Do you like the new header on the blog? It’s in honor of an incredible opportunity. Metro Vancouver is a group of 22 municipalities in the greater Vancouver area who have come together to attract business investment to the region. One of their programs involves bringing qualified businesses to see the best that Vancouver, BC has to offer – in this case, the Olympic games. Otion, our retail store, would be a great fit in Vancouver or any of the surrounding areas. After an application process, Metro Vancouver invited me, my husband and 18 other qualified businesses to see some of the Olympic events and learn about what Vancouver, BC has to offer the business community. My husband runs Fiberglass Structural Engineering and he’s getting a lot of great information and contacts from this experience as well.
We arrived via bus last night at 6 pm and immediately headed out to LiveCity for a reception. Many bankers, lawyers and representatives from all of the major cities in and around Vancouver, BC were there. It was an opportunity for all the visitors to learn more about the region, talk about the opportunities here and discuss how we can work together in the future. And, in a totally incredible coincidence, the 13-year-old-daughter of the Deputy Mayor for Vancouver is a soapmaker! We were able to talk soap and entrepreneurship and I’m hoping to interview her daughter for the Soap Queen blog.
A huge highlight of the reception was meeting Ruky Abdulai,an Olympic athlete representing Canada in Track ‘n’ Field (most recently the High Jump in Beijing). She is training for the Heptathlon in London 2012. Her personality was warm, funny and she told us that she trains 5 hours per day (wow!). It was an honor to meet her.
I'm behind, but I love the header! And awesome that you got to see Team USA win! So cool!
Thats fun. [:
We have sooooo much fun yesterday (Yes, Harriet, the Holland House was CRAZY with happy people and Staci, the high jumper was so tall and beautiful – she was breathtaking!) and now I'm organizing and uploading some of the photos to this Flickr set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brambleberry/sets/72157623342912353/
and I really want to get a blog started before I have to run to our first 10 a.m. business meeting… =)
Funny to read that you will visit the Holland Heineken House. I am from Holland and hear from everyone, that it must be a great experience. Please say hello from me to our famous singer Marco Borsato. His songs are great! It is even more fun in the Holland Heineken House when the dutch speedskaters have won a medall (like Sven Kramer). Enjoy the dutch hospitality.
YOU MET AN OLYMPIC FEMALE HIGH JUMPER!!!!! I'M SO JEALOUS!!!!!
http://www.raceberryjam.com/archives/NCODWMN00.HTM#19 (I'm #3)
What a sweet opportunity for you!!! Have fun and thanks for including us in your journey!
I am so glad that I can live vicariously through you! You have the most wonderful adventures, Anne-Marie! Thank you for sharing them with all of us 🙂
Welcome to our home province. We're further up on the coast (Sunshine Coast) and I'm glad you're enjoying your visit to our wonderful province…..
Cheers
Malaspina Soap Factory
I'll be thinking of you as I watch from my sofa! 🙂
How amazing. Vancouver looks just lovely and beautiful weather. Hope you have a fabulous time.
Great to see you visited my province. I consider Vancouver my neighbour as I go over often as I'm a ferry ride away on Vancouver Island. I was there the first day of the games so I know how electric and exciting the city is this time of year.
Otion store in "Vanny town"…just another reason to visit! 😀 Thanks for sharing photos!
Wow! Have fun there!
yay Anne Marie! What a great opportunity! Have fun! Looks like you got the famous Canada Olymics Mittens! 🙂
Shannon
What a fantastic opportunity, so glad you got the chance to enjoy it. I love the photo of Vancouver's coast. What a lovely place, the weather looks awesome and I love the clear sky.
Speaking as a Vancouverite…
I would *love* to see an Otion store here! That would be absolutely awesome.