The first Olympic event of the winter of 2010 in Vancouver was... ta-da!
The Pay Raise.
On Jan. 4, VANOC employees got a good news email from the head of human resources. Effective Jan. 1, their pay was increased by 1.5%. That's half-a-percent less than a year earlier, but who's going to complain? After all, it's not like the economy is booming anymore.
It's yet another spending initiative handled by the VANOC board that was not communicated to reporters after the last closed-door board meeting of 2009 on Nov. 18. On May 20, the VANOC board also voted to spend $8.3 million of taxpayers' money on B.C. Place Stadium capital works for the opening ceremony. That was kept hush-hush until the June 16 release of a quarterly financial report. Even then, VANOC executives refused to give details. I finally solved that riddle on Jan. 4 after receiving an April 14, 2009 report about what the ceremonies producer needed to make a world-class show.
What other secrets lurk within VANOC?
Read the memo below, send your comments to bob.mackin@sunmedia.ca or post them below.
From: Donna Wilson
Sent: January 4, 2010 12:31 PM
To: Vancouver2010
Subject: 2010 Salary Increase
Welcome to 2010! I hope that all of you were able to find some time to rest and refresh over the holidays. It's hard to believe that we're in the final stretch, and in less than 3 months we will be celebrating the successful delivery of the Games. All of your effort, drive and commitment to excellence is appreciated.
As many of you know, the current economic times have challenged our creative thinking as an OCOG. Notwithstanding the times we're in, at the end of 2009, the VANOC Board of Directors approved a 1.5% salary increase for all VANOC employees for the final months of this project, starting January 1, 2010.
Thank you for all your hard work and commitment to staging Canadaʼs Games. As said in our own words...
"Vancouver 2010 creates a climate of possibility that helps us to discover the greatness inside ourselves... It awakens us to the idea that we are all giants inside."
Cherish these last few precious moments. Be big, be bold.
Happy New Year,
Donna
Donna Wilson
Executive Vice President / Vice-Présidente de Direction
Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Comité d'organization des Jeux olympiques et paralympiques d'hiver de 2010 á Vancouver
400 - 3585 rue Graveley Street Vancouver, B.C. (C.-B.) V5K 5J5
Phone / Téléphone: (604)403-XXXX Fax / Télécopieur: (778) 328-2079 Email / Courriel: donna_wilson@vancouver2010.com Website / Site Web: www.vancouver2010.com
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Timeline: VANOC's often-horrible 2009 in review
VANOC CEO John Furlong is probably the most satisfied person inside Vancouver 2010 to see 2009 disappear. It was a year of economic upheaval and the tragic cancer death of founding chairman Jack Poole. It also saw the start of the Olympic torch relay.
Feb. 12: One-year countdown. Torch unveiled in Whistler. Private ceremony in Richmond Olympic Oval featuring International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge.
Feb. 19: Olympic security budget increased to $900 million from $175 million.
March 26: IOC's only executive board meeting of 2009 in North America, but VANOC CEO John Furlong delivers update by teleconference instead of traveling to Denver. CFO John McLaughlin asks B.C. government for bailout in letter.
April 4: Vancouver Convention Centre opens. To be VANOC’s international broadcast centre.
July 30: VANOC makes a plea for companies and governments to donate free labour.
Aug. 17: Canada Line opens two months early. Sea-to-Sky Highway almost done.
Aug. 26: Last IOC coordination commission visit finishes with pledge of up to $22 million for VANOC to help balance books after failing to fill two empty global sponsor slots.
Oct. 22: Olympic flame lighting ceremony in Ancient Olympia, Greece.
Oct. 23: Founding chairman Jack Poole dies of after battle with cancer.
Oct. 30: Olympic torch relay begins in Victoria.
Nov. 4: Ceremonial handover of Vancouver Olympic Village from city to VANOC.
Nov. 7: Third phase of Canadian ticket sales postponed. Tickets.com fails to program virtual waiting room. Sales resume Nov. 14.
Dec. 3: City council amends controversial Olympic bylaws after businesses and civil libertarians complain.
Dec. 21: VANOC makes about-face on ticket scalping and opens ticket auction and trading website.
Dec. 22: Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear appeal of B.C. court rulings against adding women's ski jumping to 2010 Games.
Feb. 12: One-year countdown. Torch unveiled in Whistler. Private ceremony in Richmond Olympic Oval featuring International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge.
Feb. 19: Olympic security budget increased to $900 million from $175 million.
March 26: IOC's only executive board meeting of 2009 in North America, but VANOC CEO John Furlong delivers update by teleconference instead of traveling to Denver. CFO John McLaughlin asks B.C. government for bailout in letter.
April 4: Vancouver Convention Centre opens. To be VANOC’s international broadcast centre.
July 30: VANOC makes a plea for companies and governments to donate free labour.
Aug. 17: Canada Line opens two months early. Sea-to-Sky Highway almost done.
Aug. 26: Last IOC coordination commission visit finishes with pledge of up to $22 million for VANOC to help balance books after failing to fill two empty global sponsor slots.
Oct. 22: Olympic flame lighting ceremony in Ancient Olympia, Greece.
