Two Golden Horseshoe Orienteering members that are making a difference at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics by helping people not get lost at the Olympics. GHO Treasuer, Dave Grant, is putting his logistics and navigation skills to work in what is a very   important volunteer position at the Olympics -Transportation Coordinator for VANOC at the Main Media Centre! And check out what Chris Piller was responsible for...

In the summer of 2008 Chris Piller, a member of Golden Horseshoe Orienteering and World Cup orienteering racer for Canada, saw his dream job posted online.

It stated "DO SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY FOR CANADA & THE WORLD". The organizers of Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games (VANOC) VANOC needed a map layout specialist to help prepare the thousands of maps for internal and public use at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.  He applied and with his diverse orienteering, GIS and map making skill set he was hired. "I've spent the past 15 months in my dream job.  Maps, graphic design, Olympics and Canada's jewel of the west coast ...Vancouver" says Piller. 

With two large teams dedicated to producing the many venue CAD drawings and the GIS based transportation maps for the organizing committee, the seemingly insurmountable task of producing all public facing and branded maps fell upon a GHO member.  "I was challenged with deciphering any and all CAD and GIS figures and making them accessible for the lay person, publication specific ready, and on brand with our 2010 "look", states Piller.  "Fifteen months ago I was saying it would be an impossibility, but with my head down for the entire period I've conquered my way through 300+ figures, drawings and maps, finishing up just last Friday.  Each product requiring meeting upon meeting with sport managers, venue managers, sponsorship representatives, etc., etc., over every dot of ink placed on their maps.  Despite the insanity and pressures ...I loved every moment of it." he adds.

With all of his figures now complete and in place for the games to begin, he has shifted roles and will have an entirely different perspective on the games, taking on the role of a Event Services supervisor at Pacific Coliseum, which host Short Track Speed Skating and Figure Skating.  "Maybe I'll catch a glimpse of Patrick Chan using one of my maps and I can gently point out that it is best to orientate the map to north".

"Over the next few short weeks, which are sure to pass in a blur, it will all come to an end and I will begin my journey back to Southern Ontario" says Piller. But with just over five years to the Toronto and Hamilton hosted PANAM Games could Chris be back working in his dream job again soon as 2015 Pan Am Games map layout specialist?

Some of the over 300 maps and figures that Chris Piller and his team were responsible for in preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics.