Stories and the Sustainability Journey 1-15 of 43 items
The Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Licensing and Merchandising Program
When you purchase an official Vancouver 2010 licensed Aboriginal product, you’ll be making history and investing in the future. >>>
Cut the Carbon
You can’t see them. We all create them. They’re changing our world. What are they?If you guessed greenhouse gases (GHGs) and their contribution to climate change, you’re right. No matter what our lifestyle, we all cause GHGs, which are also called carbon emissions, and we need to take action to reduce them. The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are no different. >>>
CORE Training
In spring 2008, Roderick Green was living in a Salvation Army shelter. At 48 years old, he had lost his job as a bartender, been evicted from his apartment and seen his savings whittle away. Then he met Lani Johnson at Building Opportunities with Business Inner-City Society (BOB) and things took a turn for the better – Johnson connected Green with the Construction Orientation to Retain Employment Program (CORE). >>>
Raising the Bar with VANOC’s Sustainability Initiatives
Every Olympic and Paralympic Games tries to raise the bar on performance. Sustainability at The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) is no different. We continue to learn from past Games and best practices. >>>
It’s All About Power — Clean Reliable Power
In the heat of the 2010 Winter Games competitions, there’ll be little tolerance for power disruption. And no one should waste their energy thinking about it — except Paul Toom and his energy team. Paul Toom is all about power. As VANOC’s director of energy, his job is to deliver the power to every Games venue and make sure it’s reliable. No athlete, broadcaster, timing official or ceremonies producer can afford a power outage. >>>
VANOC buys smart
VANOC buys smart An Olympic-sized shopping list and spending budget have the power to make a big impact in the market place. Using a tool like VANOC’s Buy Smart program, this spending can also make a positive difference in areas that might not otherwise benefit from the Games — areas like Aboriginal-owned companies and Vancouver’s inner-city communities. >>>
Customer Service Training Pilot Story
Training for Games-time job opportunities “Once you have a job, even if it’s just part-time, it’s a lot easier to become successful,” said Hendrik Hoekema, executive director of Vancouver Eastside Educational Enrichment Society (VEEES). >>>
Whistler Olympic Park Waste Water Treatment
Screened, munched and filtered at Whistler Olympic Park There’s no gamble in a flush at Whistler Olympic Park (WOP), thanks to its sophisticated wastewater treatment plant. All water that goes down the drain is screened, munched, filtered, and zapped with ultraviolet rays before it returns to Madely Creek. >>>
Vancouver 2010 Sustainability Report honoured
Vancouver 2010 Sustainability Report honoured In April 2009, our second of five sustainability reports (2006-07) was honoured with a Commendation for Innovative Reporting by Ceres, an independent network of investors and public interest organizations, and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). >>>
Star-studded Games
Star-studded Games VANOC celebrates leading examples of innovation in sustainability with the launch of the Vancouver 2010 Sustainability Star program. The program recognizes initiatives by Games partners, sponsors and VANOC that demonstrate positive and measurable social, economic and >>>
Fab Shop Graduation
It was an emotional day at the RONA Vancouver 2010 Fabrication Shop (Fab Shop). It was the day 12 carpentry students graduated from the Fab Shop’s 33-week carpentry skills and work-experience program. They took with them new friendships, new knowledge and new skills gained from building more than 2,300 items for the Games. For most, the big prize was earning accreditation for the first year of a four-year Red Seal certification in carpentry. >>>
Creative Fusion — Aboriginal Graphics Enrich VANOC’s Brand
Xwa lack tun knows the healing power of laughter. And it begins with his name. “I play around with it. Sometimes I say it means ‘arm breaker’ or it also means ‘good looking’. But actually, names with the ‘tun’ sound on the end are ‘people who help people’.” >>>
Putting out Fires
This story begins with an effusive phone call to Keith Spodek, group director Quality Assurance and Sustainability for Birks. “Keith you saved my life.” This was the owner of one of Birks’ external factories. Keith couldn’t think what he’d done to deserve such credit. “What are you talking about?” he replied. >>>
VANOC Organizes the World Conference on Sport and the Environment
A worldwide forum on issues and opportunities for sustainable sport comes to Canada in March 2009 when The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) organizes the Eighth World Conference on Sport and the Environment in Vancouver. The biennial world >>>
Legacy of Safety
“We’re creating a culture of safety,” said Julie Wengi, VANOC’s manager of health and safety. “We’re a start-up, so we can build safety into the foundation of the organization.” In collaboration with WorkSafeBC, VANOC has developed the Legacy of Safety, a proactive health and safety program for all VANOC employees, volunteers and contractors. This is the first time an Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee has partnered with the health and safety regulator in its jurisdiction. >>>
Did you know?
