The Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay is en route, making its way to Vancouver for March 12th. This morning I had the chance to speak with Patrick Roberge whose production company, Patrick Roberge Productions (PRP), has been tasked with presenting us the the Opening Ceremony.
Having closely watched several recent Olympic opening ceremonies, I asked Patrick how the Paralympic ceremony compares. He said that the structure is similar, having the same protocol requirements such as the athletes parade, raising of the flag, and lighting of the cauldron. “Then we have the opportunity to make the show that surrounds all those elements as different as we like,” he added.
Before the Olympic opening ceremony in Vancouver many wondering how Beijing could be topped, however the production truly dazzled millions of viewers in its own way. Leading up to the Paralympic ceremony, I asked Patrick what we could expect (without giving away any secrets of course). “What we’re going for is a very friendly, very emotionally charged ceremony that will make people really connect with the human story of the Paralympics.” Sure, past Olympic ceremonies were grand and spectacular but the goal for the Paralympics is to make that connection on a more intimate scale. “We’re hoping people will be incredibly filled with amazing spirit and be inspired by the celebration of ability that we’ll demonstrate.”
Producing the Paralympics Opening Ceremony is no small feat however. With experience in Torino and Beijing alongside working on the Man in Motion Tour & Terry Fox anniversaries, PRP is fully prepared to take on this significant task. “It’s an incredibly rewarding experience – the people have been unbelievably cool,” said Patrick. The uniqueness of the Paralympics is what will make these Games and even this ceremony so profound.
Patrick told me that someone once said to him that most Olympians have a similar story: They were young children who got into sports, they began to pursue them, excelling in their field, and ended up with incredible athletic achievement leading them to the Olympics. However, he said that every single Paralympian story is different, they each have an incredible history and that’s what they’ll bring to the production. “Not all started off as athletes – they became athletes,” he said. The Paralympians each have stories about their individual feats of excellence in getting to this level of competition. “It’s been very inspiring to me from artistic direction.”
With CTV airing the Opening Ceremony complimented by Brian Williams’ as host, this could be one of the most-watched Paralympic Opening Ceremonies to date. Many Vancouverites are already excited to keep the Olympic-sized celebration alive. School children are talking about sledge hockey out in the playground while my own niece and nephew are already spellbound by the athletic ability of the participants. Patrick said that Vancouver is already such a great place to live the Paralympic dream and celebrate triumphs of human ability. “Our heroes are Rick Hansen and Terry Fox. Vancouver has also elected a quadriplegic Mayor [Sam Sullivan]. We’ve broken those barriers.” The goal of the ceremony, simply put, will be to showcase the best athletes in the world.
Humbled and honored to have this opportunity, Patrick and his team at PRP will present Vancouver with its first glimpse of the Paralympics, and the Paralympians this Friday. He said their goal will be to “inspire the rest of the world, Canadian style.”
You can follow Patrick Roberge Productions on Twitter @PRP_Inc and read more about their past productions such as the Vancouver 2010 logo launch on their website.
The Paralympics begin nine days of competition March 13th, following the Opening Ceremony on the 12th at BC Place. You can read this post for a full guide to the Paralympics (from parking to free events). The Closing Ceremony will take place March 21st in Whistler.
With the Olympics behind us I’m unsure if Vancouverites are taking a much-needed rest or if they’re aching to get back out and party. For the latter, this weekend’s 82nd annual Academy Awards just so happen to offer such a opportunity.
Lamplighter
The Lamplighter Public House is offering up a prix fixe $40 menu for Oscar night. Doors at 5:00pm for the event Sunday, March 7th.
OPUS Hotel
The OPUS will feature a red carpet event Sunday evening alongside a 3 course Oscar Dinner available in Elixir Bistro for $30 (with optional wine pairings for $20). You can sip & mingle for $25 from 5:00pm until 10:00pm.
