Pattie Olson has volunteered for many years. She has coached for local hockey and enjoys baseball. PHOTO BY CHRISTINE ROY
There is a place in Mexico, called Teotihuacan, where a structure known as the Pyramid of the Sun was built. Though the Aztecs found it, it’s still uncertain who built it.
It’s at this ancient, mysterious location where a traditional Aztec ceremony will take place in May: the lighting of the 2015 Pan Am Games' torch.
The torch will travel by land, air and sea in order to reach Toronto in July, the host city for the 2015 Pan Am Games.
For North Bay resident Pattie Olson, this is a volunteer’s opportunity of a lifetime.
“To be close up and personal with these sports is going to be amazing,” she stated in an interview.
The 2015 Pan Am Games will take place this summer, from July 10 to 26. Canada has hosted the Games twice before, both times in Winnipeg. It will be the first time the Games will be held in Toronto.
Olson has been named one of the event service host leaders at the Pan Am Games. She'll be working at the Exhibition Center in Toronto during the Games. She's also formed a Facebook group for the people volunteering at the same location.
Born in North Bay, Olson and her family moved away when she was 10. She moved back to her hometown in 1997 to raise her family.
When she saw the commercial for the Pan Am Games on television, it sealed her decision to apply as a volunteer.
“"I’ve been involved in sports all through my life. I’ve watched every Olympic game, summer and winter…the commercial on TV inspired me,” she admitted.
She learned that her application for volunteering was accepted on New Year’s Eve.
“I did a Pan Am dance in my house,” Olson shared, laughing.
This past weekend, Olson was in Toronto, attending a leadership training session as well as a meet-and-greet with other volunteers.
There are 41 countries involved with the Pan Am Games. For Olson, being able to see the diversity in people is a delight.
“It’s multicultural, that was a big thing for me. There’s a big multicultural atmosphere in Toronto,” she said. “I’m proud to represent North Bay. I went down for the meet and greet I had with my group on Friday. I brought down some North Bay pins.”
It’s a common thing for volunteers to exchange pins representing their countries during the Games. Olson was provided North Bay pins from the mayor’s office as well as Ontario pins from Vic Fedeli’s office. She hopes to return home after the Games with many pins from other volunteers.
Olson has also been encouraging her son, a college student, to apply for volunteering. There are openings still available for volunteers.
The Games will accept up to 26,000 volunteers and even offer benefits for students.
“One advantage if they’re in high school is they’ll get their 40 (required volunteer) hours. If they’re in college or university, they get a reduction on their OSAP,” Olson said.
The reduction is offered as two separate benefits. Students who are starting full-time classes in the Fall term will be able to waive their pre-study contribution (the wages collected from a summer job). For students about to graduate, they would receive a one-year grace period (instead of six months) before needing to repay their student loan.
The tickets for the opening ceremonies have already sold out but volunteers have the opportunity to attend. The Cirque du Soleil will be performing at the opening ceremonies.
The list of names for North Bay torchbearers will be released in April.
If you're interested in applying as a volunteer, you can do so at the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am website.
For students interested in learning more about the OSAP benefits, the information is posted at the OSAP website.
The Games take place every four years, in the year preceding the Summer Olympics. The countries involved are from North and South America.
The motto for the Games is “United we play,” a line translated into every language associated with the countries attending.
Pachi, the 2015 Pan Am Games' mascot, is a porcupine designed by four friends from the Buttonville Public School in Markham, Ont. His 41 quills represent the 41 countries who attend the Games. The colours of Pachi's quills symbolize youth, passion, collaboration, determination and creativity. PHOTO BY CHRISTINE ROY
