Volunteering: A family affair
by Deborah Nobes
for CBC Sports Online

The 2003 Canada Winter Games have become a family affair for some people in northern New Brunswick.

The Games begin in Bathurst and Campbellton on Feb. 22, kicking off a busy two weeks for Diane Gauthier and her three daughters, who live just outside of Bathurst in Beresford.

They are joining an army of about 6,400 of volunteers who will help make the games runs smoothly. These Games are almost totally dependent on the benevolence of volunteers like the Gaulthiers, who will do everything from providing security at venues to drive athletes to and from events.

Students in the area are also being given an extra week off from school so their classrooms and gymnasiums can be used for events and so that older teens are available to help out at the Games.

Eight-year-old Emily and 11-year-old Michelle sit at the kitchen table with their mom Diane. Technically, the girls are too young to be official volunteers at the Canada games.

But they have been chosen for some special tasks.

"We'll be holding the cushions with the medals on them and then somebody's going to come and give them to the athletes," says Michelle.

"I'm gonna be holding flags, it's going to be fun," adds Emily. The girls' older sister Katie, 14, is an official volunteer. She'll work at the shooting site, the festival site, and she'll be part of the closing ceremonies.

"I'm going to be taking part in two dances in the closing ceremonies. One is the big finale with all the groups that have participated in the dancing and it's going to be a lot of fun," says Katie. "It's like partying around and jamming and stuff. It's kind of nerve wracking but at the same time it's kind of exciting."

It will be an exciting two weeks for mom, too. Diane has spent the past several months training volunteers. And now, she's giving up more of her time to work at the festival site with Katie.

"It's fun to help beforehand, but I think the excitement is going to be when everyone gets here so I don't want to miss out on all the fun that will be going on while everyone's here. We have to be ready to use up a lot of energy and be prepared to be a bit tired after the two weeks because you have to take advantage of this time. But we'll rest after everybody's gone."

The only one in the family who's not volunteering is Diane's husband Dave. But she says he'll have more than enough to do during the two weeks.

"He's going to keep the home fires burning for us so at least he'll be here taking care of us when we get home. Everything will be all ready for us."

Despite all the hectic days, and juggling of schedules, the Gaulthiers are looking forward to the Games.

"I find it's really lucky that it came to us because it's a once in a lifetime thing," says Michelle.

"I think it's wonderful that my children could be involved in it," adds her mother, Diane, "and could have something that they'll be able to remember in years to come and we can always be fondly telling stories about the Canada Games in 2003."