Information about the 2010 Winter Olympics might make it to Squamish with a bit more speed and clarity now that the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) has hired a local resident as its communications specialist.Locally-raised resident John French has been hired as the community and media relations officer for VANOC, to work with a team of Olympic spokespersons. Part of his responsibilities will include fostering positive relationships with stakeholder groups and being a direct line of contact for the media.While French is not yet authorized to speak to media, committee spokesperson Katie Green stepped in to extol his virtues. "It was something that he was obviously an amazing candidate for," she said. French is a former on-air personality with Mountain FM. He is also a former editor and reporter with The Chief.Many Squamish residents have been vocal about their frustration over VANOC's treatment of the town, with dashed hopes over serving as a transportation hub and as media host, among other issues. It remains to be seen how locals will fare with French as a liaison. Despite his intimate connections to Squamish, it may be that the new position, which was advertised as Whistler-based, will have a primary focus on Whistler.According to the job description, French will be specifically working with the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb and the Whistler Chamber of Commerce, in addition to other Sea to Sky Corridor stakeholders.But Green said the department French is joining would not overlook Squamish."He's part of a bigger team and obviously Squamish is an important community to have represented," she said.The job was one VANOC had planned to have "coming down the pipe," she said. Sources say corridor residents can expect a slew of more hiring of this type to continue in the near future.Local residents hoping to give input on 2010 planning can speak up by attending one of VANOC's neighbourhood meetings, which take place throughout Vancouver and in Whistler and will eventually move out to communities such as Killarney and Trout Lake.Squamish and Pemberton meetings are "to be announced," according to the VANOC website.Green said information on a local meeting would be coming out in the next month or two, adding the committee first arranged meetings with communities hosting a venue, but would now be making arrangements for places like Squamish."It's just simply a matter of getting the dates finalized," she said.
