Will never regret going, it was totally worth it! Just being in Vancouver and feeling the vibe was incredible. Downtown Vancouver was full of people 24 hours a day. There was so much Canadian pride on display. Visitors from other countries I talked to couldn’t stop talking about how friendly everyone was and how beautiful Vancouver is. When I wore my blue volunteer jacket, everyone asked me what I was doing and were so excited for me. I am soooo proud to be Canadian – it was so great to see everyone putting their pride in being Canadian front and centre and being LOUD about – that was cool and it also gave me the chills. Own the Podium or not – Canada rocked the house and for these past two weeks – showed the world WE ARE CANADIAN!!!

On the ice after the last game

Well, the past few days have been both hectic and memorable. Tuesday night went back to the Olympic store at the Bay downtown to find a couple more souvenirs. The lineup was only 15 minutes long – it was up to 4 hours earlier in the week?! Went to lunch on Wednesday to a great waterfront (False Creek) restaurant with my sister Amy call Nu. Pigged on deep fried green beans, gooey poutine and tuscan chicken and brie on a baguette. Walked to Stanley Park, a little drizzle but still reasonably warm.

Worked the late shift so I was able to watch the men’s game; Finland vs Czech Republic. The stands were half-empty until a few minutes into the game because everyone, including the press, was watching the Canada- Russia game. Great defensive game by both the Finns and Czechs, both teams had a hard time putting any plays together even on the power play. Finland put it together in the third period but it was too bad that Kubina’s helmet fell off and while he was putting it back on, Finland scored. Under international hockey rules, when a player’s helmet comes off, the player either has to go to the bench or retrieve the helmet and put it on before he (or a player off the bench) can play.  A couple of the Canadian reporters made it clear after the game that they thought that it was a very stupid rule and that it may have cost the Czechs the game. Jagr didn’t play a lot, I think he was still suffering the effect of the Ovechkin hit on Sunday! In the mixed zone (interview area) after the game, Jagr was the only Czech player that spoke to the media – he looked to be in a great mood – very talkative as well. Most of the Finnish players were interviewed, I wish I understood Finnish so I could have heard what they were talking about. The press conference went into overtime – there had to be over 30 reporters from Finland and the Czech Republic and they all had a question!!

To prove I was there!

Right after the game, the ice rink volunteers had a pickup hockey game on the rink. Everyone that could had their picture taken on the ice. We had a volunteer appreciation party after the game as well, most of the volunteers I worked with in press operations came and we had fun sharing stories and taking pictures. There were draws for tickets to the Bronze medal game for women’s hockey up for grabs, I won a pair but couldn’t go so I got a Canada Hockey jersey instead! Nathan will be a happy guy. The bus ride home was a blast, a group of Finnish fans were partying on the bus with their IPOD walkman, feeling no pain.

Melyssa at the Canada House Pavilion

Thursday morning Amy and I went for coffee and took her dog Tyson for a walk (in reality he took us for a walk!) Met my new friend Melyssa downtown and we visited the Canada Pavilion and watched the Canadian women’s curling team win their semi-final game on the big screen. Many Russian athletes were out enjoying the day, saw Malkin on the street and a few of the players from the women’s hockey team. Ran into Mark Tewksbury, the Canadian swimmer (and Olymic Gold Medalist) at a coffee shop. Had a quick lunch with my sister Melissa and her kids and headed to the airport. Thought of staying until Sunday as I was asked if I’d like to volunteer at Canada Hockey Place on Friday and Sunday for the big game but I decided I wanted to be home and have a couple days to get over the jetlag etc. I know, I could have been at the big game in person on Sunday but I missed home and will watch it with Martin and Nathan.

Canadians on the Flag

Walked through the streets of Kitslano, full of blooming cherry trees – they smell great.

The Latvian and Czech men’s teams were practicing today for their game Tuesday night at the UBC arena. Only a couple of the Latvia players are in the NHL, of course, most of the Czech team are in the NHL and then there is Jaromir Jagr, now playing in Russia. Big change from the women, boy, the guys can skate fast and shoot that puck! Only a couple days left at UBC, so people are starting to work their last shifts so many goodbyes. I’ve made some great friends.

Molly of Central Chinese Television

I said goodbye to my Chinese friend Zhang Mosi (Molly) of Central China Television who I met the first day when she and her crew arrived to cover the women’s team. She was happy after the Chinese women won their game against Slovakia.

Downtown after Virtue and Moir won their well-deserved gold medal for Ice Dance, the streets were electric. After the men’s hockey team lost on Sunday, the mood in the city was a little morose so the gold medal win last night and then our gold in ski-cross today will help.

Team Finland - Men's Hockey Team

The Finnish men’s team practiced today; the Koivu brothers, Sami Salo, Niklas Hagman, Miikka Kiprusoff and the rest of the team had a good practice – four on four and five on five scrimmages. In the media scrum after the practice, Teemu Selanne was interviewed but by the Finnish press in his native language so I have no insights into what Teemu is thinking!?

Last shift Wednesday:  the winner of tonight’s game between Czechslovakia and Latvia vs Finland. Should be a great game.

Russian team snapping their own memories

In the press conference, when Central China Television asked the Chinese coach why he pulled his goalie – his reply was short and sarcastic: you were watching the game right? and he rolled his eyes. The Russian/Slovakia game was much closer, Russia pulled out a 4-2 win.

The US team practiced and as usual, it was intense. They played pond hockey, three on three, with the nets at the two blue lines and then pulled  the nets even closer and played in the middle circle. That was fun to watch! Met the wife of the US equipment manager and their 5-year old son. She said that her husband has basically been away for over a year with the team, only coming home once or twice a month. I think she’ll be glad when the Olympics are over and he is home.