Oct. 23: Founding chairman Jack Poole dies of after battle with cancer.
Oct. 30: Olympic torch relay begins in Victoria.
Nov. 4: Ceremonial handover of Vancouver Olympic Village from city to VANOC.
Nov. 7: Third phase of Canadian ticket sales postponed. Tickets.com fails to program virtual waiting room. Sales resume Nov. 14.
Dec. 3: City council amends controversial Olympic bylaws after businesses and civil libertarians complain.
Dec. 21: VANOC makes about-face on ticket scalping and opens ticket auction and trading website.
Dec. 22: Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear appeal of B.C. court rulings against adding women's ski jumping to 2010 Games.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Johnny on the spot
They say the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.
In the world of media, a five-minute interview to enlighten and inform an inquisitive reporter makes all the difference.
Especially an inquisitive reporter who has documents that deserve to be explained by the author of said documents.
Simplicity and efficiency are two principles unknown to VANOC, whose mantra is "we cannot be seen to be losing."
The paranoia about seeming vulnerable appears precisely why I cannot get a straight answer from chief financial officer John McLaughlin on his March 26 plea for more British Columbia taxpayers' money and the accounting for VANOC construction at B.C. Place Stadium, the ceremonies venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
I couldn't get it on an Oct. 26 conference call. I couldn't get it via email -- instead I got a prepared statement of little value from a public relations staffer.
I also couldn't get a straight answer from McLaughlin in-person on Dec. 21 when I persisted to ask the questions in a scrum at VANOC headquarters the day the latest quarterly report was released. I was interrupted by deputy CEO Dave Cobb (McLaughlin evidently couldn't do the scrum solo) and underling Chris Brumwell.
Am I naive to believe that a senior executive of a government-backed corporation with a $1.76 billion operations budget can't stand on his two feet, look me in the eye and answer questions on his own?
McLaughlin instead looked like a deer in headlights and offered a feeble answer about government funding being minimal in the VANOC operations budget. But, as is par for the course, he couldn't provide numbers or percentages. The operations budget wasn't supposed to be propped up by the government. Then the recession happened. It has been a trying year at 3585 Graveley Street; I don't envy them for a moment.
Cobb was a tad unhappy with me as he left the room. Not for asking the question, but for asking it in front of several TV cameras. I wasn't performing for TV cameras nor did I intend for McLaughlin for underperform in front of TV cameras. The real reason for Cobb's complaint is in paragraph four. See above.
Of course, McLaughlin and Cobb could have been answering questions on other topics had their organization followed the straight line axiom and satisfied the reasonable curiosity of an inconvenient sleuth.
Don't believe me? Check out the email trail below.
From: Bob Mackin bob.mackin@mac.com
To: Renee Smith-Valade; Chris Brumwell
Cc: John McLaughlin
Sent: Thu Oct 29 08:41:28 2009
Subject: annual report follow-up
Hi,
I have been unsuccessful since Monday in arranging through Jason and then Greg a chance to be briefed by John McLaughlin about the VANOC-specific construction funding at B.C. Place and a request made to the B.C. Secretariat for additional ceremonies and torch relay funding.
I asked John McLaughlin on the Monday annual report teleconference about a Feb. 5 invoice to the Secretariat for $3.5 million and a March 26 request for the additional funding. Both items -- letters to Philip Steenkamp -- were received through FOI. This is related to the June 16 announcement of increased funding for VANOC work at B.C. Place.
On the call, John said: "We're going to need to do a little bit of checking up for you on some of that stuff and we'd be happy to talk to you a little bit further about it... We'll arrange to talk after this."
I moved on to another topic of questioning and did not press the matter, since John has been very accommodating in the past. hope he would agree it would be mutually beneficial to spend a few minutes on the phone to enlighten me on the above communications with the B.C. Secretariat and how B.C. Place funding is reflected in the annual report.
I know this has been an abnormal week, what with the funeral and the torch relay. I am wondering if you could kindly help make this happen? I'm heading over to Victoria today after 3 p.m.
Cheers,
--bob
On 29-Oct-09, at 9:30 AM, Renee Smith-Valade wrote:
I can try Bob. But appreciate your recognition that this indeed an extraordinary week and our ability to make interviews happen
and follow up on media requests is not as fast as usual.
I will offer this; as soon as we are back in the office next week I will work with my team to get you some time with John m as soon as he is a available.
Does this work for you?
Renee
Original Message
From: Bob Mackin bob.mackin@mac.com
To: Renee Smith-Valade
Cc: Chris Brumwell; John McLaughlin
Sent: Thu Oct 29 15:05:30 2009
Subject: Re: annual report follow-up
Thank-you. Could we do it at the earliest convenience on Monday?
--bob
From: Bob Mackin bob.mackin@mac.com
Date: November 2, 2009 8:44:31 AM PST (CA)
To: Renee Smith-Valade Renee_Smith-Valade@vancouver2010.com
Cc: Chris Brumwell Chris_Brumwell@vancouver2010.com,
John McLaughlin John_McLaughlin@vancouver2010.com
Subject: Re: annual report follow-up
Good morning, ;Just touching base again regarding my request.;
Cheers,
--bob
On 29-Oct-09, at 3:40 PM, Renee Smith-Valade wrote:;
We'll do our best, Bob.
