining engineer, travelling across Canada and the world (too often), commuting daily and experiencing more stress than he could comfortably manage. The answer was simple. He built a Nordic spa in his backyard with a sauna and a pool to bring his body to total relaxation through hot/cold circuits, as is done in Finnish culture. The spa helped him relax and negate everyday stresses, but it was also a massive hit with everyone invited to try it.
Eric learned that this part of the world is missing out on the authentic Finnish spa experience.
Eric shared his dream with his wife Donna, and they spent countless nights in their sauna discussing the details. That dream is now a reality. Eric left the rat race to bring this part of his culture to the greater community, and with Donna’s help and support, the result is even better than he ever imagined.
Scaling up
Authentic touches from start to Finnish
Vetta Spa is a larger-scale replica of Eric and Donna’s backyard (much larger) and is now home to the world’s largest saunas. With a Finnish architect and designer (ISM), a Finnish founder, and even wood siding imported from Finnish trees (Siparila), wood-burning sauna heaters from Finland, and Finnish designed glass enclosures (Lumon) and the Harkonen family has created an authentic Nordic spa. As a result, guests are completely immersed in an indulgent experience allowing for a proper disconnect from daily stresses for total rejuvenation of body, mind, and soul.
Nauttikaa (Now-tee-kuh)
Enjoy your stay!