Northern Lights Display - December 2019

December 1^st, 2019

The stadium's Northern Lights Display is recognized around the world as a landmark of Vancouver’s skyline. BC Place is honoured to be able to help bring awareness to events, charities and non-profit causes that are important to communities in British Columbia.

Here are some of our lighting initiatives for December:

December 1st - Red for World AIDS Day

December 2nd - Light Blue in advance of Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3rd)

December 3rd - Green for Giving Tuesday on behalf of Growing Chefs

December 4th - Yellow for KidSport

December 6th - Red for National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

December 10th - Blue for Human Rights Day

Be sure to keep an eye out for our special holiday shows starting the first week of December!

To learn more or to submit a lighting request, visit https://bit.ly/2EI6LDw.

Employee Spotlight: Kate Harris, Supervisor of Team Central & Special Projects

November 19^th, 2019

Each month, our "Employee Spotlight" series showcases the dedicated British Columbians working behind-the-scenes at Canada’s premier stadium. This month, we chat with Kate Harris, Supervisor of Team Central and Special Projects at BC Place.

Kate oversees Team Central at the stadium, which is the main hub where event day staff meet and gather resources, like a uniform or radio, for their shift. Kate's team is also responsible for scheduling hundreds of people across several different departments.

What led you to working at BC Place?

"I’ve always been drawn to 'event life'. I love working towards something larger than myself and being a part of a team with a common goal. Having previously worked on the Pan American Games in Toronto and the Commonwealth Games in Australia, I learned the complexity of having multiple departments come together for an event. There is so much relationship building between people and departments that takes place behind the scenes."

Teamwork is one of our organization's values - why do think this is so important?

"BC Place is a massive facility and so are the events we host. The success of our events is dependent on all the pieces of the puzzle coming together; I'm a small piece but I know my role helps complete the puzzle. This is not an independent job. You cannot be successful in your role without the support of others. The people who work here truly are the heartbeat of this building."

What is something people may not know about the team at BC Place?

"I think the diversity of our team makes us a strong team. The people I work alongside come from all different backgrounds and walks of life, yet we're able to unite to achieve a common goal. It always strikes me how passionate people are about working here. They recognize BC Place as an icon in British Columbia and are proud to call it a second home. For me, it's important to foster a positive and inclusive environment in Team Central because we are the first and last point of contact for event day staff at the stadium. Their interaction with our team can dictate their attitude for the rest of their shift or even day."

Are there any challenges you encounter in your role?

"One of the biggest challenges is how huge the domino effect can be when you’re looking at changing even just one thing. It makes the scope of our projects that much larger. Every thing you do has a ripple effect because all of the departments at BC Place are so interconnected."

What stands out as something you're proud of when you tell people you work at BC Place?

"I’m really proud to work for a facility with several female executives. It’s refreshing to be in an environment with strong female leaders who support fresh ideas and offer room to grow and learn."

Is there a favourite event at the stadium that you've been a part of?

"I loved Beyoncé and Jay-Z's OTR II tour last year because I’m a huge Beyoncé fan. It was fascinating to see just how big the production was. I enjoy sporting events too, particularly BC Lions games because I'm from Hamilton which is a big CFL town, but concerts are always really amazing here. There is something so special about being in the middle of a 40,000 plus crowd and hearing everyone signing along in unison. It gives me chills to know I played a small role in making that moment happen."

To learn more or to join the team at BC Place, visit our Careers Page.

BC Place welcomes first responders for confined space rescue training

November 19^th, 2019

Local first responders with the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Technical Rescue Team were on-site at BC Place Stadium this week for confined space rescue operations training. As the largest stadium in Western Canada, BC Place was pleased to facilitate this important training exercise.

"Once again, BC Place has been most accommodating in hosting the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Technical Rescue Team while we train 16 new technicians in Confined Space Rescue Operations. Confined spaces are found everywhere in our industry and it is imperative as a Rescue Team that we maintain an optimal level of readiness and skill to be able to mitigate any emergent situation should it arise. BC Place has been instrumental in helping us facilitate this training at the stadium and by doing so is helping keep the citizens of Vancouver safe," said Clint Clarke, Training Officer/Technical Rescue/Special Operations with Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services.

As a public service, Vancouver Fire Rescue Services is committed to the health and safety of their team and the community, while providing world class fire and rescue services. As part of BC Place’s commitment to developing and supporting our local communities, the training site is being provided to the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Technical Rescue Team for no cost. The stadium is proud to support the incredible work the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Technical Rescue Team, as well as all first responders, do on behalf of all British Columbians.