Monday, February 18, 2002

Home away from home

Canadian Olympic Lodge is a place where every Canuck knows your name

By ERIC FRANCIS -- Team Sun
 SALT LAKE CITY -- Catriona Le May Doan stood chatting with Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler Daniel Igali when Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies approached.

 After being introduced to Canada's speed skating queen, the fun-loving singer/songwriter offered up a curious observation.

 "Apparently you look better in your tight suit than I do," laughed Robertson, who performed a memorable concert here last week while squeezed into one of Speed Skate Canada's funky skin suits.

 Their chance encounter came just before midnight at Canada Olympic Lodge, a refuge of sorts for Canadians attending these Games.

 "It's a home away from home for Canadians at the Olympics," said organizer Carla Anderson of the hospitality house sponsored by the Canadian Olympic Association every Games.

 "It's also a place for the Canadian athletes to meet their families and see some familiar faces."

 Set up in the heart of downtown, the lodge accommodates up to 200 people at a time, providing them with complimentary Labatt Blue, wine, snacks, Can-adian Olympic Hall of Fame displays and couches to watch Olympic coverage on a live CBC feed.

 It's open free of charge all day to pass holders or anyone producing proof of Canadian citizenship.

 In the back is a private VIP room where Wayne Gretzky and Theo Fleury watched the Russia/U.S.A hockey game Saturday night.

 Aside from a steady flow of current Olympians, such as Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, who have completed competition, several other notables to drop by this week include past Canadian Olympians Ken Read, Steve Podborski, Kathy Kreiner, Myriam Bedard and Gaetan Boucher as well as golfer Mike Weir, a Utah resident who hails from Bright's Grove, Ont.

 However, the big names everybody comes to see are Canadian medal winners who now make a habit of including a lodge visit in their victory celebrations.

 Anderson says close to 270 cases of beer have already been consumed by Canadians who jam the place for Canadian hockey games.

 "We're working with Labatt to get some more," said Anderson.

2002 Games News Coverage