Monday, July 6, 2009

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Coca-Cola is recruiting meet and greeters and drink pourers for its David Lam Park live site pavilion. At least that's where it's supposed to be. City of Vancouver says the contract hasn't been finalized.

An open hiring call for self-motivated, outgoing individuals is planned for July 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Inventa's 210-1401 West 8th Ave. Vancouver office. The pay's not bad: $13 to $16 an hour.

Contemporary Security Canada, the satellite of U.S.-based security giant Contemporary Group, has the $97.419 million venue screening security contract. It's looking for screening officers, portal supervisors, venue managers and X-ray operators. Pay rates for the rent-a-cops aren't listed on the website, but an email link for resumes is.

Ohno! Surrey three-peat not happening

Canada's national short-track speedskating team is on the ice this weekend in the Pacific Coliseum where it hopes to own the podium during February's Winter Olympics.

A year ago, the United States team was in the area, on ice at the South Surrey Arena for a second year. When I talked to Apolo Anton Ohno, he anticipated one more pre-Games camp in the summer of 2009. It's not going to happen. Oh, no.

U.S. Speedskating spokesperson Peri Kinder tells me "the short-track team has no plans to travel to Vancouver during the summer."

No reason given, but there is a cost for transportation, accommodation, meals and facility rental and there is a recession.

Another dent in the City of Surrey's bid to leverage its $2.5 million sponsorship of VANOC. As it is, the $10 million Games Preparation Centre is five months late and VANOC had to look elsewhere for ceremonies performer rehearsals.

Anti-monarchists like Mickey the Mini Queen (better than the real thing)

The June 27 announcement that Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean would open the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver was greeted by some Canadians with disappointment.

Queen Elizabeth II, critics said, would bring greater international attention. I say "London Liz" is yesterday's news. Jean is an immigrant success story. Obviously Prime Minister Stephen Harper thinks she represents the Canada of today and tomorrow. The fact she's a francophone Quebecer helps. The Vancouver Games have come under too much criticism for not being French enough.

Citizens for a Canadian Republic, however, will be glad to see "Mickey the Mini Queen" do the honors.

"A good decision, given the tradition in the last two decades in Canada and Australia to have the governor general do Olympic openings," said Tom Freda, national director of Citizens for a Canadian Republic. "Having the Queen officiate would be regressive and controversial. However, royal visits are one of the few times Canadians discuss the monarchy -- and when they do, support for ending it jumps. We'll have an opportunity to do that in November when Prince Charles and Camilla visit."

A new Strategic Counsel poll found 65% of respondents were in favor of phasing out the monarchy in Canada.

Cypress: commemorate the chaos

Cypress Mountain is trying to live up to the "when you have lemons, make lemonade" maxim.

Going on sale July 7 is the Cypress 2010 Commemorative Season Pass.

It commemorates the West Vancouver day resort's hosting of 2010 Winter Olympic snowboarding and freestyle skiing. It also commemorates a season of chaos and disruption for regulars.

The lodge lot and lot 1 will be closed all season. Lot 3 joins the list Jan. 4. Expect construction zones in the alpine area from the start of the season, along with "highly impacted or closed" Eagle Express Chair terrain and Rainbow ski run. "Regular services on the mountain will be subject to relocation, change and restrictions."

The alpine and nordic ski areas will be closed Feb. 1-March 8 for the Games. Public skiing and snowboarding resumes March 9 with lot 3 reopening March 15. The Cypress pass offers discounted or free access to other resorts in B.C. and Washington state during the Games.

An adult nordic pass is $174 for B.C. residents. It's $259 for alpine or $299 for the unlimited pass that also includes nordic sports. The first 1,500 to buy online get a pair of tickets to one of the 2010 Games' nightly medals award ceremonies/concerts at B.C. Place Stadium. A grand prize of a pair of tickets to the opening ceremony is also up for grabs.

Oddly, there are no tickets available via the early bird bonus or the contest for any of the actual Olympic events taking place at Cypress. According to Cypress' sales and marketing director Jeffrey Koeman, that's because "this is the offer that VANOC came up with for us to use in conjunction with our season pass offer."

Cypress, like Whistler and Blackcomb owner Intrawest, has a "make-whole" deal with VANOC for compensation if Games' operations cause a drop in business.

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