No Holiday for Holliday at the Games
The Daily Courier ( Vernon
)
Wed 10 Dec 2008
Page: A1 / FRONT
Section: News
Byline: Roy Siojo
Source: Special to The Daily Courier
With thanks to Rod MacLeod for passing this along.
When the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics unfold, Vernon can boast that one of its local residents will be in the midst of it all making sure that the games run safely and smoothly.
Bruce Holliday will serve as chief of race for all of the women's alpine ski events at the 2010 Games.
"As chief of race working with the International Ski Federation, I'm tasked to oversee the course preparation including the set-up of safety installations, course maintenance, scheduling, timing systems and volunteers," he said.
His role of chief of race has evolved over a 20-year span: first participating at club races, then zone and regional events, finally leading up to international-level events as an organizer.
"After moving to Vernon from Alberta , I became a coach with 11- to 14-year-olds, and then became a volunteer coach as my sons started and progressed through ski racing. Moving through various volunteer executive positions at a club, then provincial level enhanced my knowledge and thus experience. Today, I am involved at a national and international level," said Holliday.
In his "other life," Holliday works as an electrical safety officer with the B.C. Safety Authority (BCSA), serving Vernon and the surrounding area. The authority is responsible for public technical safety, regulating seven areas including electrical installations and systems.
Balancing family life, a working career and being a volunteer has been a challenge for Holliday who performs several daily inspections, and meets with electrical contractors and homeowners.
"With a very understanding employer and supportive family, it has made it a lot easier. In recent years, having an employer demonstrate the same kind of support and understanding has made achieving this present level of involvement a reality," he said.
Safety is a constant theme with both his work and his involvement in the sport.
"With the B.C. Safety Authority, we are very passionate about accident prevention and it's the same thing with the sport: you teach athletes to ski and perform to their ultimate, thus safety becomes paramount in making the conditions as safe as possible. With the 2010 Games, we are making sure that all the safety systems are in place," said Holliday.
The B.C. Safety Authority is also involved in the Olympics in other major ways, he said, playing a major role approving and inspecting the installation and operation of gas and electrical systems in the new Olympic venues, boilers, the refrigeration systems for the arenas, elevators and escalators, as well as ski lifts.
Holliday has the added enjoyment of sharing the 2010 Olympic experience with his family.
His wife, Sandy, has earned the role of race administrator and his two sons, Cody and Brady, now in their 20s, have been appointed for assistant crew chief roles at the games.