PitchMarket 2010 Oscar Wrap Party
Held at Players Chophouse the PitchMarket Oscar party will also have a red carpet along with food samples, drinks, and viewing of the Academy Awards. Tickets are $35 and the event begins at 5:00pm.
If you’re not up for one of the parties around town, or if you aren’t near a TV, I’m certain you’ll see the buzz on Twitter if you’re interested. I admit, I haven’t even seen Avatar yet since it’s been such a busy year however I look forward to catching up and seeing some of the winners once things slow down.
The Atlas Obscura is an online directory resource for unique, intriguing, amusing, and peculiar attractions around the globe. Being a fan of historic and cultural oddities, I figured this would be a great thing to cover.
On March 20th they are hosting “Obscura Day” highlighting the best destinations from South America to the North Pole. It just so happens that the Vancouver Police Museum has been put on their map to represent our city.
“We were approached by Atlas Obscura a few weeks ago,” said Chris Mathieson, Executive Director of the Vancouver Police Museum. “They had received a fantastic review of the Police Museum by one of their international users and thought we’d make a great fit for Obscura Day.â€
Once you register for an Obscura Day event in your city (or a city that your are visiting) you will be treated to tours and special offers. The Vancouver Police Museum will offer up two tours that you can choose to take for a donation of $15.
Old City Morgue
The Vancouver Police Museum building is the former City Morgue and Coroner’s Court. Between 1932 and 1980, close to 15,000 autopsies were performed in this space, covering almost every major homicide and accident in the city during that period. Special behind-the-scenes opportunities will also be included; not for the feint of heart.
Sins of the City
The Museum’s “Sins of the City Tour” will explore the history of vice crime in Vancouver. Brothels, gambling dens, opium house and strip clubs are all featured on the regular tour. For Obscura Day they’ll add a few special stops into the mix. Appropriate clothing (including closed-toe shoes) will be required for this adventure.
You can read my post about my experience on both on these tours.
The Atlas Obscura is, “a compendium of this age’s wonders, curiosities, and esoterica. The Atlas Obscura is a collaborative project with the goal of cataloging all of the singular, eccentric, bizarre, fantastical, and strange out-of-the-way places that get left out of traditional travel guidebooks and are ignored by the average tourist.”
Outside of Vancouver, other Obscura Day attractions include the World’s Largest Treehouse in Crossville Tennessee, the Underground Salt Museum in Kansas City, a tour of the National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore Maryland, or a self-made concert at Ringing Rocks Park in Pennsylvania (bring a hammer to make some noise).
The Vancouver Police Museum tours will take place between 11:00am and 2:00pm on Obscura Day, March 20th.
“We hope it encourages locals to take notice of us and realize that we’re so much more than just a dusty collection of badges and uniforms,” Mathieson told me. “We have an amazing building and some of the best stories in the city to tell.â€
Tickets may only be purchased through the Obscura Day website.
Continuing my Then and Now photo series of Vancouver I went on the hunt for aerial images this morning. Funny thing is, after hosting the Olympics in your town “aerials” bring up images of athletes on skis and not views from a plane. It was a pleasant surprise however the following all feature pictures taken from planes around Vancouver and as usual, the “then” photos are courtesy of the City of Vancouver Archives‘ online photo collection.
Vancouver Then and Now Aerial Photos
Stanley Park Entrance
Looking at South toward the city
I have about a dozen more archive photos I’d love to post but I just can’t seem to find modern day equivalents of them on Flickr. Should you have any aerial shots of the city please feel free to add them to the Miss604 Flickr Group.
Just when I thought I had wrapped up my Vancouver 2010 coverage, I discover an amazing video on YouTube by director Trevor Meier, featuring the Olympic Torch Relay. Comissioned by VANOC, they have an entire series of videos from the relay, the following is from Days 64 – 70.
The Torch Relay was one of my favourite, if not the best, highlights of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. I was lucky enough to ride along in my hometown of Surrey and that memory will be with me always. The Paralympic Torch Relay began today and the flame it will find its way to Vancouver again March 12th.