Thanks,
Renee
From: Bob Mackin
To: John McLaughlin Cc: Renee Smith-Valade; Chris Brumwell
Sent: Tue Nov 03 06:56:44 2009
Subject: Fwd: annual report follow-up
Hello Mr. McLaughlin,
I have tried both patiently and diligently through the official channels in the communications department to schedule an interview with you regarding the inquiry I made during the annual report conference call on Oct. 26. I have CC'd you on my correspondence with the communications department. I received no reply to my latest inquiry on Monday.
My deadline is 2:45 p.m. today. Would you kindly have some time to talk with me about this matter?
Sincerely,
Bob Mackin
Vancouver 24 hours
604-xxx-xxxx mobile
604-xxx-xxxx
From: Bob Mackin
To: Renee Smith-Valade
Cc: John McLaughlin; Chris Brumwell
Sent: Tue Nov 03 07:13:27 2009
Subject: Re: annual report follow-up
Thank-you. The best, most accurate response is via an interview with Mr. McLaughlin. I hope you can help make that happen today by my 2:45 p.m. deadline.
On 3-Nov-09, at 7:06 AM, Renee Smith-Valade wrote:
Bob -- you will get your reply today. We appreciate your patience. Anything with financial content understandably goes through a number of checks at VANOC before being responded to and we are concluding the process on your request. Your questions include not only the annual report but also documents you sourced through FOI. I trust you appreciate that requesting and sourcing those documents under through FOI and determining your line of questioning was a process that understandably took you several days and we are taking the same to ensure you receive the most accurate response.
Thanks, Renee
From: Bob Mackin [mailto:bob.mackin@mac.com]
Sent: November 3, 2009 1:09 PM
To: Renee Smith-Valade
Cc: John McLaughlin; Chris Brumwell
Subject: Re: annual report follow-up
I must remind you that John was on the record saying: "We'll arrange to talk after this."
An email response is not a talk. Could you please reconsider?
On 3-Nov-09, at 7:23 AM, Renee Smith-Valade wrote:
Our response will be by way of an e-mail Bob. Thanks, Renee
From: Renee Smith-Valade Renee_Smith-Valade@vancouver2010.com
Date: November 3, 2009 1:52:02 PM PST
To: Bob Mackin bob.mackin@mac.com
Cc: John McLaughlin John_McLaughlin@vancouver2010.com,
Chris Brumwell Chris_Brumwell@vancouver2010.com
Subject: RE: annual report follow-up
Talk can happen over e-mail, Bob. We will send you a statement this afternoon.
Thanks,
Renee
Renée Smith-Valade
Vice President, Communications
Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
Begin forwarded message:
From: Greg Alexis Greg_Alexis@vancouver2010.com
Date: November 3, 2009 4:38:32 PM PST
To: Bob Mackin bob.mackin@mac.com
Subject: RE: annual report follow-up
Hi Bob,
My apologies for not getting back to you sooner but unfortunately John McLaughlin isn’t available for an interview so I’m hoping my email can provide some further clarification to your questions.
In regards to the $3.5 million invoice you mentioned, this amount falls under the $272,316 million project-to-date contribution from the Province of British Columbia which you will see on page 12 of MDNA. This contribution is part of VANOC’s $580 million venue construction program (funded equally between the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada) which has not changed.
As for your other inquiry about the March 26 letter to the Province of British Columbia from VANOC, as we have stated in the past we’re in continuous dialogue with all our partners regarding possible opportunities to further leverage their investment in the Games. I would recommend following up with the Province of B.C. for further details.
I trust this will answer any outstanding questions you have.
Thanks,
Greg Alexis
Specialist, International Media Relations Specialiste, Relations avec les medias internationaux
Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
In the world of media, a five-minute interview to enlighten and inform an inquisitive reporter makes all the difference.
Especially an inquisitive reporter who has documents that deserve to be explained by the author of said documents.
Simplicity and efficiency are two principles unknown to VANOC, whose mantra is "we cannot be seen to be losing."
The paranoia about seeming vulnerable appears precisely why I cannot get a straight answer from chief financial officer John McLaughlin on his March 26 plea for more British Columbia taxpayers' money and the accounting for VANOC construction at B.C. Place Stadium, the ceremonies venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
I couldn't get it on an Oct. 26 conference call. I couldn't get it via email -- instead I got a prepared statement of little value from a public relations staffer.
I also couldn't get a straight answer from McLaughlin in-person on Dec. 21 when I persisted to ask the questions in a scrum at VANOC headquarters the day the latest quarterly report was released. I was interrupted by deputy CEO Dave Cobb (McLaughlin evidently couldn't do the scrum solo) and underling Chris Brumwell.
Am I naive to believe that a senior executive of a government-backed corporation with a $1.76 billion operations budget can't stand on his two feet, look me in the eye and answer questions on his own?
McLaughlin instead looked like a deer in headlights and offered a feeble answer about government funding being minimal in the VANOC operations budget. But, as is par for the course, he couldn't provide numbers or percentages. The operations budget wasn't supposed to be propped up by the government. Then the recession happened. It has been a trying year at 3585 Graveley Street; I don't envy them for a moment.
