February 9, 2010 - 7:26am
Olympic fever is spreading at Vancouver Island University.
Hundreds of VIU students, staff and faculty are taking part in the Olympics, either as volunteers or spectators.
VIU President Ralph Nilson said he’s not surprised by the involvement of VIU employees and students in Olympic festivities. “We’re very proud we have so many professional and dynamic individuals representing our organization, community and province during such an important time in BC’s history,” he said.
Steve Van Schubert, Athletic Therapist and instructor in VIU’s Physical Education department, has been assigned to the medical team at the Richmond Olympic Oval.
“I’ll be providing on-site care and athletic therapy services to long-track speed skating athletes,” said Van Schubert. “I’m totally pumped! I have been over to Vancouver for the past couple of weekends doing orientation and covering athlete training sessions. The facilities are amazing, and the organization has been excellent. The medical team that I am a part of is outstanding - physicians, therapists, nurses, paramedics - all with exceptional skills and experience.
“The excitement is definitely building, and there are people from all over the world descending on Vancouver. I have been to the summer Olympics before, and the feeling is the same - lots of energy, excitement, and positive vibes!”
VIU Administrative Assistant Kyla Bruce will be working as host at Canada Hockey Place. “I’ll be there for most of the men’s hockey games - including the gold medal game,” said Bruce, who is currently on maternity leave from her position at VIU.
“I'll have various duties that rotate throughout the day which include helping crowds move in and around Canada Hockey Place, preparing spectators for security screenings and checking accreditation to pass access points for athletes, officials, journalists, and dignitaries. All the training has been really exciting.”
English instructor Sherri McKinnon, who lived in Japan for four years, will be cheering on one of her former Japanese students competing in the speed skating competition on Feb. 15.
“I have volunteered to guide a Japanese delegation from the town that I lived in while they are in Vancouver and to take them to watch the competition at the Richmond Oval,” said McKinnon. “I’m really excited about seeing this event.”
Theatre instructor Eliza Gardiner is taking a Nanaimo troupe of singers and dancers to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games.
“The Freeze Flames are a talented group of VIU students and graduates, local teens, and keen kids between nine and 24 who will travel to Whistler to strut their stuff at the Games,” said Gardiner. “This multi-cultural, diverse, dream team of performers will entertain crowds at the Whistler Sliding Centre, where the Luge, Bobsleigh and Skeleton competitions take place. The Freeze Flames will perform 45-minute sets of dynamic Broadway-style and contemporary songs, set to the amazing choreography of Silvia Knapp.
Gardiner, a theatre history instructor at VIU and Artistic Director of Red Room Studio, said the group is totally psyched to perform in front of the international spectators at various events.
“The energy and team work of the Freeze Flames is inspiring,” said Gardiner. “We are so honoured to take part in the celebration of athletes and their achievements.”
Gardiner was selected to share her original music at the Olympics, including a ‘Strolling Player’ gig at Pacific Coliseum, and Whistler Olympic Park.
VIU student Dave Ross registered to volunteer for Vancouver 2010 back in Feb. 2007.
“It has been a long journey, with lots of waiting, but finally in March 2009 I was called to participate in “Creating 2010,” the general orientation and interview session for prospective volunteers,” said Ross. “I’ve already met a great number of people from all over the world. I’ll be working as a Load Zone Attendant at the Main Media Centre in downtown Vancouver. I’m excited to take part at one of the largest non-competition venues.
“My motivation for volunteering? Simply put, the Games are here and I don’t think I will ever be this close to another Olympics again,” said Ross who also works as a Administrative Assistant at VIU. “It is an excellent opportunity to help showcase BC, and it feels great to be able to participate, even in my own little way. Three years was a long time to wait, but well worth it.”
Several students in VIU’s Recreation and Tourism program are also volunteering or working during the Olympics. Third-year student L-A Shibish is volunteering at the NBC Media Centre in Whistler, while Janice Johnson is assisting with logistics organization for transportation. Shantel Genest is a volunteer driver while Brendan Fletcher will operate a tour boat around Burrard Inlet.
“Granville Island is expecting to see 50 000 people everyday,” said Brendan. “The aquabus is a ferry service that shuttles people and offers tours around False Creek. I will be driving one of 15 boats full time during the Olympics.”
Amanda McKichan, a third-year Recreation and Tourism student, will be working for the men's alpine races in Whistler.
“I've got a long history of skiing and downhill ski racing so this is almost a dream job for me,” said McKichan. “I will be doing course work for the races, which means I have to make sure the race course is in good condition at all times. Some of the jobs that includes are raking and salting the course (salting freezes the snow so it gives the racers something for their ski edges to grab), putting gates back in and putting panels back on the gates. I will be up in Whistler for two weeks, with my first shift on Saturday, Feb. 13.”
Joanne Simister, Criminology professor, will be cheering loudly for her niece, Meaghan Simister who is a member of the Canadian Luge Team. “Of course, my whole family will be up in Whistler cheering her on, on Feb. 15 and 16,” said Joanne.
Retired forestry professor Barry Ostrand is volunteering at both the Olympics and Paralympics. “This was part of my retirement plans,” said Ostrand. “For the Olympics, I am a Club 2010 driver, based in Vancouver. Club 2010 consists of corporate clients who shell out $285,000 and get 100 premium tickets, a chauffeur (me) and concierge service. At the Paralympics, I will be driving various clients around the Whistler venues.”
Patricia Adam, Accounting instructor at VIU, will be working on the Ladies Alpine course at Whistler. “My job is that of steward,” said Adam. “A steward is someone who safeguards the course by checking each and every person that comes through a checkpoint to ensure that they have the proper accreditation. I am working six days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m for the whole month of February. It's been very exciting and I've met some rather incredible people already here in Whistler. My husband, Brian, is also here as he is part of the course crew.”
Meanwhile, a contingent of torch bearers at VIU’s Powell River campus is still basking in the glow of last Thursday’s relay. –
“It was very exciting,” said campus principal Arlette Raaen. “A cheer rang up as the torch was lit and the relay began. Locals in their housecoats came out on their front porches as the noise from the escorts woke them.”
Several runners reported they would not wash off the residue from the Olympic flame and discussed how they were going to showcase their torches as momentos. One was going to take his torch to a local elementary school his children attend for show-and-tell. “The Olympic spirit was carried all day long by the participants and onlookers alike,” added Raaen.
Tags: In the Community
