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Why should people care about the Olympic Torch Run?
It's a rare and exciting opportunity to see the Olympic Torch that will be part of lighting the cauldron in Vancouver. Everybody should come out and see it. The Olympics aren't around very often in Canada. It's been a number of years since 1988, so it gives people a chance to be part of the Olympics. It's not B.C.'s Olympics, it's all of Canada's.
How time-consuming has its organization been for you lately?
It's been very time consuming. But we have a great committee that's been assisting me as well, so we're getting everything put together. It's coming along well. It's a big event and we have a number of areas we are allowed to organize and the Vancouver Organizing Committee also assists us in organizing our event.
Where does the Brandon committee pick up the torch and when does it leave it?
We pick it up when it comes in from Shilo at 5:45 p.m. and it will begin its route around Brandon. It goes all the way up First Street to Richmond, over to Eighteenth Street and then down Eighteenth to the Discovery Centre where our community celebration will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 8.
How much will you be watching the Olympic Games?
A fair bit. I'm a big sports fan and I like the competition of the Olympics.
Anything in particular?
Hockey, for sure.
What kind of a beverage do you need to start the day?
A French vanilla cappuccino.
What are some of the different jobs you've had with the city over the last couple of years?
I've been around the city for just under two years. When I first started, I was part of the community strat(egic) plan, but now I'm more focused on recreation and recreation facilities . . . organizing the torch, helping out with management of the Wheat City Golf Course, assisting in the building of several baseball diamonds, a senior baseball diamond down by Andrews Field, some softball diamonds, a number of the recreation hubs that we've built in the past. We'll be building another one in 2010 in Westridge and Linden Lanes.
What big changes do you have in store for the Wheat City Golf Course?
We'd like to build on the success that we had at the end of the 2009 season, with the fully automated irrigation system. The city of Brandon's going to manage the course 100 per cent, so we'll be looking for a restaurant operator. Big changes. We're looking at doing a few new greens next year. A number of maintenance jobs.
What greens will you be rebuilding?
That has to be decided yet. No. 1 for sure. We're looking at . . . we obviously need a new practice putting green out front. Hopefully it will be down where it used to be. Couple other greens, couple other scenarios we're looking at.
What's the busiest time of the year for you?
All the time of the year. In the golf off-season, we have a number of tenders going out, planning projects for spring, as soon as the snow gets off the ground. There's lots going on.
So there's not really a stretch in the year when you can look forward to a breather?
Not really. It's pretty hectic. If it's not my job, it's coaching volleyball in the city or dealing with my kids.
What electronic gadget can you not do without?
BlackBerry.
If you were a condemned man asked to order his last meal, what would it be?
Pizza. Pepperoni and bacon.
What's the last best movie you saw?
The Hangover.
Where are you going on your next vacation?
We're taking the kids and family to Calgary and Edmonton because I'm a huge (New Jersey) Devils fan and one of my sons is a huge Devils fan, so we're going to watch them play the Flames and Oilers at the start of March.
How did you become a Devils fan?
Back in the day, I don't know. I just liked them. I guess because they were such a Mickey Mouse organization, that's what Gretzky called them. I kind of liked them since then and then they kind of built some momentum and now I have a brother-in-law who lives down in New Jersey, so I've seen a number of games there. (Goalie Martin) Brodeur has proven he's the best.
He's going to be starting for Canada in the Olympics, right?
I believe so. I think so. I hope so.
Where should Brandon people go to make sure they get a good Olympic Torch experience?
Either on the route or just come down to the community celebration. There will be lots of fun, lots going on, entertainment. Interactive displays, free food. Lots of parking down there. Warmup buses if it's cold. So it will be a great celebration to showcase all of Brandon and southwestern Manitoba to the world and Canada.
It's never cold in January, is it?
No, never. Not at all.