Cobb was a tad unhappy with me as he left the room. Not for asking the question, but for asking it in front of several TV cameras. I wasn't performing for TV cameras nor did I intend for McLaughlin for underperform in front of TV cameras. The real reason for Cobb's complaint is in paragraph four. See above.
Of course, McLaughlin and Cobb could have been answering questions on other topics had their organization followed the straight line axiom and satisfied the reasonable curiosity of an inconvenient sleuth.
Don't believe me? Check out the email trail below.
From: Bob Mackin bob.mackin@mac.com
To: Renee Smith-Valade; Chris Brumwell
Cc: John McLaughlin
Sent: Thu Oct 29 08:41:28 2009
Subject: annual report follow-up
Hi,
I have been unsuccessful since Monday in arranging through Jason and then Greg a chance to be briefed by John McLaughlin about the VANOC-specific construction funding at B.C. Place and a request made to the B.C. Secretariat for additional ceremonies and torch relay funding.
I asked John McLaughlin on the Monday annual report teleconference about a Feb. 5 invoice to the Secretariat for $3.5 million and a March 26 request for the additional funding. Both items -- letters to Philip Steenkamp -- were received through FOI. This is related to the June 16 announcement of increased funding for VANOC work at B.C. Place.
On the call, John said: "We're going to need to do a little bit of checking up for you on some of that stuff and we'd be happy to talk to you a little bit further about it... We'll arrange to talk after this."
I moved on to another topic of questioning and did not press the matter, since John has been very accommodating in the past. hope he would agree it would be mutually beneficial to spend a few minutes on the phone to enlighten me on the above communications with the B.C. Secretariat and how B.C. Place funding is reflected in the annual report.
I know this has been an abnormal week, what with the funeral and the torch relay. I am wondering if you could kindly help make this happen? I'm heading over to Victoria today after 3 p.m.
Cheers,
--bob
On 29-Oct-09, at 9:30 AM, Renee Smith-Valade wrote:
I can try Bob. But appreciate your recognition that this indeed an extraordinary week and our ability to make interviews happen
and follow up on media requests is not as fast as usual.
I will offer this; as soon as we are back in the office next week I will work with my team to get you some time with John m as soon as he is a available.
Does this work for you?
Renee
Original Message
From: Bob Mackin bob.mackin@mac.com
To: Renee Smith-Valade
Cc: Chris Brumwell; John McLaughlin
Sent: Thu Oct 29 15:05:30 2009
Subject: Re: annual report follow-up
Thank-you. Could we do it at the earliest convenience on Monday?
--bob
From: Bob Mackin bob.mackin@mac.com
Date: November 2, 2009 8:44:31 AM PST (CA)
To: Renee Smith-Valade Renee_Smith-Valade@vancouver2010.com
Cc: Chris Brumwell Chris_Brumwell@vancouver2010.com,
John McLaughlin John_McLaughlin@vancouver2010.com
Subject: Re: annual report follow-up
Good morning, ;Just touching base again regarding my request.;
Cheers,
--bob
On 29-Oct-09, at 3:40 PM, Renee Smith-Valade wrote:;
We'll do our best, Bob.
Thanks,
Renee
From: Bob Mackin
To: John McLaughlin Cc: Renee Smith-Valade; Chris Brumwell
Sent: Tue Nov 03 06:56:44 2009
Subject: Fwd: annual report follow-up
Hello Mr. McLaughlin,
I have tried both patiently and diligently through the official channels in the communications department to schedule an interview with you regarding the inquiry I made during the annual report conference call on Oct. 26. I have CC'd you on my correspondence with the communications department. I received no reply to my latest inquiry on Monday.
My deadline is 2:45 p.m. today. Would you kindly have some time to talk with me about this matter?
Sincerely,
Bob Mackin
Vancouver 24 hours
604-xxx-xxxx mobile
604-xxx-xxxx
From: Bob Mackin
To: Renee Smith-Valade
Cc: John McLaughlin; Chris Brumwell
Sent: Tue Nov 03 07:13:27 2009
Subject: Re: annual report follow-up
Thank-you. The best, most accurate response is via an interview with Mr. McLaughlin. I hope you can help make that happen today by my 2:45 p.m. deadline.
On 3-Nov-09, at 7:06 AM, Renee Smith-Valade wrote:
Bob -- you will get your reply today. We appreciate your patience. Anything with financial content understandably goes through a number of checks at VANOC before being responded to and we are concluding the process on your request. Your questions include not only the annual report but also documents you sourced through FOI. I trust you appreciate that requesting and sourcing those documents under through FOI and determining your line of questioning was a process that understandably took you several days and we are taking the same to ensure you receive the most accurate response.
Thanks, Renee
From: Bob Mackin [mailto:bob.mackin@mac.com]
Sent: November 3, 2009 1:09 PM
To: Renee Smith-Valade
Cc: John McLaughlin; Chris Brumwell
Subject: Re: annual report follow-up
I must remind you that John was on the record saying: "We'll arrange to talk after this."
An email response is not a talk. Could you please reconsider?