Later in the afternoon, another volunteer (Melyssa) and I took the bus downtown and attended the victory ceremony at BC Place. We cheered and cheered as we watched Jon Montgomery (on large televisions from Whistler) receive his gold medal. The Stereophonics played for about an hour – great concert.

Partying on Robson street

Picture six blocks of downtown Vancouver blocked off in two different directions and 100,000 people on the streets Saturday night. There were spontaneous anthem gatherings every few metres; a few people start singing our anthem and then by the time it is finished, there are 100’s singing along. It is the greatest feeling – the vibe is just …frigging amazing.

Canada's women playing half-ice pond hockey at practice

Today (Sunday) was a practice day at the rink, seven women’s teams were on the ice. Watched the Russian’s have a fun, relaxing practice after their win over Slovakia Saturday night. The Canadian team’s last practice at our rink, the rest of their games are downtown at Canada Hockey Place. It was sad in a way. It’s hard to believe that we are in the last week of the games, time really has flown by. It feels like I’ve been here only a moment.

My nieces and nephew at the Chinese garden

Decided to head out to Vancouver Olympic Centre to see if I could get a ticket to the women’s curling without spending $150 which was the going price downtown from the ticket resellers. Arrived near the Centre about 30 minutes before the event, asked a scalper what he wanted for one ticket, he said $90, I offered him $60 and we agreed to $75 (just over the face value).

Canada vs Denmark - 10th end

When I got into the rink I discovered I had a end seat but it just happened to be right in front of Sheet A and Team Canada vs Denmark. Score! Slow start to the game but it got very exciting and went to an extra end before Canada won 5-4.  The noise in the rink was so loud at times, the skip Cheryl Bernard and third used hand signals instead of yelling at the brushers. The crowd did the wave, stomped their feet, clapped and yelled throughout the match. Even when the team from Denmark was throwing (very un-Canadian I thought but I think the players are now used to the noise) the crowd made noise. I am so glad I decided to go.

Congrats to Georgian grad Jon Montgomery on winning the gold medal in Skeleton!

Students will work in the online environment ahead of three weeks in the field at Cano Palma Biological Station, and finish off the work in the same online environment after the field time.  Students must meet minimal qualifications to take the course, please see attached application form – fill out and send in to the Laurentian University administration as indicated. This unique opportunity will expose students to tropical ecology, conservation management, multiple research projects, and mainly, the biocultural approach to applied research.

You will find attached a basic syllabus, information poster, and detailed pdf of some aspects of the field course.  For further details, please contact Dr. Kymberley Anne Snarr, Environmental Anthropologist at: ksnarr@georgianc.on.ca .

ANTR3905 Introduction

More information about study in Costa Rica

Course syllabus ANTR3905

ANTR3905 Course Application Form

Enjoying the Olympics downtown

Again, another beautiful sunny day. Headed downtown to check out Coal Harbour and the Olympic Cauldron. Talked to many people who were enjoying the day. Talked to the pin traders – they are a hard-core bunch. A couple of them spotted my press operations official pin and offered me two or three pins in trade – decided to keep it.

A happy and friendly pin trader from Vancouver

Canada Place was packed with people wanting to see the flame. In order to see the cauldron without a fence, you have to lineup to go up to a viewing area – I’ll save that for another day.

The flame burns bright!

Walked back to the apartment under the blooming cherry trees. Worked the afternoon shift. On the bus – I had an Elvis sighting – no not that Elvis, Elvis Stojko. He’s working for Yahoo covering figure skating on the web. He’s staying near my apartment. The scheduled practices for the women were cancelled at UBC today so we had a surprise practice by the Russian men’s team!! Yes, Ovechkin and Malkin were there.

The US women had no problem in their game against Finland winning 6 – 0. The second game was much closer, Russia hung to win 2 -1 over China. The Russian coach was very complimentary toward the Chinese team, especially the Chinese goalie and two of the players. I covered both press conferences today. Headed home on the bus and watched the fireworks that are set off every night at 10.45. Have my last day off tomorrow – heading to Chinatown and then will spend the evening watching a free concert in Yaletown.



Young Canadian fans with Cassie Campbell

Then it was on to the main event of the day. Imagine if you will a sea of red and white with just a little touch of yellow and blue. That was the scene at the UBC arena today for the game between Canada and Sweden. There had to be at least 250 Canadian flags of all sizes including a 10ft flag and pole in the upper stands. Almost everyone was dressed up or down in red and white. Donald Sutherland was in the front row. Before the game even started, the noise was deafening and then when Canada came on to the ice, the noise was indescribable. The feeling in the arena was amazing, I just soaked it all in.

It was an awesome first period with Canada scoring 5 goals and the rout was on. By the end of the second, the crowd was feeling a little sad that Sweden couldn’t even get the puck out of their own end. The Swedes did have a little more luck in the third and actually scored a goal – final score 13 -1. Canada simply out-played and out-hustled the Swedish team. During the post-game interviews, the Canadian women said they were happy they had played well and are looking forward to playing again and were quick to point out that the four-day layoff until their next game won’t bother them.

We are all getting a little tired with the long days so everyone is trying to have some fun as well. I looked up at one point as I was leaving the Venue Media Centre to head across to the arena and going by me in a golf cart were two RCMP officers, one driving and one standing on the back waving his hand a high-pitched voice saying “hello, hello”  doing his imitation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Today, Canada plays Sweden at UBC. I’ll be interested to see and feel the atmosphere in the arena – can’t wait!