Documentary spotlights partnership between First Nation and Oil Company
Vancouver 2010 announces search for designer of Olympic medals
Documentary spotlights partnership between First Nation and Oil Company
When Bigstone Chief Francis Gladue and his council signed their groundbreaking agreement with Calgary’s Bronco Energy Ltd., they hardly expected that the deal would also bring a television crew to their community of Wabasca, Alberta. Anaid Productions was given privileged access to capture the Bigstone/Bronco story for a national audience on The Rig: Oil Sands, to launch on OLN on December 26, 2007.
Bronco Energy’s first day of trading on the TSE.
Chief Francis Gladue (left), Chief of Bigstone Cree Nation
and Brian W. Alford, President and CEO, Bronco Energy
This unique partnership gives Bronco access to about 220 square kilometres of Bigstone land, in oil-rich northeastern Alberta. In return, Bigstone Cree Nation gets a 25 percent interest in the operation once costs are paid off. More importantly, both Bigstone and Bronco are approaching the project with the community’s cultural, social and environmental concerns in mind, as well as its economic goals. The Bronco project also gives a number of Bigstone residents the chance to work in the oil patch without going away to distant camps. At the end of a long day on the rig, they can return to their own homes and families.
The Rig: Oil Sands follows the crew of Bronco #1, as they race to meet the company’s commitment to drill seven test wells in its first year on Bigstone land. The television series, now in its second year, has given viewers an unprecedented look at everyday life on a working oil rig. This year the storylines are richer than ever, thanks to the complex and mutually rewarding relationship between the oil company and the community.
The warmth between Bronco Energy and Bigstone Cree Nation may well serve as a template for future First Nations involvement in the oil patch. “We have a very positive relationship,” says Chief Francis Gladue of Bigstone Cree Nation. “We’ve created a real synergy between our leadership and our people and their ex-ecutives and their people on the ground. It’s different than anything I’ve seen since I’ve been leader of this community.”
The Rig: Oil Sands airs Wednesdays beginning December 26, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. ET/ 9:00 p.m. MT on OLN.
Vancouver 2010 announces search for designer of Olympic medals
For the extraordinary athletes who will compete at the 2010 Winter Games, winning an Olympic or Paralympic medal will be one of the ultimate achievements of their athletic careers. To create the design of the medals which symbolize that achievement, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) have announced it is seeking proposals from artists – both from Canada and around the world – interested in designing the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic medals. The official Request for Proposals (RFP) is available at www.vancouver2010.com.
“For an athlete, competing at the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games marks the pinnacle of a life’s work. The weight of an Olympic and Paralympic medal around their neck symbolizes the dreams not only of the athlete, but also their families and their communities and their achievement inspires so many. Standing on the podium to accept an Olympic or Paralympic medal is truly a moment without measure,” said Cathy Priestner Allinger, VANOC’s executive vice president of Sport, Paralympic Games and Venue Management, herself a Canadian silver medallist in speed skating at the Innsbruck 1976 Olympic Winter Games.
“The story we will tell through these medals will be uniquely Canadian and will, we hope, present a new opportunity to tell the story of Canada’s Games, igniting the Olympic and Paralympic spirit across the country and around the world,” continued Priestner Allinger.
Vancouver 2010 is seeking an artist(s), designer(s) or creative teams to work with VANOC to design inspiring, timeless medals for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – medals that reflect the determination and heart of the athletes who will win those medals in 2010. An evaluation team will review submissions and successful applicants will be asked to provide concept designs. The design concepts will then be reviewed by VANOC and approved by the Board of Directors. VANOC will present the medal design to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for review and final approval.
The Royal Canadian Mint, a Vancouver 2010 Official Supporter, will manufacture the medals. The Mint will be involved in the design process, providing production expertise and ensuring the medals can be produced at the highest level of quality.
Teck Cominco, also an Official Supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, headquartered in British Columbia, Host Province of the Games, will supply the gold, silver, bronze and other metals used in the production of the Olympic and Paralympic medals.
The design process will involve five phases and is expected to take up to eight months. In addition to the medals, designs are also required for the accompanying ribbon and medal containers.
The closing date for the submission of proposals is January 30, 2008. The design contract(s) are expected to be awarded in late February 2008.