reflecting canada’s linguistic duality at the 2010 olympic
and paralympic winter games: a golden opportunity

Follow-up to the Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages 

The Honourable Maria Chaput, Chair
The Honourable Andrée Champagne, P.C., Vice-Chair

June 2008

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MEMBERSHIP

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the standing senate committee on official languages

39^th Parliament, 2^nd Session 

The Honourable Maria Chaput, Chair
The Honourable Andrée Champagne, P.C., Deputy Chair 

and 

The Honourable Senators: 

Gerald J. Comeau
Pierre De Bané, P.C.
Yoine Goldstein
*Céline Hervieux-Payette, P.C. (or Claudette Tardif)
*Marjory LeBreton, P.C. (or Gerald Comeau)
Rose-Marie Losier-Cool
Lowell Murray, P.C.
Marie-P. Poulin (Charette)
Claudette Tardif

*Ex officio members 

Other Senators who have participated from time to time on this study:
The Honourable Senators Corbin, Dallaire, Keon, Kinsella, Munson and Ringuette 

Analysts from the Parliamentary Information and
Research Service of the Library of Parliament:

Tanya Dupuis
Élise Hurbutise-Loranger 

Committee Clerk:
Eric Jacques 

Committee Assistant:
Louise Archambeault

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ORDER OF REFERENCE

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 Extract from the Journals of the Senate, Tuesday, November 20, 2007: 

The Honourable Senator Chaput moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Merchant:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages be authorized to study and to report from time to time on the application of the Official Languages Act and of the regulations and directives made under it, within those institutions subject to the Act;

That the Committee be authorized to study the reports and papers produced by the Minister of Official Languages, the President of the Treasury Board, the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Commissioner of Official Languages as well as any other material concerning official languages;

That papers and evidence received and taken during the First Session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament be referred to the Committee; and

That the Committee report from time to time to the Senate but no later than December 31, 2008, and that the Committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until March 31, 2009.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Paul C. Bélisle
Clerk of the Senate

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On November 20, 2007, your committee was authorized by the Senate to study and to report from time to time on the application of the Official Languages Act and of the regulations and directives made under it, within those institutions subject to the Act.  In accordance with the Order of Reference and to follow up the report it tabled in March 2007, your committee hereby wishes to submit a follow-up report. 

BACKGROUND 

During the 39th Parliament, your Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages conducted a study on the consideration of the official languages in the organization of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver and Whistler.  In the fall of 2006, your committee met with most of the partners involved in organizing the Games during public hearings held in Ottawa and Vancouver.  The study had three goals:  

1.      Identify how the various partners take the official languages into consideration in organizing the Olympic and Paralympic Games, especially as regards:  promotion of the event, conferences, press releases, greeting the public, services to passengers at Vancouver International Airport, signage in the city and at the site of athletic events, translation of documents and Web sites, competition results, etc.  

2.      Identify how the various partners, including the Government of Canada, foster the vitality of official language minority communities, especially the Francophone community of British Columbia. 

3.      Make recommendations to the various partners, including the Government of Canada, to ensure that the official languages are considered in the organization of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

In March 2007, your committee released its report, Reflecting Canada’s Linguistic Duality at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games: A Golden Opportunity, in which it made 10 recommendations.  In the summer of 2007, the government responded to the committee’s recommendations. 

While it is encouraged by the efforts of the various partners involved in organizing the Games, your committee wishes to note the work that remains to be done.  As established by your committee in its first report, it is essential that linguistic duality be reflected at the Vancouver and Whistler Games.  This follow-up report therefore states the committee’s firm intention to monitor this issue very closely until 2010.
 

TESTIMONY 

Your committee would like to thank the individuals who agreed to testify before it.  However, it is disappointed that it was unable to hear the Bell Globemedia/Rogers Media consortium.  The consortium had testified before your committee in 2007 but declined the most recent invitation to appear before the committee because of the uncertainty surrounding the future of the TQS network.  Consequently, the issue of broadcasting could not be addressed with them, and your committee was not able to follow up the seventh recommendation in its first report.  Your committee therefore undertakes to re-examine the issue in the fall. 

