Do you remember all those pitches from VANOC asking for the good people of Squamish to open their homes and their hearts to the world?
For VANOC, it was simply a way of dealing with the multitudes of people coming to the Sea to Sky Corridor to work, volunteer, and spectate. Squamish's proximity to the WOP (Whistler Olympic Park) in the Callaghan Valley made it an ideal alternative to the over-priced, over-crowded environs of Whistler.
And the burghers of Squamish did accommodate. Many people welcomed volunteers, friends and family. Many others - like me - rented homes or rooms within their homes.
I responded to a request from the Canadian cross country team for reasonably-priced accommodation for family of the Canadian cross country team, so we have six people spending 10 days at our home. It was a good deal for everyone.
Well, it was until last week when VANOC released its transportation plan from Squamish. Now it looks like the real Olympic effort will have to be made by these poor visitors to Squamish as they try to make their way to the Callaghan.
Here's VANOC solution to transportation from Squamish: If you are going to an event and a resident of Squamish, or if you are going to an event with a resident of Squamish, you can jump onto a dedicated WOP shuttle bus.
If not -that is if your hosts are not attending the event or you happen to be staying in a hotel in town or you are renting a private residence - you are condemned to take BC Transit to the bus stop in the Business Park, take a transit bus to Whistler and then catch a shuttle back to the WOP. Anticipate time for travel: between three and four hours each way!
So the people staying at my house, who are travelling with a seven and a nine-year-old and have one member of their party with a disability will be spending up to 40 hours in transit for their five days in the Callaghan.
This to support their niece who competes for Canada.
Having waited until three weeks before the Games to announce this, VANOC has left everyone with few options. Can my guests find accommodation elsewhere now that may provide better transportation options? Will VANOC change its plans? Who knows, but I'm not waiting.
Although VANOC doesn't know how to play host, I'm going to try. I've secured a highway pass for these folks and I'm busily contacting anyone I know in Whistler to see if they have parking spot available.
I'm also checking to see if anyone in Squamish travelling to the WOP is willing to embrace these people as their guests so they can jump on the shuttle.
In fact, I think all Squamish locals going to events should find at least one out-of-towner (and preferably more given there is no limit to the number of guests one has) and invite them on as a guest.
If we want people staying in Squamish to have a good Olympic experience, we'll have to take care of it ourselves.
God knows we can't count on VANOC.
