Crash at My Place for 2010

With some 300,000 visitors expected for Vancouver 2010 and only 75,000 hotel rooms alternative accommodation is required. This necessity is leading many to consider renting out their own places during the Olympics and planning to get themselves out of town for the month of February 2010.

Because of the situation people will have to look for and offer accommodation on alternative websites like Winter2010Rentals.com where they can find out information on venues, areas they might want to rent in, and of course best practices for both renters and landlords.

To post your FREE rental listing or wanted ad visit Forum.Winter2010Rentals.com.

Prices vary greatly depending on location, features, size, etc.. But many places are priced at approximately $500 per bedroom per night. This price/bedroom ratio goes up for both the smallest and largest of available places.

More from The Globe and Mail.

New Seabus in Time for 2010

TransLink, British Columbia Transportation minister Kevin Falcon and Malcom Barker of the Washington Marine Group announced on Monday a signed agreement for a new $25M SeaBus.

The third SeaBus will join the other two in service between North Vancouver's Lonsdale Quay and Downtown Vancouver's Harbour.

Malcolm Barker said the ship will be of the greenest of green vessels and "will be built on time and on budget" in Victoria.

The vessel will initially go into service Summer 09 alleviating one of the existing SeaBuses so that it may undergo a refit. The refit will be completed in time for the 2010 Olympic Games allowing for peak service every 10 minutes vs. the current closest interval of 15 minute between ships.

VANOC Wants YOU!

There's no denying that ticket prices to the highly sought after Olympic events will be hard to come by and some may be quite expensive. An alternative that may get you into the odd event is to volunteer for VANOC. They're looking for a few good men and women.

So you didn’t quite make it as an athlete, but you’re as passionate as ever to leave your mark. This is your ticket to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

By getting involved as a volunteer, you could be joining a team of 25,000 who’ll be welcoming the world to Canada. We’re looking for a team that shares our values of excellence, teamwork, creativity, sustainability and trust. If these words speak to you, read on. We’d love to tell you more about what it takes to join our team.

From Vancouver2010.com:

• We're looking for volunteers who are available before, during and after the 2010 Winter Games. We encourage everyone to apply, but please keep in mind that the more time and flexibility you have, the more opportunities there may be for you to get involved.
• With an expected 25,000 volunteers, accommodation is an important consideration. Although pre-arranged accommodation is not a pre-requisite, we would strongly recommend it.
• You must be 19 years old on or before September 1, 2008 to apply for a volunteer role.
• We’ll be using electronic communication (such as the volunteer website and e-mail) to pass along important information. You’ll need a valid e-mail address and access to the internet to access this information. If you don’t have an e-mail address or access to the internet, view our Frequently Asked Questions for suggestions on your options.
• Your computer must be Javascript enabled. For instructions on how to do this, visit the Technical Help section of our Frequently Asked Questions.
• You must complete and pass an RCMP background check, as well as any other relevant security clearances to be considered for a volunteer role.
• There are many areas of the Games that need your help. Check out our list of Functions for a closer look at our departments.
• We’re also looking for Sport Event volunteers. Sport Events are major national or international events, such as World Cups or World Championships that will take place locally in 2008 and early 2009. VANOC will be testing operations at these events. Each sport discipline will be tested at least once leading up to the Games, so there are many chances for you to get involved. You’ll be asked if you’re interested in volunteering for Sport Events on the volunteer application form. Don’t forget to click ‘Yes.’

Ready to fill out and submit an application as a part of your Olympic Legacy? Click Here.

British Olympic Official Visits

The British minister responsible for the 2012 Summer Olympic games in London, Tess Jowell, will be visiting Vancouver next week to get a first-hand look.

She will have meetings with several officials including those from local and provincial government and VANOC.

She will also participate in a round table discussion on opportunities for Canadian businesses for the London 2012 games.

The 2010 Version of Park 'n' Ride

With accommodation expected to be in extremely tight supply during the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver & Whistler, BC non-traditional housing for participants, media, and spectators is expected to boom. In Canada, the term Park 'n' Ride usually refers to small parking lots in close proximity to transit connections or highway arteries. During the Olympics this term may hold a slightly different meaning.

Campgrounds and other non-traditional accommodation types are expected to boom. We already told you about the City of North Vancouver's request for proposals for the docking of cruise ships at it's ports to house thousands of persons at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue within steps of the SeaBus Transit link to downtown.

Now it's becoming clear that many people are inquiring and making reservations at Campgrounds during the Olympic Games. With rates as low as $51 per night for a full-service camp site it seems a bargain. Some campgrounds are even in close proximity to public transit as an added bonus.

Fraserway RV Rentals is exploring the idea of setting up a temporary RV park in Pemberton for the games period but still have to arrange power and sewerage services.

North Vancouver RFPs for Public Outdoor Amenities

The City of North Vancouver has posted a bid notice on their website of expressions of interest with regards to five public outdoor amenties. The sites include the Burrard Dry Dock Pier, Shipbuilder's Square, Waterfront Park, Kings Mill Walk, and Civic Centre Square.

One of the more obvious fits might be for cruise ships to be used as floating hotel rooms for visitors to the Olympic Games. These could be docked at Shipbuilder's Square or the Burrard Dry Dock Pier. The floating hotels would offer excellent views and great access to transit.

The complete PDF from the City of North Vancouver's website can be found here.