As the world gears up for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, we at UBC Forestry remember our significant role in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games.
In October 2009, the Ministry of Forests and the Vancouver 2010 Olympics Organizing Committee (VANOC) approached our Centre for Advanced Wood Processing (CAWP) with a unique challenge. They needed us to fabricate and process the wooden pieces required to build 23 Olympic podiums and 100 medal trays.
The journey to creating the iconic Olympic podiums and medal trays was a testament to the dedication, innovation, and collaboration of our faculty.
The Design
Our cutting-edge machinery and expertise made us the ideal choice for this complex project.
The late Leo Obstbaum designed the podiums to tell the unique story of British Columbia’s mountains and coasts. Each podium was built from one of 18 different wood types, harvested and donated by communities, First Nations, companies and individuals from across B.C. Fourteen were built from wood donated by community forests, two from family-run woodlots, two from cities, six from businesses, and five from First Nations.
Communities as small as the Cheslatta Carrier Nation, with a population of 325 at the time, came together to contribute timber for this enormous project. At that time, B.C.’s forests were severely impacted by the mountain pine beetle infestation. Certain podiums featured the unique blue stain caused by the beetles, illustrating the story of B.C.’s forests.
The podiums ranged from 480cm to 1525 cm in length, 170 to 500 cm in depth and 30 to 60 cm in height. The lightest podium, built of Western Red Cedar, weighed approximately 200 kilograms. Each podium was assembled from more than 200 wooden pieces.
The CAWP Team
Vincent Leung, the current Program Director of the Wood Products major in the BSc. Natural Resources program, was a crucial part of the effort to make the podiums in 2009 and 2010.
Leung recalls that some of the future podium pieces were still standing while they were processing others.
“I am immensely proud to have been a part of this incredible project, as the 2010 Winter Olympics were undoubtedly a highlight for Vancouver,” Leung said. “This project allowed us to showcase the cutting-edge machinery and innovative design in the woodworking industry.”
The project was a major undertaking for the CAWP team of less than ten people, but their determination and hours of work made the massive effort possible.
Jason Chiu, current managing director of the CAWP recalls that team members worked through Christmas day, and some stayed working past midnight during production.
Most Canadians remember exactly where they were when Sidney Crosby scored the famous ‘Golden Goal.’ Leung was here at CAWP, fabricating pieces needed for the Paralympic podiums. The TV where he watched the Golden Goal still sits here as a piece of history, 14 years later.
The Lucky Loonie
The entire nation celebrated as Canada’s ice hockey teams brought home the gold medals. However, few people knew about the lucky charm that might have made the difference.
In 2002, Canada’s Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey teams brought home the gold from the Salt Lake City Olympic Games. At these games, a legendary Canadian tradition began with a lucky loonie placed under the ice. The CAWP team decided to continue this tradition, placing a loonie in the podium created for the gold medal game.
A Testament of Innovation
Our contribution to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics remains a proud chapter in our history.
The podiums serve as a remarkable testament to the dedication and innovation at CAWP and UBC Forestry. The team’s unwavering commitment was evident as they worked through holidays and long hours to ensure the project’s success.
The inclusion of Canada’s “Lucky Loonie” added a unique and symbolic element to their work. This behind-the-scenes dedication exemplifies the hard work and passion essential to the success of the Olympic Games. It leaves a lasting legacy and sets a high standard for future events.
Centre for Advanced Wood Processing
The Centre for Advanced Wood Processing (CAWP) is Canada’s national centre for education, training and technical assistance for the wood products manufacturing industry. CAWP offers a wide range of training courses, professional e-learning programs, in-plant training, product development, and manufacturing improvement services. CAWP conducts and coordinates applied research and development while supporting the award-winning B.Sc. in Natural Resources, Wood Products major and its cooperative education program.