August 27, 2008 (Squamish, BC) – The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) invites the Sea to Sky community to top off their summer with a special event. The new Sea to Sky Volunteer Centre in Squamish will open its doors with an official opening celebration on Monday, September 1 from noon to 4:00 pm.

“Being a volunteer in 2010 will be an unforgettable experience and we are excited to be engaging Sea to Sky communities in such a big way,” said Donna Wilson, VANOC executive vice president, workforce and sustainability. “As the host of the Sea to Sky Volunteer Centre, Squamish is playing an important role in engaging Sea to Sky communities in the 2010 Winter Games. Through this new centre it will be easier for the entire corridor to get informed and be involved. Residents in the Sea to Sky area have an opportunity to be part of the 2010 Winter Games and showcase their passion for this beautiful region, whether through volunteerism or opening their homes.”

To celebrate the official opening of the centre, VANOC will hold a parking lot party featuring sport demonstrations, a special appearance by the Vancouver 2010 mascots, Sumi, Miga and Quatchi, souvenir 2010 mascot stickers, live music, food and give-aways. Other activities include face painting and an opportunity for visitors to test their shooting accuracy with a biathlon rifle. Children are encouraged to bring their hockey sticks to take shots on goal with VANOC’S official goalie, Quatchi. Entertainment will include music from Squamish’s Jocelyn Band, Whistler’s Hairfarmers and Pemberton’s Gordo.

The 2010 Winter Games Sea to Sky Volunteer Centre will serve as the primary regional hub for recruitment, deployment and training for volunteers residing in the Sea to Sky corridor. The facility will also host many workforce planning activities in the lead up to the 2010 Winter Games. Between now and 2010, thousands of volunteers are expected to pass through the Sea to Sky Volunteer Centre, filling the hundreds of different roles required in the Sea to Sky corridor at Games time.

“I have a love for sport, our community and the Olympic Movement,” said community volunteer Kim Stegeman. “Having volunteered for a year with Callaghan Valley Local Organizing Committee (CALOC), I know how fulfilling the experience is to be a volunteer and I am proud, like most Canadians, to be part of hosting the Games in 2010. I encourage everyone in the Sea to Sky area to explore this exciting opportunity”

VANOC staff members will be available at the event to answer questions about volunteer opportunities leading up to and during the 2010 Winter Games. Visitors who are interested in applying will be able to sign up during the official opening or learn how to sign up online at vancouver2010.com or workopolis.com.

The Sea to Sky Volunteer Centre is located in the new Spectacle building at 40437 Tantalus Road. The centre is off Highway 99 at Garibaldi Way, behind the Petro-Canada station, and in close proximity to public transit and the Greyhound station. Located within a 60-minute drive from Pemberton and a 35-minute drive from Whistler, the Spectacle location offers easy access to all Sea to Sky residents.

The centre in Squamish provides 465 square metres (5,000 square feet) of space, is highly visible from Highway 99 and is accessible to persons with disabilities.

VANOC requires 25,000 exceptional Canadians — with a special emphasis on Sea to Sky residents with a passion for their community and the 2010 Winter Games — who are ready to put their hearts into creating an event that will inspire the world. Aspiring volunteers can apply online at www.vancouver2010.com and through www.volunteer.workopolis.com. Applicants without internet access at home are encouraged to stop by the centre in Squamish on September 1 or visit a BC library, the 2010 Information Centre in Whistler or an internet café.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com