The 2010 Paralympic Games will draw to a close tomorrow. It is truly amazing to witness the determination and spirit of all the athletes who have competed in the games. I hope you have been able to tune and watch some of it.
As I have previously mentioned, one of the IAWP Medal of Valour Award Winner (Edmonton 2001), RCMP Corporal Laurie White has been the go-to person for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics. She has shared some of her experience with me for this blog:
Laurie's Story....
We have about 750 members deployed to the Paralympic Games and they are primarily E Division Resources (RCMP term for the Province of British Columbia). This is considerably scaled down from the 7000 officers from all over Canada who helped out during the Olympics.
Security planning for the Paralympics followed the same process as for the Olympics. Decisions about equipment and resources were made based on threat levels and the unique characteristics and features of the the venues. However, there are fewer venues, athletes and spectators so the security measures are relative to the size and capacity differences.
When I traveled to Beijing to participate in the International Observer Program I was fortunate to get a glimpse of what lay ahead for us. This program is not specifically designed for security personnel. Future host country representatives participate in it. The host country of the particular games organize the program for us. During the 2010 games no one is assigned to shadow me.
I have enjoyed the flexibility and freedom of this position. Police officers are often placed in very defined roles with very specific job functions. This was a new job so I was given considerable room to be creative with my role. It has opened my eyes to the complex world of major events and all of the critical elements involved in the planning process. Plus, it has been a good fit for my personal perspective.
After the 2010 games are complete I head off to Operations Strategy Branch and will be working in Police Resource Management. I am always looking forward to a new challenge and this new job will certainly provide that.
Laurie.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Correction
My apologies to IAWP Region 11 member Jamie Bannon who is featured in this photo with Myra. My original posting named her as Myra's cousin.
Jamie is a colleague of Myra's from the Hamilton Police. She travelled out to Vancouver to become an Olympic Volunteer for the 2010 Games. Jamie was involved in athlete services at Canada Hockey Place during the games. What a great place to be Jamie!!! Front and center for the hockey action!
IAWP Region 11 members Jamie Bannon and Myra James
Jamie is a colleague of Myra's from the Hamilton Police. She travelled out to Vancouver to become an Olympic Volunteer for the 2010 Games. Jamie was involved in athlete services at Canada Hockey Place during the games. What a great place to be Jamie!!! Front and center for the hockey action!
IAWP Region 11 members Jamie Bannon and Myra Jamesin front of large Innukshuk
Let the Games Begin!
Today is the opening of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games. The first ever in Canada. And we are just as excited about it as we were one month ago for the opening of the Olympics. Canada is devoting record television broadcast time to the 2010 Paralympics.
IAWP Second Vice President Myra James has continued on with her duties at the 2010 Games. She has moved up to the Hilton Hotel in Whistler from Vancouver and has been busy preparing for the arrival of the Paralympic clients. Myra is working in a similar capacity as she did at the Marriott in Vancouver. The staff and volunteer base is smaller and the hours are not nearly as demanding but the energy level is definitely as high! The changes in staffing levels are primarily due to the reduction of participants in the Paralympics vs. Olympics.
Myra has advised me that most of the snow is gone in the Whistler Village (featured in the photo below) but there is still plenty of it in the mountains for the various Paralympic sports. Myra has been taking in the atmosphere in the village. She is only a short walk from the village where there are plenty of restaurants, pubs, and shopping. She is also enjoying a wonderful view of the mountains from her accommodations.
Myra has promised an update on a ziptrek tour she is planning to take before she begins her 5000 km journey home later this month. So, stay tuned for more of James Journey.
RCMP Corporal Laurie White, and 2000 IAWP Medal of Valour recipient, is also still involved in the games. In fact, her efforts are ramped up right now as she is the Paralympic Planner for the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit. Laurie has also agreed to continue feeding me information to share with all of you.
A bit more about the Paralympics
Just as the 2010 Olympics kicked off with a Torch Run, so has the 2010 Paralympics. Myra provided this photo.
IAWP Second Vice President Myra James has continued on with her duties at the 2010 Games. She has moved up to the Hilton Hotel in Whistler from Vancouver and has been busy preparing for the arrival of the Paralympic clients. Myra is working in a similar capacity as she did at the Marriott in Vancouver. The staff and volunteer base is smaller and the hours are not nearly as demanding but the energy level is definitely as high! The changes in staffing levels are primarily due to the reduction of participants in the Paralympics vs. Olympics.
Myra has advised me that most of the snow is gone in the Whistler Village (featured in the photo below) but there is still plenty of it in the mountains for the various Paralympic sports. Myra has been taking in the atmosphere in the village. She is only a short walk from the village where there are plenty of restaurants, pubs, and shopping. She is also enjoying a wonderful view of the mountains from her accommodations.
Myra has promised an update on a ziptrek tour she is planning to take before she begins her 5000 km journey home later this month. So, stay tuned for more of James Journey.
RCMP Corporal Laurie White, and 2000 IAWP Medal of Valour recipient, is also still involved in the games. In fact, her efforts are ramped up right now as she is the Paralympic Planner for the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit. Laurie has also agreed to continue feeding me information to share with all of you.
A bit more about the Paralympics
Just as the 2010 Olympics kicked off with a Torch Run, so has the 2010 Paralympics. Myra provided this photo.
The Torch Run for the Paralympics began on March 3rd in Ottawa and concludes today in Vancouver with a 24 relay leg around the city.
There are 506 athletes taking part in the 2010 Paralympics.
There are 5 Paralympic sports: Ice Sledge Hockey, Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Biathlon, and Wheelchair Curling.
There are 64 Paralympic Medal Events.
I will be back with more on the 2010 in the coming days. Hope you check back to see what's new.
Good luck to everyone involved and stay safe!
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