On April 14, 2008, your committee heard ministers Emerson and Verner, representatives of the Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver (VANOC), representatives of the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique and representatives of the Fondation canadienne pour le dialogue des cultures in order to follow up the committee’s report.

Your committee was able to observe again and again that the progress made by the witnesses clearly illustrates their determination and their commitment to fulfilling their linguistic obligations and promoting linguistic duality during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Your committee was especially reassured to find that Canada’s linguistic duality is part of VANOC’s organizational culture:

Our commitment is organization-wide. It is cultural. It will not be acceptable to Vancouver 2010 to deliver at 95 per cent. We have agreed to deliver at 100 per cent and we are tireless in our efforts to do this.[1] 

Your committee is also pleased to hear that the Francophone community in British Columbia is satisfied with its working relationship and cooperation with VANOC:

Our relationship with VANOC is hugely positive, and I am sure my colleague from the Fondation canadienne pour le dialogue des cultures would say the same. Our community organizations feel engaged right now, and I believe they have an opportunity to make a contribution and they want to make a contribution. They feel that these are their games, and they want to be involved and feel that they have made them the best games ever organized.[2]

 

Your committee is delighted that the key partners are continuing their efforts to collaborate in order to foster the development official language minority communities and reflect Canada’s linguistic duality in the organization of the Games.  That said, when the witnesses appeared, your committee was able to identify a number of problems in five areas and would like to put forward ideas for solving those problems. 

 

OBSERVATIONS 

1. RECRUITMENT OF BILINGUAL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

VANOC says that almost 900 positions have currently been filled.  Of those 900 employees, 25% are able to communicate effectively in both official languages.  Despite their efforts, this is down slightly from the number reported to the committee in 2006, when VANOC said that more than a third of its employees were bilingual.  Your committee realizes, however, that in order to fill all these positions, VANOC has to recruit throughout the country, and that is an onerous task.   

Your committee is pleased to hear that some positions are designated as requiring a knowledge of French:

It all depends on the position in question. Some positions require French as a basic requirement. We encourage all employees. In the case of two applicants with the same skills, we give precedence to the applicant with French skills even if the position does not require that. Positions requiring French are filled with people who have that language skill. For other positions, French is an asset.[3]

Your committee recognizes VANOC’s initiative of encouraging the hiring of bilingual employees and identifying positions which require knowledge of both official languages.  However, your committee is concerned that some key positions, such as positions involving service to the public, the media and athletes, are not staffed with bilingual people.  For example, at the time of writing, one supervisor position at the main press centre does not require knowledge of both official languages.  The person who holds that position will “supervise the main lobby and oversee the facilities and services located in the main lobby”.[4] That person, who will deal with national and international media representatives, will therefore not have to be bilingual.  That is particularly alarming.  That said, to ensure that as many Francophones as possible take part in the Games and have equal access to activities surrounding the Games, your committee recommends:

 

Recommendation 1:  

That VANOC review its internal policies to ensure that it better identifies positions which require knowledge of both official languages and that those positions be filled with bilingual staff.

 

2. APPOINTMENT OF A REPRESENTATIVE OF FRANCOPHONE COMMUNITIES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

To ensure real representation of the interests of French-speaking Canadians within VANOC, your committee feels that measures must be taken to ensure their presence where decisions are made.  Your committee is concerned that there are currently no Francophone representatives on the board of directors.  Stéphane Audet, Director General of the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique, shared his concerns about this with the committee:

It would probably be appropriate for VANOC to task a director who speaks French and has an interest in the francophonie with focusing on these official languages issues and intervening with the legitimate representatives of the francophone and Acadian communities.[5]

Your committee was nevertheless reassured to learn of the appointment of Jacques Gauthier, a representative of the Government of Canada, to VANOC’s Board of Directors.  The committee does not question his expertise or commitment, but Mr. Gauthier represents the Government of Canada, not Canada’s Francophone communities, on the board.  When Minister Emerson appeared, your committee suggested to him that an observer representing Francophone communities be appointed to the Board of Directors.  Your committee was very encouraged by Minister Emerson’s reaction to the suggestion.  Your committee would thus like to recommend: 

 

Recommendation 2: 

That an observer position by created on the Board of Directors in order to ensure representation of the Francophone community and provide Francophones with a way to monitor VANOC activities.   

