I arrived in Vancouver yesterday, and it feels a little calmer than what I had expected, no major traffic jams to get downtown, or massive crowds on the streets. It is truly the “calm before the storm” feeling. I say that because you can see lots of visitors, media from around the world and their camera crews, you see the official VANOC vehicles roaming the streets. While it seems calm I sense the excitement and the trepidation of everyone I’ve met so far since I got here…the city is ready. Vancouverites are happy and it shows in their display of hospitality everywhere, it will be without a doubt an exciting few weeks! And we want to bring you a piece of it by giving you an inside look at “our” Games.
As the official beer supplier of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, Molson Coors and our brands will be under the spotlight at the 2010 Winter Games, and our “Roving Reporter” employees will be bringing you the hottest news direct from Vancouver the site of the world’s most prestigious winter sports competition. You won’t see the sporting events highlight, we leave that to the partner networks, what our employee will be sharing is their insight on our Molson Coors Games. You’ ll see what we do to support our customers, brands and retail events, some of the action at the Molson Canadian Hockey House, our VIP gatherings and receptions at our Vancouver Brewery. The Dispatches will also bring you exclusive interviews with our Molson Canadian/Export Fund Champion athletes, and much, much more. Don’t miss the Dispatches! Every weekday, beginning on Thursday Feb 11, 2010.
Oh yes, if there’s anything you’d like us to report on about “our” games, sort of a special request, please let me or any of us on the team know and we’ll do our best to bring it to you.
One of our colleagues at Molson Coors Canada is volunteering for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. I asked him if he would tell his story. Thanks to Steve Lintott, a 28-year employee of Molson Coors for telling this story and for allowing me to share it. Cheers! Go Canada Go…
When it was announced that Molson employees would get special consideration for Olympic volunteer positions I decided to give it a shot. Having family living in North Vancouver meant the major hurdle (having somewhere to stay) was covered, and the chance to help (in some small way) ensure the Olympics were a success, was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Unfortunately I procrastinated and missed the deadline to apply as a Molson employee. Initially I abandoned the idea thinking I wouldn’t have much chance of getting in, assuming the response from the general public would be huge. After thinking about it for a few weeks I decided to give it a shot anyway. Couldn’t hurt. I believe that was back in the fall of 2008.
I didn’t hear anything until spring 2009 when I was interviewed over the phone. Then when I didn’t hear back from them for a few months I assumed I wasn’t a successful candidate. However my hopes were raised again in August when I received an email from VANOC asking for some personal information in order to do a security check. Then another couple of months went by before I heard from them again (after some prodding on my part); and finally a position was offered in late November: Load Zone Attendant at the Killarney Centre. I still don’t know exactly what I will be doing, but I do know that the Killarney Centre is where the short track speed skaters will practice.
The one question everyone asks is: Do you get any tickets for the events? The answer is no. Volunteering is not about perks, it’s about helping people accomplish something they can’t do on their own. Volunteers get free public transit, and an opportunity to see the dress rehearsal for the opening ceremonies! I’m looking forward to a great adventure!
Photo Front Row L-R: Strat Kane, Molson Coors VP, Western Canada; James McAra, CEO, Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank; Ryan Vanjoff, Molson Coors Volunteer
Thanks Sagree for sharing the day with us! Cheers, CaroleB
Calgary employees built on Molson Coors tradition of being Proud to Play Our Part in our community on Friday, Jan 15th. We spent a total of 75 volunteer hours at the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank, processed 10 700lbs of food, packed 301 emergency hampers and touched the lives of 763 people.
The Calgary Food Bank is experiencing the greatest increase in demand in its history, up 40 per cent this year due to the economic downturn. But staff remains confident the charity can meet this growing need for food, thanks to your our continued support. For every $1 donated, the Food Bank can distribute $4 of food and Molson Coors helped distribute $20 000,00 of food.
Photo L-R: Brett Solmes, 1 Carlingview Dr; Brittany Webster, Beata Tomczyk, 33 Carlingview Dr; Hari Shivo, 33 Carlingview Dr
Brett, Beata and Hari shared stories and video of their experiences of the day they ran with the 2010 Torch. All had one thing in common, they did not want it to end.
Photo L-R: Valerie Fraser, Brewery Tour Guide ‘extraordine’ ; Brittany Webster holding one of the torches from the run
Photo L-R: Ferg Devins, Chief Public Affairs, Brittany Webster, Dave Perkins, President and CEO Molson Coors Canada
I met Brittany Webster at 33 Carlingview Drive when she arrived here from her trip to Quebec. Brittany’s flight was late so we are running late right from the get go. Off we went over to Toronto Brewery to give Brittany a quick tour of T6. We stop and Brittany chatted with the employees and took pictures with them all. You cannot help but like Brittany, she is cheerful, eager to see everything and talk to everyone. After the tour we headed to the Toronto Brewery Pub and were greeted by employees from both 1 and 33 Carlingview Drive. Our torch runners were on hand to share their experencies and we got a close up of the torch itself. Brittany chatted with the employees and said a few words about how she ended up where she is today. See Brittany’s Blog at Brittany Webster. Brittany, we hope you will hear our cheers ringing out loud and clear – GO BRITTANY GO!!
Those three words are like cracking open a fresh cold refreshing beer after a long action orientied day of winter holiday fun and enjoyment. To hear the words “Happy New Year” is symbolic of starting anew, looking to the twelve months that lay ahead, putting the previous year into the archives. And what a year we have ahead at Molson Coors Canada. Within weeks we will join our colleagues in British Columbia, on the ground in Vancouver doing the final set up after months of preparation for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Molson Canadian, Coors Light and Molson Export are the official beers of the games…that’s pretty exciting for all of us at Molson Coors and we hope that it will be as exciting for our beer drinkers from coast to coast to coast, our customers, families and friends. Between celebrations and activities at Molson Canadian Hockey House and The Coors Light Hillside Chalet in Whistler…beer drinkers will be sure to enjoy the games with us as they tap into coverage across this great land. As part of our commitment to the games we have worked hard at the Molson Coors brewery in Vancouver to pay attention to our sustainability agenda. We are so proud to have achieved a Sustainability Star. We have also collaborated with the Four Host First Nations and VANOC to create a commemorative lapel pin with the intent of raising $50,000 to initiative the Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Youth Legacy Program. Through Molson Canadian and Molson Export Fund A Champion Campaigns we have raised $200,000 in support of ten Olympic and Paralympic aspirigin athletes who represent all regions of the country. We are also delighted that Jennifer Botterill from Canada’s Womens’ hockey team, joined the Molson Coors team to help support us in spreading the message for Responsible Choices throughout the year. Yes…2010 is going to be one terrific year and we look forward to raising a glass to the world as Canada celebrates bringing the games to Vancouver British Columbia in 2010. Best wishes to all for an awesome 2010. Molson Coors looks forward to delivering some amazing programs with our exciting portfolio of brands in Canada and all while continuing to engage in the greater community in which we live work and play. We look forward to connecting with you through this community blog and on Twitter and our brand Facebook pages. Cheers ! @MolsonFerg
