Glow Lasts Long After Games Over For Volunteers
20 April 2009
It may have been 21 years ago, but when Kate Sparrow, director of the Richmond Olympic Business Office, speaks about her experiences as one of the 9,498 volunteers at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games, she says she still gets goose bumps.
“It was one of the best experiences of my life,” Sparrow says simply. “When the Games are in your home country and city, and when you are a part of it, the feelings of pride and excitement run so much deeper.”
Expanding Richmond’s volunteer capacity is one of the key legacies identified by City Council for participating in the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games as an official Venue City. And to help recreate Sparrow’s experience for Richmond residents, the City and Volunteer Richmond have teamed up to open the Community Information and Volunteer Centre in the heart of Richmond Centre.
The new information booth is the focal point for recruitment of volunteers for Richmond’s 2010 programs, such as the O Zone—the City’s official celebration site—while also providing information to the general community. Since the centre opened, more than 1,200 people have stopped by to ask questions and peruse brochures; of those, 400 people specifically asked about volunteering for the 2010 Winter Games.
“The Games are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for residents, businesses and community organizations to be part of one of the most outstanding events on earth,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie during the official opening of the centre March 24.
The booth is administered by Volunteer Richmond and supported by Coast Capital Savings and the Milan and Maureen Ilich Foundation.
Volunteer Richmond has already screened and trained hundreds of volunteers who have since helped out at events such as the Oval Opening and Winterfest Weekend. For those two events alone, approximately 500 volunteers contributed a total of 4,500 hours of their time.
“We’ve already seen many tremendous legacies for our community as a result of being a Venue City,” says Mayor Brodie. “Not only is the information centre a good place to begin learning about some of them, but it will also attract hundreds of enthusiastic residents who want to be a part of it, and who will continue to contribute their energy and spirit to support countless other events and programs in our community long after the Games are over.”
A 2010 recruitment drive is planned at the Community Information and Volunteer Centre on Saturday, April 25.
Drop by the booth located near the food court at Richmond Centre to enter a draw for a prize package and learn more about the volunteer program and how to register as a volunteer, or to learn more about the events and special programs planned for 2010. Or call Volunteer Richmond at 604-279-7020 or email applyfor2010@volunteerrichmond.ca.