Your committee also voiced its concern about the government’s response that “any move to increase the number of board members in order to benefit a particular group could be seen as a precedent that an unlimited number of other interest groups might seek to use.”   When she appeared before your committee, Deputy Minister LaRocque had the opportunity to clarify the government’s response in respect of interest groups:

First, I think that the government's approach was, among other things, that taking responsibility for both official languages was incumbent upon all committee members, all members of the board. When an individual is asked to sit on this type of board, they have a fiduciary responsibility for the overall operations of the Games.

Second, relations have been further improved through the agreements that VANOC has directly with the communities. These are privileged relationships with the communities, something that has never been seen before at the Games.

We feel that this combination is sufficient. Of course, this has to be monitored and this must never be forgotten, it is too important. However we feel we have the right mechanisms in order to ensure that the interests of the communities and the proper operation of the games in both official languages will be respected.[6] 

Your committee also welcomed the comment made by Minister Verner on the subject when she appeared before the committee: “I think this is unfortunate and does not show respect for our obligations as a government. We will ensure that this does not happen again.”[7]   

 

3. EQUITABLE ACCESS OF EQUAL QUALITY TO BROADCASTING OF THE GAMES

The limited access to broadcast coverage of the Games in French remains a very significant concern for your committee.  Your committee has observed that there is still a great deal to be done to ensure equitable access of equal quality.  Mr. Furlong made the point that this is a complicated issue.

The television issue is complicated in general. The situation is so complex because CTV is actually a partner of the IOC, and not a partner of Vancouver 2010. We all desire to have a superb outcome in television. In the last few days, we have been talking about trying to get all of the agencies and entities who have some influence in this area into a room to talk about how to solve this so we can provide the signals for the period of the Winter Olympic Games in the language people want wherever they live in the country.[8] 

Complexity aside, Mr. Furlong was confident that this could be done.  Mr. Arnal, President of the Fondation canadienne pour le dialogue des cultures, also affirmed the need to broadcast the Games in French:  

Some things remain to be confirmed, and from our perspective, it will be important to make sure that the French coverage highlights the significant number of English-speaking athletes who speak French, as well as francophone athletes from places other than Quebec, while obviously still giving Quebec athletes the coverage they deserve. I think that remains something of a concern.[9]  

On that note, your committee would like to reiterate Recommendation 7 in its first report:

 

Recommendation 3: 

That the federal government and VANOC work together with the Bell Globemedia/Rogers Media consortium to find, before
31 December 2007, a solution that guarantees equitable access that is of equal quality to 2010 Olympic Games programming for all Canadians.

 

4. HOTELS

When the committee visited Vancouver in the fall of 2006, the mayor of Vancouver proposed drawing up a list of all hotels in the city and have them ensure that they will provide French-language television programming during the Games.  Your committee made a recommendation to that effect.  Your committee observed during VANOC appearance that there is still considerable progress to me made on that front.  Minister Emerson stated:  

I understand that hotels where Olympic officials are staying, those hotels that are part of the Olympic family, will have the Olympic feed. This will be a bilingual feed and will have coverage on a series of channels of a number of different events, and it will provide for French language coverage. It is those hotels that are not part of that family of hotels where we have an issue. Mr. Furlong and I agreed that we would follow up to see what we could do with that particular problem, as well as explore some of the issues relating to the complete coverage of the games in both official languages for as much of Canada as we can possibly reach.[10] 

Mr. Furlong gave an undertaking to your committee to follow up the matter: 

I will give you an undertaking right now that we will do that. We will talk to the hotels and use whatever leverage we have to try and get them to draw down those signals and make them available to people that come here. It is a great idea.

