Nova Scotia handed out scarves, Alberta decked out downtown in Calgary Stampede hats, and the Northwest Territories served up tea and bannock at Canada’s Northern House.

Every day during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics a province or territory is featured. I’m a bit late to post this list but so that you can enjoy all the themed treats that are to come, here’s your master list:

Saturday, February 20th – Yukon Day

Sunday, February 21st – Nunavut Day

Tuesday, February 23rd – Saskatchewan Day

Wednesday, February 24th – Ontario Day

Thursday, February 25th – Manitoba Day

Friday, February 26th – Newfoundland and Labrador Day

I receive daily updates in the press centre so will update this post as these days arrive.

The following was written for Miss604.com by my 9 year old niece, Alexis. She interviewed her brothers to put together this post.

Photo credit: John Biehler on Flickr

The Olympics. Week one. A kid’s perspective

To the kids in Vancouver and Surrey, the Olympics are very exciting because they are in Vancouver. They think the mascots are cute, the torch is very cool and they’re a lot of fun. Kids in Canada think we will win the Olympics because we have a lot of people who cheer for the Olympics. Some of the kids think the Olympic rings are very cool, the rings are a symbol of the Countries coming together in peace.

The kids like Hockey, Skiing and Speed skating the best. Snowboarding half pipe is also very popular. We also love the mascots, the most popular is Miga, then Mukmuk, Sumi and Quatchi. We like to watch the Olympic games. We have 3 gold medals and we can get more!

I was invited to hop aboard the Alberta Train yesterday, a luxury rail coach from North Vancouver to Whistler with double-decker cars and domed panorama roofs. The train experience is courtesy of Travel Alberta to showcase their Rocky Mountaineer route to the Rockies. There was plenty to do in Whistler this week and aside from Olympic events they were also hosted TEDx Whistler with a focus on sustainability.

However, before we even arrived in the mountain village, we had quite the journey on the train. I’ve taken the Rocky Mountaineer before but in the winter, and on the Alberta Train, it’s a whole other experience. Coasting past snow-capped mountains peeking out from the other side of Howe Sound, it was a blissful trip. Aboard the train we were served beverages, breakfast, and enough information about visiting Alberta (and the Calgary Stampede) to make me start pulling out the map book to plot a road trip.

We received a few goodies along the way including an iPod Touch pre-loaded with Travel Alberta videos, images, contacts, notes, and web bookmarks. If the decadent travel accommodation and swag wasn’t enough already, they also handed out ticket to watch the Olympic Alpine event over in Creekside. This threw a wrench into my plans to head straight to Whistler Village but I’m not sure I could ever pass up a chance to attend an Olympic event.

It was amazing to see Lindsay Vonn of the USA do her first alpine run of the day and to mix and mingle with fans from across the globe out on the snowy spectator field. In the stands, flags of all colours flew proudly while cowbells rung and chants broke up spontaneously.

Finally heading toward Whistler Village we walked around soaking up the scenery. The flame burned brightly in a lonely cauldron inside the celebration site, a set of giant Olympic rings made for great photo opportunities, and street performers were in their prime.

Meandering through the cobblestone village thoroughfares you could really see a mix of locals (out walking with their ski-seasoned dogs) and international fans draped in flags or trading pins. We eventually made it over to the Garibaldi Lift Company where MuchMusic is filming their On Demand segment all day until the end of the Games.

With little time left to make it to back to the train we headed for the station only to realize that we were an hour early for the departure. Luckily there’s a small pub nearby so we lugged our bags over there for a pint before leaving the bubbling Olympic alpine mecca of Whistler. After a few minutes two ladies asked if they could join our table, which sat at least 6 but I was only there with John Biehler. We welcomed them to sit and we instantly got to talking.

“She’s an Olympian you know,” said Marj, a woman from Toronto, as she gestured to her friend. Fascinated, we inquired and indeed we were in the company of Eleanor McKenzie Miller who competed in the 100m and 200m races in the Helsinki Olympics in 1952. They were both beaming, “this is our second Olympics!” Here for the long haul and at least another week, these ladies were sure in a celebratory mood.

