Ricker returned home this week to a congratulatory display marking her townhome's entrance, complete with Olympic rings, flags and a large "gold" medal with her name on it.
Local stores donated the materials when they heard what the community was preparing. More banners hung in windows and were strung up over driveways.
"I thought that was pretty neat," said Ricker. "There were little notes on the door from the kids from the different units. Everybody has been really nice and supportive. It was definitely a nice way to come back home."
The entire country erupted in celebration when Maëlle Ricker won Olympic gold, but her victory did more than draw Canadians to the streets of downtown Vancouver.
In Ricker's new Greenside Estates townhouse complex on northern Tantalus Road, her neighbours were discovering a reason to come together after years of keeping mostly to themselves.
The normally quiet neighbourhood, which has a mix of retirees, young families and single residents, was suddenly buzzing as soon as Ricker crossed the finish line at Cypress Mountain. Attitudes suddenly changed from somewhat guarded to all out jovial, as banners and flags began popping up all over the 60-home neighbourhood.
Ricker's success generated a special warmth in the community that had been missing ever since people started moving into the new development just a few years ago, according to Jason Medcraft.
"From my perspective, this could not have come at a better time," said Medcraft, who has lived at Greenside Estates for about two years. "It sent a wave of excitement through the complex and people are now really keen to know each other."
One window decorated with a banner marks the home of Valerie Mills, Ricker's former Grade 12 biology teacher.
Mills said she has followed Ricker's career ever since watching her first Olympic competitions in Nagano in 1998. Mills, now retired from teaching at West Vancouver's Sentinel Secondary, said she always had a hunch Ricker would go on to do great things.
"I think she kind of surprised people, but even in high school you could tell that she was going to be a success," she said. "She was always committed. Whatever she set out to do she did it as hard and as well as she could."
Ricker's neighbours are hosting a private celebratory dinner tonight (March 5). It will be the neighbourhood's first major event as a community, said Medcraft.
"People have something in common now that they never had before. This is a fantastic excuse to become a better, smaller group of people. And it will just spill outwards."
The neighbourhood residents weren't the only locals to honour Ricker since her gold medal win.
Although the District of Squamish is postponing its official Olympian celebration until after all athletes have returned from the World Cup tour in April, Ricker and another Squamish Olympian, Rob Fagan, who placed fifth in his snowboarder cross event, were awarded two more medals -this time from their hometown.
The athletes dropped by the Whistler Canada Olympic House on Tuesday, Feb. 23 during an economic development conference co-hosted by the District of Squamish.
"I'd love to talk about the Sea to Sky Corridor," said Ricker after being prompted by Mayor Greg Gardner while at the podium.
"It's an absolutely amazing place to live. We do a lot of training out of Squamish year around. It's a perfect location - right in the heart of the mountains, right in between Whistler and Vancouver. The outdoor recreation is great and the arts and culture in the area is fantastic. I know all the athletes just love living there, having a great time and we're really thankful for all the support from the communities."
Fagan echoed the sentiment.
"I've been in Squamish now for four years," he said. "I moved to Squamish because it has so much to offer, and I'm definitely going to keep on living here."
Fagan said the Olympics were far a better experience than he anticipated, and to see how locals got into the Games made them all the better.
"Pretty much any thoughts I had about the Olympics previous are blown out of the water for sure," he said. "This is amazing, especially for my hometown, to see everyone dressed up red - I love it. It's so exciting."