[…]

That may sound simple, and I am sure it could be done. We are going to put as much time and effort into that as we can, and we have in the past; we would not have any credibility if we were not. We will use our influence everywhere we can to try to live up to the promise we made that we would celebrate the linguistic duality of Canada the right way, and we will.[11]

On that note, your committee would like to reiterate Recommendation 8 in its first report:

Recommendation 4:

That the federal government, in cooperation with VANOC and the municipal governments, urge hotels in Vancouver and Whistler to offer their clients access to the signal from at least one of the three French private networks (TQS, RDS or RIS) during the Games. 

Your committee also encourages the Government of Canada and VANOC to urge hotels to provide services in both official languages and publicize their bilingual capacity.  Your committee recommends: 

Recommendation 5: 

That hotels and restaurants which are able to provide services in French be clearly identified as such.   

 

5. BILINGUAL SIGNAGE

In its first report, your committee concluded that measures must be taken to provide, during the Games, bilingual signage on the major highways between the airport and the host cities, between the train station and the host cities, and between the host cities themselves.  The report stated that Canada, through VANOC, must demonstrate exemplary behaviour by agreeing to provide bilingual signage and services on the sections of major roads that will be used frequently by the travelling public during the Games.  During VANOC’s appearance, your committee heard concerns about security, health and the commercial side of the games, that is, the sponsors, bilingual menus and signage.

For these sectors, VANOC deals with third parties. As a result, there is not as much focus on official languages. In my opinion, these are the areas where their ability to intervene is lacking. That is why it is so important, as you said, to have champions in these sectors to ensure that agreements with third parties are respected when it comes to service delivery.

This means, among other things, services to athletes, health, security and the whole commercial side of things. Those are the sectors we have some concerns about.[12] 

Your committee therefore urges the partners to continue their efforts and plans to monitor the situation closely, because failing to insist that businesses to comply with the language clause is a source of concern for the committee.  On that note, your committee would like to reiterate Recommendation 10 in its first report:

 

Recommendation 6: 

That the federal government urge VANOC to make public the strategies it plans to use to encourage sponsors and private firms to provide services in both official languages, by June 2007.

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CONCLUSION  

During its visit to Vancouver in the fall of 2006, your committee saw first hand that VANOC’s efforts related to language were in the early stages.  VANOC officials had sent us their projects, plans and objectives.  Your committee was encouraged by the comments made then and is even more encouraged now.  It is perfectly clear, according to what the witnesses said, that VANOC has made remarkable headway since the committee went to Vancouver.  

Your committee is delighted with the proposal put forward by the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique to establish a Place de la francophonie on Granville Island.  Your committee applauds that initiative and calls on the Government of Canada to allocate funds to support the project, which will help promote Canada’s Francophone communities not only during the Olympic Games, but also in the years to come.  

Your committee is pleased to note that the recommendations made in 2007 were considered and used as work tools.  The committee will continue to keep close watch on preparations for the 2010 Games, in particular the arrangements made for broadcasting.  The challenges are many, but your committee is confident that VANOC and its partners will meet them and attain our common goal of reflecting Canada’s linguistic duality during the 2010 Games.  

Respectfully submitted.

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APPENDIX A – RECOMMENDATIONS AND GOVERNMENT RESPONSE 

Recommendation 1

That the federal government ensure that the COC, in selecting Canadian cities to bid on hosting the Games, require an official commitment from applicant cities to meet official languages requirements.

 

Recommendation 2 

That the federal government clarify the roles that VANOC, the Foundation, the FFCB and the Government of Quebec are to play in connection with the Games in order to promote linguistic duality and the representation of the various components of the Canadian Francophonie.

 

Recommendation 3

That the Department of Canadian Heritage recognize that there are Francophone organizations in British Columbia and that it recognize these groups and ensure that there is sufficient funding for their legitimate projects for the 2010 Games.

 

Recommendation 4

That the federal government provide information about the strategies VANOC plans to implement in order to ensure the representation of Francophone communities within the organization, by June 2007. 

 

Recommendation 5

That the federal government, in cooperation with the other partners, immediately begin to work toward the appointment of a representative from the French-language communities to the VANOC board of directors. 

 

Recommendation 6

That the federal government urge VANOC to ensure that all facets of Canada’s French-language community are represented in the programs for cultural celebrations that are held before, during and after the Games.  

