Number 1 Volunteer (Feb 17 newsletter)

(I wanted to title this one "Number one Pin-Head" but apparently that wasn't PC enough for VANOC)

He says he never smiles, but ask him about his volunteer work or pin collection and his face lights up like a gold medal winner. Don’t let his somewhat impassive demeanour fool you — Harold Wilson is one of the most enthusiastic and passionate volunteers you will ever meet.

Harold has volunteered his time to more events than even he can remember. From working as a VIP driver multiple times for the World Police and Fireman Games, to assisting in 5 world cup ski events, he has pretty much done it all. “I love to volunteer, meet new people, and collect new pins,” the retiree explains. “There is nothing like it!”

He is easily identifiable by the dozens of distinctive pins attached to his lanyard. When asked about the origin of his pin collecting hobby, Harold recalls: “It all started around the time of Expo 86. I picked up a few Expo buttons and joined the Pacific Pin Club the following year. I’ve been addicted ever since”.

He possesses an impressive assortment of over 5,000 unique pins. At any give time, you can find him carrying approximately 300 pins in his backpack.
“I have a few for trading and the rest belong to my collection,” the avid collector explains. “The rest are permanent members of my Pin Bible”.

When he’s not collecting pins or volunteering at sporting events, Harold dedicates time and energy to his community. He is President of the Brackendale Farmer’s Institute, as well as a member of the Squamish Mayor’s Committee for Seniors Issues. He also works with the Squamish Senior Centre Advisory Board and helps organise the annual Brackendale Fall Fair. When he’s not busy with those responsibilities, you can find him spending quality time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren.

When asked to describe himself in one or two sentences, Harold quickly proclaims: “I’m a sucker for Volunteering”.

On behalf of all of us here at Vancouver Olympic Centre, thank you Harold, for all that you do.

Conservative MP is Liberal With His Time (Feb 17 Newsletter)

Lethbridge, Alberta conservative M.P. Rick Casson is spending the Vancouver 2010 games catering to a different passion: the sport of curling.

When I stuck my head into a back corner office and announced that I was looking for an M.P. who is also a volunteer, Mr. Casson immediately proclaimed “It’s not me, it’s that guy!” and pointed to someone else in the room. I could immediately tell that Rick Casson’s humility and approachability just 2 of the reasons he has been elected to federal office for the past 12 years.

Casson is volunteering his time as a support for a World Curling Federation executive.
“I am basically a “gopher” for the games” he explains with a warm smile “I spend a lot of time either rushing around and tying up loose ends or waiting to rush around”.

His games time role appears to be quite different from his day job representing approximately 115,000 residents of Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. His region’s primary industrial activities include agriculture, manufacturing, and trade with the US.

When asked why he decided to travel to Vancouver and volunteer for the games, Casson answered:
“It’s close to home, so we couldn’t justify not being a part of it”.

Both Rick and his wife Jeanene are here to support the Vancouver Olympic Centre for the duration of the games.

“We are both curlers and have been for the last 40 years or so,” he goes on to explain. “It’s a sport that is close to our hearts because it’s one of the few sports that any person can play, regardless of age, shape, or size. We wanted to be here to help in our own small way”.

Lucky Loonie? (Feb 19 Newsletter)

As the German men wrapped up their final curling practice at the Vancouver Olympic Centre on Sunday, February 14, volunteer team driver Dave Rush was approached by a Chinese journalist from CCTV. The enthusiastic TV announcer asked carefully:

“Sir, what is a lon-e?”
“I’m sorry, but do you mean a Loonie?” Dave replied
“Yes, yes, a Loon-e” the reporter answered. “Do you have a Loon-e I can see?”

Dave smiled, reached into his pocket, and handled the man one of our iconic 1 dollar coins. He was so happy to receive the short term loan that he quickly blurted out how he was doing a news piece the ice-embedded Loonie at Canada Hockey Place (a good luck omen for the Canadian Teams).

It seems that Lucky Loonies have become a part of Canadian Olympic lore: A loonie was tucked away in the hockey ice at the Salt Lake City Olympic games of 2002; the year Canada won gold in both men’s and women’s hockey (against the US both times, no less!). The humble coin may have also helped Canadian athlete Maelle Ricker win gold in Ladies Snowboard Cross this week. This golden girl even keeps a Loonie in her pocket for good luck, a gift from her mother.

Just last week, the Canadian mint released 10 million commemorative Loonies for the 2010 games, a tradition that has been in place since Salt Lake City 2002.

Once the visiting news reporter finished his story for CCTV, he handed the Loonie back to Dave.

“But don’t you want to keep it?” Rush asked.
“No, you should keep it,” the reporter responded. “This Loonie is now famous all over China!”

Where is the Lucky Loonie now? Stay tuned for further details on what happens to it.

Royalty In the House (Feb 16 Vancouver Olympic Centre Newsletter article)

(Photo: Princess Anne at the Vancouver Olympic Centre addressing the men’s Great Britain curling team during an afternoon practice session)

Her Royal Highness Princess Anne dropped by yesterday to view the new curling venue. Princess Anne of England was a member of Great Britain's 1976 Equestrian team that participated at the Summer Games in Montreal. She is a member of the IOC and sits on the board of the London 2012 Organising Committee.

There are a total of 7 royal IOC members, including a Saudi prince, a UAE princess, the Prince of Orange, and Prince Albert II of Monaco.