This morning the Canadian Paralympic Committee named four-time Paralympian Elisabeth Walker-Young as Canada’s Assistant Chef de Mission for the London 2012 Paralympic Summer Games.
After captivating our attention in Vancouver last February, the Paralympics have been growing in popularity thanks to the outstanding performances by our athletes. I had the chance to chat with Elisabeth today to find out about her new role assisting Dr. Gaétan Tardif, Chef de Mission, and how things are looking heading into the next Summer Games.
“Gaétan has expertise to bring about what worked before and what didn’t. I have the luxury of being on the athlete side so I get to think about and bring the athlete’s perspective,” said Elisabeth. Along with assisting the Mission staff with budgets and operational issues, she said she can be the voice of the athletes when it comes to everything from the placement of Canada’s building at the Games to the clothing they will wear.
Photo credit: Vincent L. Chan
Elisabeth’s Paralympic career began in Barcelona and she brought continued success to Atlanta, Sydney, and Athens in the years to follow. Having won three gold medals, one silver, and two bronze in swimming over her outstanding competitive career, her passion for the Paralympics is clear.
“People ask me (whether it’s media, or friends) ‘which were your favourite Games?’ and I can never pick one because they all bring such different memories. When I was a rookie in Barcelona it was the grandeur of the opening ceremony.” Elisabeth talked about how dedicated she was to her first Games and noted that she was only 15 years old at the time.
Her original goal was to make her Paralympics appearance a “one time thing” however after Barcelona she knew she had to do it again.
Eighteen years after her first competition, Elisabeth is committed to helping our athletes achieve their best and the Canadian Paralympic Committee is aiming to rank within the top eight countries in the next medal count. “I think London will bring a different perspective,” added Elisabeth, looking ahead to 2012. “The one thing that’s really unique to the London Games is that’s where the Paralympic games all began, and I think they’ll use that as a catalyst.”
Back in 1948 Dr. Ludwig Guttmann of Stoke Mandeville Hospital started the competition for war veterans, to be the equivalent to the Olympics. First referred to as the Stoke Mandeville Games, the Paralympic Games opened up to everyone (not just war vets) in 1960.
With Canadian athletes performing so well at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympics, particularly while being on our home soil, there was a spotlight on the Games like never-before. Elisabeth definitely sees that momentum continuing on to the upcoming Summer Games.
“I’ve seen it evolve and every year there’s more and more attention. I think having had it in the home environment with such success it can only continue that snowball effect. I think that’s natural but we as the Canadian Paralympic Committee — as mission staff, as athletes — are still going to have to do the work to keep it in the media’s attention and to keep it in the public’s attention.” Elisabeth said she aims to make it resonate with the public that it’s not all about performance sport, although that is the major component of the Games. “Having been an athlete, I know how hard people train and how much they put into it. There’s so much more with Paralympic sport and the societal benefits that can come out of it can’t be ignored.”
You can follow @CDNParalympics on Twitter for updates leading up to the next Games or add them on Facebook.
Disney on Ice recently brought its international Let’s Celebrate! production to Vancouver and is now moving out to Abbotsford this weekend. My mother had the opportunity to attend with my niece and nephews and provided the following write-up:
Disneyland is known as “the happiest place on earth” however, I am sure that many children and adults would have agreed that the Pacific Coliseum came a close second as some of Disney’s most favourite characters skated onto the ice last week.
Mickey and Minnie took us on a 2-hour journey to foreign lands to celebrate holidays throughout the year, starting with an “unbirthday” party with Alice and company, a “haunted” Halloween segment featuring Disney’s meanest villains, to Japan, to Hawaii to New Orleans. The Disney Princesses and Princes were there as well as they helped Minnie’s dream of becoming a princess herself come true. They ended their adventures with a “Goofy” Christmas.
It really was a treat for the senses. Great music, great costumes, lots of fun!
Disney On Ice presents Let’s Celebrate! at the Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre from December 3rd to 5th for six performances (evening and matinee). Tickets start at just $11.25 and are available through the Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre online or by calling 1-866-977-AESC(2372).
Bright Nights return to Stanley Park as thousands of twinkling lights welcome guests along with carolers, warm treats, dazzling displays and of course the miniature railway.
The Stanley Park Ecology Society will be selling hot buttered popcorn and roasted pistachios as guests are welcome to explore lighted pathways, listen to carolers on the plaza, and have a visit with Santa himself.
Now in its 13th year, Bright Nights supports the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund. Get rid of your old inefficient Christmas lights by dropping them off at the front gate and BC Hydro will then donate $2 to the Burn Fund for every string collected.
Admission to the plaza is free although a $2 donation to the Burn Fund is recommended for entry. Tickets are required for the Bright Nights Train. The train runs from 3:00pm – 10:00pm nightly and tickets are available in advance through Ticketmaster, either online, by phone, or in person. Read the finer details on the Bright Nights website to see purchase restrictions for certain days. You can also get tickets at the booth on-site however tickets there are only sold for that days’ train rides.
Bright Nights in Stanley Park is on now until January 2nd, 2011 but will be closed on Christmas Day.
Four years ago I met Keira-Anne through a mutual friend and it wasn’t until about a year later that we sparked up a friendship of our own. We didn’t know each other had a blog and our first play-date was a trip out to the Kwik-E-Mart in Coquitlam. Little did either of us realize that what began with Slushees would turn us into the definition of “BFF”s just a short time later.
Despite our gratuitous self portraits posted to Flickr of the years, Keira-Anne is one of the most down to earth people you’ll meet. We can sit in our pajamas eating cereal in her mom’s living room, bake crudely-shaped Christmas cookies, drink wine from a box, or get dressed to the nines for a night out on the town in Manhattan.
Keira is a beautiful soul who has so much love for her family and is always there for John and I. I have no doubt that my life is far better knowing Keira than it would be if we had never met on a warm August evening back in 2006. Happy Birthday, Keira.
Note: If there’s anything you ever wanted to know about Vancouver Island, it can be found on Keira’s blog.
The CBC broadcast centre will open its doors this Friday, December 3rd for its 24th annual Open House and Food Bank Day.
The public are invited to bring in a donation for the Food Bank and enjoy newsroom tours, live broadcasts, and performances. Donations will be accepted in person from 8:00am until 7:00pm or online through Vancity Credit Union.
You can also meet CBC personalities throughout the day including George Stroumboulopoulos, Peter Mansbridge, Jim Treliving and more. A full meet and greet schedule is posted online.
If you are in attendance be sure to check in on Foursquare and tag your Twitter updates with #cbcopenhouse. There will also be a Tweetup with George Stroumboulopoulos at 11:30am however, you will need to contact the CBC to book your spot. You can also win your way into a live taping of Q through the CBC’s community blog, Twitter, or Facebook.
I will be on CBC Radio for the BC Almanac with Mark Forsythe at 2:30pm that day as well. Food Bank Day broadcasts will begin at 5:30am with the Early Edition.