Photo credit: John Biehler on Flickr

Eleanor was glowing, wearing an Olympic scarf given to her by the City of Vancouver. Past Canadian Olympians were invited to take part in a dress rehearsal of the Opening Ceremony, standing in for the current Olympians. After performing this honor Eleanor received the scarf and she wears it very proudly.

We didn’t have much time to stay and chat with the contagiously cheery BFF’s as we had to catch our train. Walking back to the train I knew I didn’t accomplish all I wanted to that day, or see all that I thought I could in Whistler. However, meeting Marge and Eleanor was an absolute highlight. This is huge part of what the Olympics are to me — meeting people. People with stories, with pride, and with an infectious spirit for the love of the Games.

Medal Count for Canada – February 18, 2010
Gold: 3
Silver: 3
Bronze: 1
View full medal count by country

As the sixth day of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games comes to a close I thought it would be best to publish my Olympic Daily tonight. I’ll be heading to Whistler first thing in the morning on the Alberta Train which means my day will be starting at 4:30am.

Today’s schedule was once again jam-packed but it included a few press conferences including one to celebrate Alberta Day and another for Canada’s latest gold medal winner, Maëlle Ricker.

Photo credit: John Biehler on Flickr – Canadian gold medalist Kyle Shewfelt & me in my Alberta Day / Calgary Stampede hat

After my time at the Media Centre I met up with Keira to explore several more pavilions around town. First stop was Alberta House followed by a peek into Haida Gwaii House and then to LiveCity Downtown for the Canada Pavilion.

I rounded out the day by meeting up with some family members to check out the Olympic cauldron. As the sun set, casting a pink glow over the snow-capped mountains, the flickering flame was indeed a beautiful sight.

Medal Count for Canada – February 17, 2010
Gold: 2
Silver: 3
Bronze: 1
View full medal count by country

This is the first year in my lifetime that CBC has not been the official broadcaster of the Olympic Games in Canada. Although CTV is doing a fine job, it’s almost like watching Hockey Night in Canada without the original theme — something’s missing.

I walked around the CBC broadcast centre in Vancouver yesterday and got some thoughts from nightly news anchor, Ian Hanomansing.

Not being the official broadcaster of the Olympics comes with many restrictions. “The big thing is that when it comes to the footage of the actual events, what the Olympic Movement calls the field of play,” explained Hanomansing. CBC cannot use images without heavy restrictions such as a wait period of 24 hours before posting any footage from that field of play.

“It’s frustrating for us at the CBC because we’ve so often been the Olympics rights holder in the past but the thing now is that we’re in a position that many other broadcasters are in. CNN is in this position, Global is in this position and so we find a way to still cover the sports with still pictures and a little bit of footage after that 24 hour period is over.”

Hanomansing wasn’t completely disheartened however, he’s continued to tell stories, do interviews, and really capture what’s been going on in the city. “The other thing you do is you focus on the story outside of the field of play – so the story about the city, the story about the pavilions, about people trying to get tickets, today I’m doing a story about the cauldron,” he said. “So there are tons of things you can do especially when it’s in your hometown.”

Having covered five previous Olympic Games, starting with Atlanta in 1996 so I asked what was his favourite part of being a broadcaster is during these times, whether as an official rights holder or not. He immediately brought up the athletes.

“The Canadian Olympians are everything you would hope Canadian Olympians would be. They are almost without exception humble and just you know they have fascinating stories.” On his new nightly program The City he’s been able to interview past Olympians as well such as Daniel Igali and Ross Rebagliati. “They fit that stereotype perfectly. They’re just so interesting to talk to and so nice and yet they were at one time, the best in the world at what they do so that’s been the fascinating thing about the Olympics.”

I know many people are missing the CBC as the official broadcaster but rest assured, they’re hard at work bringing you even more stories, from the crowds and from the public side of the fences, continuing to tell our stories.

They’re broadcasting nightly from the corner of Georgia and Hamilton from the plaza as well as their street-side studio. Spectators are very welcome.