On 3-Nov-09, at 7:23 AM, Renee Smith-Valade wrote:
Our response will be by way of an e-mail Bob. Thanks, Renee
From: Renee Smith-Valade Renee_Smith-Valade@vancouver2010.com
Date: November 3, 2009 1:52:02 PM PST
To: Bob Mackin bob.mackin@mac.com
Cc: John McLaughlin John_McLaughlin@vancouver2010.com,
Chris Brumwell Chris_Brumwell@vancouver2010.com
Subject: RE: annual report follow-up
Talk can happen over e-mail, Bob. We will send you a statement this afternoon.
Thanks,
Renee
Renée Smith-Valade
Vice President, Communications
Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
Begin forwarded message:
From: Greg Alexis Greg_Alexis@vancouver2010.com
Date: November 3, 2009 4:38:32 PM PST
To: Bob Mackin bob.mackin@mac.com
Subject: RE: annual report follow-up
Hi Bob,
My apologies for not getting back to you sooner but unfortunately John McLaughlin isn’t available for an interview so I’m hoping my email can provide some further clarification to your questions.
In regards to the $3.5 million invoice you mentioned, this amount falls under the $272,316 million project-to-date contribution from the Province of British Columbia which you will see on page 12 of MDNA. This contribution is part of VANOC’s $580 million venue construction program (funded equally between the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada) which has not changed.
As for your other inquiry about the March 26 letter to the Province of British Columbia from VANOC, as we have stated in the past we’re in continuous dialogue with all our partners regarding possible opportunities to further leverage their investment in the Games. I would recommend following up with the Province of B.C. for further details.
I trust this will answer any outstanding questions you have.
Thanks,
Greg Alexis
Specialist, International Media Relations Specialiste, Relations avec les medias internationaux
Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
Thursday, December 17, 2009
An ode to VANOC sustainability: reprise
'Twas 69 days before the Olympics, when all through the yard,
Not a creature was stirring, except for a guard.
The VANOC General Motors fleet parked with care,
In hopes that drivers soon would be there.
Paint the town red, believe what you're told,
Canadians wait for their first home-won gold.
This is the Greenest Olympics Ever, don't be wrong.
Says the Premier, the Mayor and John Furlong
If you're a skeptic and need proof,
Come here, see the rippling roof.
On federal government port land
by the large Lafarge cement plant.
At the south foot of Richmond's No. 8 Road,
Where VANOC cars, SUVs, trucks and buses are stowed.
Among heated trailers and large peaked tents,
From a company called Karl's Events.
The sun was bright and high,
In the brilliant Saturday morning, blue sky.
Gave midday lustre to the vehicles below,
For a deserted Olympic auto show.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
Diesel generators and floodlighting gear!
One, two, three, four.
Five six and more,
Scattered around the site,
So shiny and bright!
Spewing smoky pollution and exhaust,
But at what financial and environmental cost?
Who really cares what it all does mean,
Didn't you hear, the 2010 Olympics will be green!
(With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, creator of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas).
Not a creature was stirring, except for a guard.
The VANOC General Motors fleet parked with care,
In hopes that drivers soon would be there.
Paint the town red, believe what you're told,
Canadians wait for their first home-won gold.
This is the Greenest Olympics Ever, don't be wrong.
Says the Premier, the Mayor and John Furlong
If you're a skeptic and need proof,
Come here, see the rippling roof.
On federal government port land
by the large Lafarge cement plant.
At the south foot of Richmond's No. 8 Road,
Where VANOC cars, SUVs, trucks and buses are stowed.
Among heated trailers and large peaked tents,
From a company called Karl's Events.
The sun was bright and high,
In the brilliant Saturday morning, blue sky.
Gave midday lustre to the vehicles below,
For a deserted Olympic auto show.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
Diesel generators and floodlighting gear!
One, two, three, four.
Five six and more,
Scattered around the site,
So shiny and bright!
Spewing smoky pollution and exhaust,
But at what financial and environmental cost?
Who really cares what it all does mean,
Didn't you hear, the 2010 Olympics will be green!
(With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, creator of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas).
VAN-Rock rolls into the Commodore
If those party-crashing Salahis were in Vancouver tonight, I know where they would be.
The Commodore Ballroom on the Granville Mall.
Canada's best music hall is hosting the VANOC Christmas Party. It's called VAN-Rock. Get it? Apparently members of the 2010 Winter Olympics' organization will be performing on stage while their cohorts will be bouncing on the famed floor and drinking Molson Canadian, Coors Light and the plonk produced by Vincor.
Bootleggers -- please send your MP3s to bob.mackin@sunmedia.ca
Wonder if the bilingual police from Ottawa will show up to regulate the lyrical content of the music/musique?
The Commodore Ballroom on the Granville Mall.
Canada's best music hall is hosting the VANOC Christmas Party. It's called VAN-Rock. Get it? Apparently members of the 2010 Winter Olympics' organization will be performing on stage while their cohorts will be bouncing on the famed floor and drinking Molson Canadian, Coors Light and the plonk produced by Vincor.
Bootleggers -- please send your MP3s to bob.mackin@sunmedia.ca
Wonder if the bilingual police from Ottawa will show up to regulate the lyrical content of the music/musique?
