Volunteer Drive Kick Off for Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games
On Sunday, March 17, the Directors and Chairs from the Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games Society will be out in the community to kick off the drive to recruit over 2500 volunteers to help deliver an exceptional sport and cultural event from July 17 to 21, 2024.
“In February, I led a delegation of Directors from our community to attend the Lhtako Quesnel 2024 BC Winter Games. From the moment that we were picked up by the volunteer drivers at the Prince George airport we saw the importance of incredible community ambassadors to ensure that every aspect of the athletic competition and logistics were delivered with excellence and community pride,” said Laura Butler, President of the Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games Society.
“Here in Maple Ridge, we will be recruiting over 2500 volunteers across all our areas of the Games operation from registration, accommodation, sport support, food services, logistics, special events, and a host of other positions. What we saw in Quesnel was how the energy, expertise and enthusiasm of the volunteers helped ensure that the youth athletes and the coaches and officials had a first-rate competition. We’re recruiting ‘Team Maple Ridge’ to welcome over 3000 athletes, coaches and officials to our community from July 17 to 21 of this year.
“Look for the blue jackets with the BC Summer Games logo at local grocery stores and community centres from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Sunday, March 17 as we launch our ‘Team Maple Ridge’ drive to secure over 2500 volunteers to deliver the 2024 BC Summer Games,” said Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games Director of Participant & Volunteer Services, Heidi Einhorn.
She continued, “We’ll be available to answer questions about volunteer roles and we’ll be handing out information with a QR code that takes you to the online volunteer registration at www.bcsummergames.ca where you can sign up to join Team Maple Ridge.”
‘Team Maple Ridge’ will consist of over 2500 volunteers across a variety of roles that will draw on the expertise and interests of our community members. The earlier that people sign up, the more that the local Directors and Chairs will be able to connect people with roles that suit their interests and availability.
During the time in Quesnel, the Maple Ridge delegation saw volunteers serving in such diverse roles as guest services/hosts/ambassadors, promoting the Games and taking photos at the events/reporting/social media, food preparation and services, accommodation coordination, medical services, fundraising and sponsorship recognition, event set-up/take down and support, venue security, sport support/equipment procurement/support, and transportation support (courtesy drivers, parking management, traffic control).
“As we visited venues and met with volunteers, we saw how people of different backgrounds and experience were working together to handle so many aspects of the Games. We met retired military veterans who were bringing their logistics expertise to work in the background, home cooks who were helping serve all the meals, youth volunteers who wanted to gain valuable experience for future jobs as well as service club members who decided to invest their time to ensure that the youth athletes had a positive experience,” noted Laura Butler. “It was inspiring, and I was struck by the pride that everyone we interacted with had in their community. I also noted that people were making new friends and new connections which made for a joyful event. I think that one of the big legacies of the Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games will be this incredible family of volunteers in our community when the Games end.”
The Games Directors and Chairs look forward to seeing you on Sunday, March 17 and at community events and facilities around the City in the coming weeks as we recruit Team Maple Ridge! Be a 2024 BC Summer Games volunteer. Sign up today at www.bcsummergames.ca.