 

Recommendation 7

That the federal government and VANOC work together with the Bell Globemedia/Rogers Media consortium to find, before
31 December 2007, a solution that guarantees equitable access that is of equal quality to 2010 Olympic Games programming for all Canadians. 

 

Recommendation 8

That the federal government, in cooperation with VANOC and the municipal governments, urge hotels in Vancouver and Whistler to offer their clients access to the signal from at least one of the three French private networks (TQS, RDS or RIS) during the Games.

 

Recommendation 9

That the federal government urge VANOC to install bilingual signs on the major roads linking the Vancouver International Airport, the Vancouver train station and the host cities. 

 

Recommendation 10

That the federal government urge VANOC to make public the strategies it plans to use to encourage sponsors and private firms to provide services in both official languages, by June 2007.

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APPENDIX B – GOVERNMENT RESPONSE 

 

Recommendation 1 

The Government will inform the COC of the necessity of communicating these responsibilities to the cities chosen to host the Games, in accordance with the Federal Policy for Hosting International Sport Events, as well as any related responsibility which could be described in detail in a possible funding agreement with the Government.

 

Recommendation 2 

The Framework Cooperation Agreement with the Government of Quebec includes specific commitments made by Quebec and VANOC in a variety of domains. It remains open, with both parties agreeing to set up, if and as needed, work groups in each of the areas of cooperation included in the Agreement and, if necessary, formalize the work of these groups in specific agreements. The scope of the Framework Cooperation Agreement may evolve as talks between the province of Quebec and VANOC progress.

The Collaborative Protocol between VANOC, the Fondation and the FFCB, which is the result of consultations with the Francophone and Acadian communities made in 2005 by the Government, clearly identifies the Fondation as the key interface between VANOC and the Francophone and Acadian communities of Canada (with the exception of British Columbia), with the FFCB playing this role for the Francophones of British Colombia. The identification of these two key stakeholders will greatly assist the Francophone and Acadian communities of the country to take part in a more structured and strategic manner in the preparations for the Games. The Fondation and the FFCB have contributed, with VANOC, to the development of a National Action Plan for the involvement of the Francophone and Acadian communities in the planning, organizing and hosting of the 2010 Winter Games.

Overlaps or convergences with regard to the objectives and areas of cooperation covered by the Collaboration Framework Agreement between VANOC and the Government of Quebec and the Collaborative Protocol between VANOC, the Fondation and the FFCB can be found.  It is up to VANOC, according to its commitments, to orchestrate the contributions of every stakeholder and to get the most value from them. The Government will support VANOC's efforts in this area.

 

Recommendation 3  

This recognition has been made official by the support that Canadian Heritage has shown to the FFCB, mainly through its Official Languages Support Programs, allowing the FFCB to create a coordinator position for all Games related matters.

 

Recommendation 4 

VANOC has informed the Government about the strategies it has developed under its Official Languages Strategic Action Plan to effectively meet the challenge of ensuring the representation of Francophone communities within the organization. These strategies stem from its overall strategy concerning the hiring of bilingual employees and the recruiting of bilingual volunteers. As stipulated by that strategy, VANOC will be paying particular attention to the bilingual capacity of candidates in its procedures for hiring employees and recruiting volunteers. In accordance with the provisions of the Protocol for Collaboration between VANOC, the Fondation and the FFCB, VANOC will request the assistance of Francophone organizations to meet its needs for bilingual employees. VANOC will hold information sessions in the minority Francophone communities throughout the country to encourage their members to offer their services as employees or volunteers. In addition, the Collaboration Framework Agreement between VANOC and the Government of Quebec calls for Quebec to assist VANOC in hiring bilingual employees and in applying and developing the language component for certain services offered by VANOC.

 

Recommendation 5  

The provisions governing the composition of the Board of Directors of VANOC are set out in the Multiparty Agreement signed in 2002 between the main partners for the Games. Under this agreement, the board is to have a maximum of 20 members.

The decision to limit the number of board members to 20 is based on the need for effective management. Increasing its size for the benefit of a particular group would set a precedent that an unlimited number of other interest groups may wish to take advantage of as well.