Binner opens can of whoopass on UFC and UWC day at Vancouver city hall
Once upon a time, they were called scavengers.
In politically correct Vancouver, city hall calls them "binners" and their activity is called "binning."
To me, there is only one Binning in B.C. and that is B.C. Binning, the great artist.
Maybe it's some bureaucrat's play on words, because most of the so-called "binners" are also "aint's." As in "ain't got no home, no job."
While gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded during the 2010 Winter Olympics, 68 scavengers, er, um, binners will get steady work collecting aluminum, glass and plastic, thanks to a Dec. 17 decision by Vancouver city council.
The non-profit United We Can is getting $50,000 for an Olympic version of its Urban Binning Unit Cart Program to supply binners with customized recycling carts. Surely someone at VANOC will wave this in the air as proof that the Inner City Inclusive Commitment Statement is being fulfilled. Sustainability in action, they'll say.
Some 250 temporary recycling receptacles will be installed in public places to collect the Olympic beverage containers. MolsonCoors and Coca-Cola, two sponsors who will be generating much of that waste, were notably absent. Wonder if city hall even asked? Both companies are being protected by the city's anti-ambush marketing bylaws.
The decision wasn't popular with one independent scavenger unhappy with what appears to be the growing UWC dominance of the scavenging trade. Frederick Tourney, who already got his free five minutes, voiced his outrage when the grant was approved.
"You just stole everything from the poorest of the poor... you stole from the crippled, the poor… you people are sick puppies! Why don't you guys come and follow us for one day, you wouldn't be able to!" Tourney shouted.
"It's called stealing our bottles. We don't get a choice to participate now. Way to go guys. We get nothing. Sick puppies. We get nothing, we get cut out of the whole damn thing!"
The city's Olympic operations general manager Peter Judd was standing nearby in the council chamber and quietly invited Tourney to speak with him in the lobby. The elderly Tourney proceeded to give Judd a two-handed push not once, but twice.
Judd lost his balance and nearly fell over, but didn't retaliate. There was no security guard on-duty at the city council chamber.
This incident happened the same day that city council okayed next June's Vancouver debut of Ultimate Fighting Championship.
In politically correct Vancouver, city hall calls them "binners" and their activity is called "binning."
To me, there is only one Binning in B.C. and that is B.C. Binning, the great artist.
Maybe it's some bureaucrat's play on words, because most of the so-called "binners" are also "aint's." As in "ain't got no home, no job."
While gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded during the 2010 Winter Olympics, 68 scavengers, er, um, binners will get steady work collecting aluminum, glass and plastic, thanks to a Dec. 17 decision by Vancouver city council.
The non-profit United We Can is getting $50,000 for an Olympic version of its Urban Binning Unit Cart Program to supply binners with customized recycling carts. Surely someone at VANOC will wave this in the air as proof that the Inner City Inclusive Commitment Statement is being fulfilled. Sustainability in action, they'll say.
Some 250 temporary recycling receptacles will be installed in public places to collect the Olympic beverage containers. MolsonCoors and Coca-Cola, two sponsors who will be generating much of that waste, were notably absent. Wonder if city hall even asked? Both companies are being protected by the city's anti-ambush marketing bylaws.
The decision wasn't popular with one independent scavenger unhappy with what appears to be the growing UWC dominance of the scavenging trade. Frederick Tourney, who already got his free five minutes, voiced his outrage when the grant was approved.
"You just stole everything from the poorest of the poor... you stole from the crippled, the poor… you people are sick puppies! Why don't you guys come and follow us for one day, you wouldn't be able to!" Tourney shouted.
"It's called stealing our bottles. We don't get a choice to participate now. Way to go guys. We get nothing. Sick puppies. We get nothing, we get cut out of the whole damn thing!"
The city's Olympic operations general manager Peter Judd was standing nearby in the council chamber and quietly invited Tourney to speak with him in the lobby. The elderly Tourney proceeded to give Judd a two-handed push not once, but twice.
Judd lost his balance and nearly fell over, but didn't retaliate. There was no security guard on-duty at the city council chamber.
This incident happened the same day that city council okayed next June's Vancouver debut of Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Vancouver councillor plays the markets
Coun. Tim Stevenson has an interesting disclosure statement. Wonder why none of the Olympic Resistance Networkers who have appeared before city council have never noticed this.
His Jan. 15, 2009 form -- which is on the city's website -- says he holds shares in Bell Aliant Regional Communication Trust, Bombardier Inc. and Teck Cominco. That's a hat-trick of VANOC sponsors. City hall does business with Bell and Bombardier.
Not only that, but it also says Stevenson's assets include shares in Canadian Oil Sands Trust.
Canadian Oil Sands Trust? Oil sands? Isn't that the favourite target of environmentalists around the world? I thought Vision Vancouver, the party to which Stevenson belongs, was all about green energy. This is the Green Capital, isn't it?
His Jan. 15, 2009 form -- which is on the city's website -- says he holds shares in Bell Aliant Regional Communication Trust, Bombardier Inc. and Teck Cominco. That's a hat-trick of VANOC sponsors. City hall does business with Bell and Bombardier.
