Mission Staff problem solve to ensure logistical support for Team Canada

Planning and support for the entire Team Canada delegation of 130 strong can be a gigantic ordeal. Tasked to lead the logistical nightmare is Assistant Chef de Mission Joe Morissette. For over a year now Joe has traveled to Harbin on a pre-games visit to ensure his comfort level of our accommodations and competition site meet expectations, he has made contacts with our hosts the Harbin Universiade Committee, to ensure logistical and technical aspects for our athletes, coaches, sport medicine staff, and mission staff well prior to the games met his expectations to ensure a smooth operation come arrival of our team next week. At home arranging a uniform sponsor (Russell) to suit the team, liasoning with team leaders and national sport organizations to ensure athlete registration, working with the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa to process passport visa applications, and of course answering the many questions that come across his desk including dress code beyond the team uniform, parent accommodation suggestions, and yes the question asked most "Can you get tickets to the sold out Opening ceremonies?" The last question mentioned for the record is probably the only item that Joe has been unable to solve, yet to be fair, he has no control of tickets. By the time we got ticket info the ceremonies were sold out.
In the CIS office our Deputy Chef Frank Boyer is an octopus, juggling multiple tasks and projects required to ensure that athlete uniforms are delivered prior to departure to the athletes, office equipment, communication devices, and office supplies are boxed crated and air freighted to Harbin in a timely and cost effective manner. Allison Tovell our Medical Clinic Manager is in charge of ensuring therapy tables, modality ultrasound equipment, tape, medical supplies, and especially Hot packs (for frigid Harbin) is packed, shipped and waiting for the mission staff to set up prior to the arrival of our athletes.
People talk about the "Olympic Effort" well these professionals are gold medalists with respect to ensuring no detail has been left out and all the support required to ensure that all athletes and coaches have the necessary support for them to compete at thier personal best is on-site. The experience all athletes will soon embark on will be in part to the meticulous planning, hard work, and dedication of those in our CIS International Office. This work often goes without notice or thanks, but without their efforts the student-athlete experience would not be what we know will soon be a lifetime of memories of Harbin!

Bevan and Ironside Laurier Represent Team Canada in Hockey

Wilfrid Laurier University's Andrea Ironside (Collingwood, Ont.), and Golden Hawk Captain Andrea Bevan(Collingwood, Ont.), will be traveling to China as members of Canada's first Women's Hockey Team to compete at the FISU 2009 Winter Universiade, to be held from February 18-28th. (Note to self make sure you don't use your blackberry to take photos) The two Andreas' along with their other CIS Teammates may have to wait 20 or 30 years to have the perspective of looking back into the past to appreciate their accomplishment of making Canada's first FISU Games Women's hockey team and their experience they are this about to embark on come this Sunday. This will be Ironside's first time to put on the Maple Leaf Red and White jersey while Bevan had the opportunity to play on the Canadian under 22 Gold medal winning team in 2008 held in Germany. For now packing, medical booster shots, school work, practice and one more league game at Queen's on Friday prior to the long flight to Beijing then finally to Harbin (population 9 million, Temperature average in February -21 Celcius). In Harbin, our Canadian Mission staff will welcome the weary travelers, prior to a welcome ceremony by our Canadian Ambassador to China in the Athlete's village. The excitement and anticipation is gaining momentum!

Team Canada 2009 Universiade, Harbin China Welcome

Message from Team Canada’s Chef de Mission

Earning the privilege to represent and compete for Team Canada and Canadian University Sport in Harbin, China at the 2009 Winter Universiade is indeed, an outstanding achievement. Congratulations! The opportunity to measure your skills, talents, and personal goals amongst the World’s best student-athletes will truly be a lifetime experience. Take full advantage, by getting to know your fellow team mates, celebrating their successes, as well as enjoying the multicultural life within the village and the culture of Harbin.

Investing in People is the goal that our Team Canada Mission staff of coaches, managers, therapists, doctors and administrators is focused on. They are a team of dedicated professionals chosen to support, assist, and care for you and your Canadian team mates to ensure performance excellence and a lifetime of memories.

Thank you to the Organizing Committee and the citizens of Harbin for extending such gracious hospitality to the Canadian Team during the 2009 Winter Universiade. We look forward to the many educational experiences you will support by hosting this premier international university sport competition. The role that many have played in this investment in youth around the world is to be celebrated. Thank you.

On behalf of our entire mission staff, we wish all of you the best in your pursuit of personal growth through excellence at Harbin 2009.

Sincerely,

Peter Baxter

Chef de Mission