However, because there is an awareness that the Francophone and Acadian communities in Canada do not have a representative on VANOC's Board of Directors, the Government organized, in collaboration with VANOC, two consultation sessions for representatives of the Francophone communities in British Columbia and the rest of the country. The purpose of these sessions was to initiate a dialogue and to identify appropriate mechanisms for promoting the participation and influence of Canada's Francophone and Acadian communities in the 2010 Winter Games.

This work led to the signing, on June 10, 2006, of a Protocol for Collaboration between the Fondation, the FFCB and VANOC. The purpose of this protocol is to promote the use of Canada's two official languages in the preparation and staging of the 2010 Winter Games.

Collaborative action is being considered for numerous areas, such as sports, culture, communications and the recruitment of volunteers. These examples well illustrate the proactive approach being taken by the Government and VANOC in their efforts to include and ensure the participation of the Francophone and Acadian communities in the preparation and hosting of the 2010 Winter Games.

 

Recommendation 6 

The purpose of this protocol is to showcase and promote the French language and the various aspects making up the culture and identity of Canada's Francophone and Acadian communities, including those in British Columbia. Culture is one of the areas specifically targeted by the protocol, given that VANOC has indicated on several occasions its intention to offer cultural programming that reflects Canada's linguistic duality and cultural diversity. To reach this objective, VANOC is counting on its partnership with the Francophone communities and is maintaining an ongoing dialogue with them. With the support of the Government, the Fondation and the FFCB have developed a National Action Plan, in consultation with VANOC, in order to clearly identify priority activities that will ensure the representation of Canada's Francophonie in all its diversity in the programming and cultural celebrations to be held before, during and after the Games.

 

Recommendation 7 

Indeed, the vast majority of Canadians subscribe to cable or satellite services to receive the range and quality of television which they want. During the past decade, access to free over-the-air (OTA) reception in Canada has been experiencing a steady decline.

To ensure that almost all French-speaking Canadians will have the 2010 Winter Games available to them in French, Bell Globemedia/Rogers Media has announced that it will provide its Réseau des Sports (RDS), Réseau Info Sports (RIS), and Télévision Quatre Saisons (TQS) signals free of charge to cable and satellite providers throughout the 2010 Winter Games. Bell Globemedia/Rogers Media estimate that they will thereby make signals available to the vast majority of Francophone households.

The Government recognizes that access to OTA coverage in French of the 2010 Winter Games might be incomplete, just as it might in English. The Government notes however that the Committee's Report does not call for identical but rather equitable access, and that the Broadcasting Act, 3(1)(c), acknowledges that "English and French language broadcasting, while sharing common aspects, operate under different conditions and may have different requirements". The Government is of the view that incomplete OTA coverage does not constitute an equitable access issue and that the existing legislative framework does not necessarily require free universal access to broadcasting signals.

 

Recommendation 8 

Those hotels are not, in that respect, regulated by the CRTC. Where a hotel provides its own distinct broadcasting service to clients (e.g. movies), the CRTC has issued exemption orders, which allow, under certain conditions, companies to offer broadcasting services without having to obtain a licence. Under the existing regime therefore, there does not appear to be a practical and efficient way to ensure that all hotels would offer the French language signal of one of the three private networks during the 2010 Winter Games.

The Government will encourage VANOC and the municipal governments to identify non regulatory solutions to incite hotels and broadcasting distribution undertaking to make TQS, RDS or RIS available to their clients during the 2010 Winter Games.

 

Recommendation 9 

The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of bilingual signs at all Games sites. That is why Annex A of the Multiparty Agreement for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, which sets out Canada's requirements concerning the official languages, specifically stipulates that all signs installed by VANOC or authorized by VANOC for all Games sites during the period of the Games must be bilingual. 

VANOC recognizes its obligations in this regard and reports that it has already taken action to ensure that all signs related to the Games and bearing the Games logo are bilingual. These signs include traffic as well as other types of signs.