Not only that, but it also says Stevenson's assets include shares in Canadian Oil Sands Trust.
Canadian Oil Sands Trust? Oil sands? Isn't that the favourite target of environmentalists around the world? I thought Vision Vancouver, the party to which Stevenson belongs, was all about green energy. This is the Green Capital, isn't it?
Lululemon 1 VANOC 0
Chip Wilson is no dumb dude.
The Kitsilano surfer and clothing tycoon founded Lululemon Athletica in 1998 and carved a lucrative niche with yoga-style sportswear targeted to twentysomething women.
The company -- listed on NASDAQ (lulu) and TSX (lll) -- is known for controversial, headline-catching marketing gimmicks. Remember when it offered free clothes to the first 30 customers who showed up at stores in their underwear in 2005? Remember when it claimed its clothes contained stress-relieving seaweed in 2007? (The New York Times debunked that one.)
On Dec. 9 its latest quarterly results showed revenue of $112.9 million (compared to $87 million for the same period a year earlier) and a profit of $20.9 million.
Just in time for Christmas -- and the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics -- Lululemon launched its "Cool Sporting Event That Takes Place in British Columbia Between 2009 and 2011" winter clothing line on Dec. 14. It includes toques, hooded sweatshirts and T-shirts in colours of Canada, United States, Sweden and Germany. No Olympic trademarks were harmed in the design or manufacture of the duds.
That cool sporting event in B.C. is not the B.C. Lions temporary move to their original field at Empire Stadium. It's the 2010 Winter Olympics and the organizing committee played right into Lululemon's clever strategy.
In what was supposed to be an attempt to protect its brand and that of official clothing retailer Hudson's Bay Company, a prepared statement was issued Dec. 15 by VANOC commercial rights manager Bill Cooper.
"We expected better sportsmanship from a local Canadian company than to produce a clothing line that attempts to profit from the Games but doesn't support the Games or the success of the Canadian Olympic team," Cooper said.
So, with just over one shopping week left until Christmas, the score is Lululemon 1 VANOC 0 because the world now knows where they can buy the "Cool Sporting Event That Takes Place in British Columbia Between 2009 and 2011" products.
Wonder if anyone at VANOC owns Lululemon shares?
n
The Kitsilano surfer and clothing tycoon founded Lululemon Athletica in 1998 and carved a lucrative niche with yoga-style sportswear targeted to twentysomething women.
The company -- listed on NASDAQ (lulu) and TSX (lll) -- is known for controversial, headline-catching marketing gimmicks. Remember when it offered free clothes to the first 30 customers who showed up at stores in their underwear in 2005? Remember when it claimed its clothes contained stress-relieving seaweed in 2007? (The New York Times debunked that one.)
On Dec. 9 its latest quarterly results showed revenue of $112.9 million (compared to $87 million for the same period a year earlier) and a profit of $20.9 million.
Just in time for Christmas -- and the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics -- Lululemon launched its "Cool Sporting Event That Takes Place in British Columbia Between 2009 and 2011" winter clothing line on Dec. 14. It includes toques, hooded sweatshirts and T-shirts in colours of Canada, United States, Sweden and Germany. No Olympic trademarks were harmed in the design or manufacture of the duds.
That cool sporting event in B.C. is not the B.C. Lions temporary move to their original field at Empire Stadium. It's the 2010 Winter Olympics and the organizing committee played right into Lululemon's clever strategy.
In what was supposed to be an attempt to protect its brand and that of official clothing retailer Hudson's Bay Company, a prepared statement was issued Dec. 15 by VANOC commercial rights manager Bill Cooper.
"We expected better sportsmanship from a local Canadian company than to produce a clothing line that attempts to profit from the Games but doesn't support the Games or the success of the Canadian Olympic team," Cooper said.
So, with just over one shopping week left until Christmas, the score is Lululemon 1 VANOC 0 because the world now knows where they can buy the "Cool Sporting Event That Takes Place in British Columbia Between 2009 and 2011" products.
Wonder if anyone at VANOC owns Lululemon shares?
n
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Sooner or Purolator you'll get your tickets
Purolator is the 91% Canada Post-owned courier company that is also the official courier company of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
A courier company, by its very nature, is supposed to offer faster, higher-quality service than a post office. I might as well have been at a Canada Post outlet Tuesday night to pick up a package of Olympic tickets. I wasn't home when delivery was attempted on Monday.
There already was a lineup when I arrived at the Lonsdale outlet in North Vancouver around 6:20 p.m.
One staffer was so mesmerized by her paperwork and data entry duties at the front desk that she did not even acknowledge the growing lineup. The one employee who was handling customers disappeared for up to five minutes behind-the-scenes with customers' photo identification and the door-hanger left by the delivery driver to retrieve their ticket packages. A manager not wearing a Purolator uniform eventually showed up at the desk to handle other customers.
Idle chatter among the lineup, which grew to eight people, concluded that everyone was attempting to pick-up Olympic tickets. VANOC set a mandatory minimum $10 charge on ticket deliveries through Purolator. One middle-aged woman approached the staffer on paperwork and data entry duties and politely asked why she wasn't helping serve those lined-up and was greeted with a rude response: "I have work to do!"
