PolyJohn Canada Helps for Vancouver 2010
Over 6000 athletes and officials from over 80 different countries met PolyJohn Canada in Vancouver at the 2010 Olympics held between February 12th and 21st. Olympians and Para-Olympians, along with family, friends and fans of the games were supported by 1500 PJN3’s and 200 Comfort Inn’s in blue pewter, evergreen and aqua. The process of preparing for an event of this magnitude was long and at times frustrating says general manager Jake Groen, but well worth all the effort to be a part of Olympic History.
The initial meetings with the Olympic committee began in September 2007. The order was a tall one and many details had to be ironed out well in advance of the games. In September of 2009 the signed contract finally crossed Groen’s desk and immediately a strategically placed house and shop with an assembly yard was acquisitioned in Squamish B.C. so that assembly could begin. Located beside Carney’s waste, half way between Whistler and Vancouver city; the location was perfect for a central position from which to co-ordinate the job. Comfort Inn’s came from PolyJohn Portland, fully assembled, which aided in the process. With parts coming from Orillia Ontario, Crossfield Alberta, Indiana and Portland USA, synchronization of the orders became crucial in completing all pre-game preparations. With a crew of 4 to 6 people assembly was completed by November 15th, 2009. Groen was happy with this as the Olympic contract stipulated that starting in December delivery of the units to the 25 specific venues’s needed to begin. All units needed to be delivered and in place by February 5, 2010. The skiers were not the only ones biting their nails waiting for the snow to arrive. No unit could be delivered into a ski area until the snow was in place.
Our loyal employee’s were away from home for a long time (some as long as 9 months); to ensure that things were ready for the big event. Our people were there when a toilet trailer experienced technical difficulties and organizer’s needed more units. Our quick response team allowed the doping procedures to continue without further delays. Not only were toilets in place on schedule but the 90 heated Bravo sinks, the 25 foam style Sani Stands and the 15 300 gallon tanks and containment trays plus 9 mini flush units were all ready for the games to begin.
It was very exciting to be a part of history! The second stage of our contract dictated that we needed to remove all the units from the venues immediately after the games. As of April 2010 the house in Squamish is empty and the fleet of pick-up trucks and trailers from McKee Farm trailers has been parked. The dust has settled and things are getting back to a state of pre-game normal.
Honorable mentions go out to our incredible staff, customers and support personal without whom none of this would have been possible.
…and the gold medals go to…
- All the personnel from both the Orillia and Crossfield service centers
- Levada Thurlbeck who spent months under mounds of paperwork!
- Norma Fisher who kept all our figures straight!
- Ted Hoover and his right hand man Mark Kelly
- Mike Adams from PolyJohn USA
- David Wall from PolyJohn Portland
- Ron & Jamie Jackson
- Bill Southern… from Southern Septic
- Jerry…from Alberta Porta Podi
- Paul and Pat…from Carney’s Waste
- Keith and Laurie…from Georgian Bay Sanitation
- Rob and Rick…from Pitstop
- Jay..from Supersave
Thank you all for helping us own the podium!
Posted on April 27th