Day 2

Well today was the first day that I was working at the Main Media Center in downtown Vancouver. My shift did not start until 9:00 am but I wanted to make sure I was there on time and had at least 45 minutes to get my bearings and find out if there was anything special I needed to do as I had not yet had a venue specific training. After consulting the BC transit guide Dianna, Shauna and I decided it would be best to catch the C24 (community bus) at the bottom of the hill and take it to the Port Moody Station where I would catch the West Coast Express to Waterfront station. Waterfront is about 2 blocks from Canada Place and the new Convention center which is right where I will be working.

I set off at 6:30 and headed off and everything worked like clockwork. I did have a bit of a wait for the 7:15 West Coast Express but I thought it would be better to be there earlier than to chance missing it. I was surprised when it arrived that it was so full, but I guess the push for commuters to park their cars and take transit into Vancouver before and during the games is working. I had to stand but it was fine as it is only a 30 minute ride. Once we arrived I just followed the sea of people and went with the flow. I made my way over to the Media Accreditation tent and started to meet the great people I will be working with for the next month. Jen, Maggie, Clair, and Paula are all paid VANOC staff and at any given time there were 8 volunteers and an R.C.M.P. constable. Everyone was very friendly and helpful on my first day. My password did not work so of the first part of the day I just watched and helped out with the laminating of the cards and affixing the lanyards. It turned out there was more than 1 J. Martin so my login had to be changed. By mid afternoon I was all set to go and had been brought up to speed on all the stations. The Main Media Center opened on January 12 and had 457 people though that day. Since then they have been much slower, with most days being 100 to 150 and some even as low as 35, so we know that one of these days there will be a real rush, but I am sure we will be able to handle it when it arrives. I had lots of fun even though it was slow, but I did learn some of the great stories the volunteers had. 1 lady is knitting toques for breast cancer patients and her goal is 20 toques by the end of the games. Another was a volunteer during Expo in 1988 and she worked in the Canada Pavilion which is now Canada Place. And one of the volunteers is even carrying the Olympic Torch in Port Moody on the 10th of February.

My shift ended at 6:00 but I took off a bit early so I could make sure I found my way back to the station and caught the train back to Port Moody. I arrived back at Dianna’s at 7:10 so I think is going to work out very well.