I finally got my package and was out the door by 6:35 p.m. Clearly one Purolator outlet is not ready for the prime-time crush of Olympic ticket-holders and the experience only added to the frustration many have felt in their quest to get tickets to witness first-hand the Games they're already funding through their taxes.
Tell me your Olympic ticket purchase experiences: bob.mackin@sunmedia.ca or twitter.com/bobmackin
A courier company, by its very nature, is supposed to offer faster, higher-quality service than a post office. I might as well have been at a Canada Post outlet Tuesday night to pick up a package of Olympic tickets. I wasn't home when delivery was attempted on Monday.
There already was a lineup when I arrived at the Lonsdale outlet in North Vancouver around 6:20 p.m.
One staffer was so mesmerized by her paperwork and data entry duties at the front desk that she did not even acknowledge the growing lineup. The one employee who was handling customers disappeared for up to five minutes behind-the-scenes with customers' photo identification and the door-hanger left by the delivery driver to retrieve their ticket packages. A manager not wearing a Purolator uniform eventually showed up at the desk to handle other customers.
Idle chatter among the lineup, which grew to eight people, concluded that everyone was attempting to pick-up Olympic tickets. VANOC set a mandatory minimum $10 charge on ticket deliveries through Purolator. One middle-aged woman approached the staffer on paperwork and data entry duties and politely asked why she wasn't helping serve those lined-up and was greeted with a rude response: "I have work to do!"
I finally got my package and was out the door by 6:35 p.m. Clearly one Purolator outlet is not ready for the prime-time crush of Olympic ticket-holders and the experience only added to the frustration many have felt in their quest to get tickets to witness first-hand the Games they're already funding through their taxes.
Tell me your Olympic ticket purchase experiences: bob.mackin@sunmedia.ca or twitter.com/bobmackin
Monday, December 14, 2009
Paul and Pechstein: peas in a pod?
It's not something Ingrid Paul wanted to deal with on her birthday. And it's not something that speedskating needed on the road to Vancouver 2010.
The Speedskating Canada coach, who was born in Gouda, Netherlands, turned 45 on Monday amid allegations that she conspired to bribe a Polish speedster at the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics.
The Royal Dutch Skating Union and Netherlands Olympic Committee are investigating Katarzyna Wojcicka's claim that she was offered 50,000 Euros not to race the 5,000 km event. The allegation was broadcast Dec. 13 on NOS TV, the Dutch public broadcasting company. It includes archival footage from Torino 2006. Read the NOS story in English and watch the investigative report here.
Had Wojcicka quit, Gretha Smit of the Netherlands would have stepped in because she was the first alternate. Paul was Smit's coach.
"Where would I have got the money from?" Paul said, according to DutchNews.nl. "And as far as I am aware, the sponsor did not offer any money either."
Canada's Clara Hughes was first, Wojcicka was last among the 16-skater field.
The allegations follow the last pre-Olympic world cup meet in Salt Lake City, site of the 2002 Games. Among the competitors was German Claudia Pechstein, who set world records in the 3,000 and 5,000 metre races at the last North American Olympics.
She finished a distant 13th in Friday's women's 3,000 m, just behind Canada's Cindy Klassen who is struggling to return from double knee surgery. It was five-time Olympic gold medalist Pechstein's first meet of the season after a positive doping test in February meant a two-year ban from the sport. It was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but the Swiss federal court gave her the green light to compete in Salt Lake while her final appeal is pending.
Coincidentally, Pechstein is a police officer and the Vancouver 2010 anti-doping laboratory is located inside the Richmond Olympic Oval speedskating arena.
The Speedskating Canada coach, who was born in Gouda, Netherlands, turned 45 on Monday amid allegations that she conspired to bribe a Polish speedster at the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics.
The Royal Dutch Skating Union and Netherlands Olympic Committee are investigating Katarzyna Wojcicka's claim that she was offered 50,000 Euros not to race the 5,000 km event. The allegation was broadcast Dec. 13 on NOS TV, the Dutch public broadcasting company. It includes archival footage from Torino 2006. Read the NOS story in English and watch the investigative report here.
Had Wojcicka quit, Gretha Smit of the Netherlands would have stepped in because she was the first alternate. Paul was Smit's coach.
"Where would I have got the money from?" Paul said, according to DutchNews.nl. "And as far as I am aware, the sponsor did not offer any money either."
Canada's Clara Hughes was first, Wojcicka was last among the 16-skater field.
The allegations follow the last pre-Olympic world cup meet in Salt Lake City, site of the 2002 Games. Among the competitors was German Claudia Pechstein, who set world records in the 3,000 and 5,000 metre races at the last North American Olympics.
She finished a distant 13th in Friday's women's 3,000 m, just behind Canada's Cindy Klassen who is struggling to return from double knee surgery. It was five-time Olympic gold medalist Pechstein's first meet of the season after a positive doping test in February meant a two-year ban from the sport. It was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but the Swiss federal court gave her the green light to compete in Salt Lake while her final appeal is pending.
Coincidentally, Pechstein is a police officer and the Vancouver 2010 anti-doping laboratory is located inside the Richmond Olympic Oval speedskating arena.
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