 

Recommendation 10 

Under the Multiparty Agreement between the main partners for the 2010 Winter Games, VANOC has the responsibility for encouraging sponsors and private businesses to offer services for the Games in the two official languages. To achieve this goal, VANOC has indicated that its strategy is to work in close collaboration with sponsors on the planning and delivery of services and events, including signs, that they organize for activities related to the Games. VANOC has also informed its staff about its official languages plans and objectives and about the role that sponsors can play to help it meet its obligations under the Multiparty Agreement. If needed, VANOC will provide active support to the Games' sponsors. VANOC has in particular made the commitment to provide sponsors with a directory of bilingual resources (masters of ceremonies, translation firms, etc.), which they can use in order to offer bilingual services. 

More specifically, the Government and VANOC have agreed to periodically evaluate VANOC's progress concerning its strategic official languages objectives, including those for ensuring bilingual signs at Games sites, bilingual communications, and bilingual marketing material intended for the public.

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APPENDIX C – VANOC JOB LISTING
http://www.workopolis.com/EN/job/10068776  

 

Supervisor, Main Press Centre

Location	Vancouver, BC
Job ID	865
Area of Interest	Press Operations
Job Type	Full-Time Regular

Job Description The Main Press Centre Supervisor assists and supports the MPC Manager and the MPC Deputy Manager with both planning and operations of the Main Press Centre. The Main Press Centre is the venue that provides a 24-hour central work place for accredited media during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. We are recruiting two staff with this job title that will have different responsibilities during both the pre-Games and Games-time periods. MPC Supervisor 1 - area of responsibility will be the Main Lobby of the MPC During the pre-Games period this role will have the responsibility to look after the planning of the services and facilities within the Main Lobby at the MPC. He/she will have to establish a good working relationship between the sponsors and the suppliers (hereinafter retailers) providers of services to the Press and the Broadcasters (e.g. bank, travel agent, post office, news stand, general store, etc.). During Games-time the MPC Supervisor 1 will become the Main Lobby Supervisor and will oversee the operations of the facilities/services located in the Main Lobby. He/she will be managing the Help Desk Supervisor and a team of Press Assistants. The MPC Supervisor 1 will also supervise the planning of catering facilities throughout the venue and will be involved during the fit-out, to ensure the defined levels of service (menus, prices, etc.) are provided. This is an evolving position and responsibilities may shift over time.  Titles may be adjusted from time to time to accurately reflect responsibilities. MPC Supervisor 2 - area of responsibility will be the Press and Photo Work Areas of the MPC During the pre-Games period this role will have the responsibility to look after the planning of the Press and Photo Work Areas and all the services and facilities related such as the management of lockers, the operations of the copy room. He/she will also be responsible for the planning of all the offices located within the Press Work Areas and of the press conference facilities. During Games-time the MPC Supervisor 2 will become the Workroom Supervisor and will manage the Press Work Area. He/she will work in conjunction with Photo Services for the management of the Photo Work Area to guarantee smooth operations of the services for the Press. This is an evolving position and responsibilities may shift over time.  Titles may be adjusted from time to time to accurately reflect responsibilities. RESPONSIBILITIES   Assisting MPC Manager and the MPC Deputy Manager with the overall planning of the Main Press Centre Interaction with all the other VANOC Functional Areas providing services to the retailers and the Press and Photo Work Area such as Technology, Site Management, Logistic, Look of the Games, Rate Card, F&B, etc Develop and maintain strong working relationships with retailers Integration with main partners and tenants involved with the planning and the set up of the venue Management of the staff involved in the operations of the Main Lobby and the Work Areas Resolving issues on behalf of the retailers Oversee the F&B level of service across the different catering facilities at the MPC Interaction with Broadcasters for the services in the Main Lobby Management of the lost and found office Responsible for the training of volunteer Responsible for all activities in the Press and Photo Work Management of the Help Desk and the copy room of the Press Work Area Other duties may be assigned as required Job Requirements Education/Experience   Degree or diploma in related field (media, marketing, architecture, etc) Previous experience in press operations at Olympic Games and/or major events an asset Proven ability to build and maintain strong working relationships Proven ability to remain calm under pressure Excellent computer skills, specifically with Microsoft programs Previous experience working in a fast-paced, multi-level, project based environment with emphasis on timelines and delivery an asset Fluency in French an asset Deadline: May 23, 2008

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