The Volunteers: The Engine of the Event!
It goes without saying that an event the size of the MasterCard Memorial Cup could not be possible without the 700-some volunteers who put their hearts into their work to make the National Championship a success in every way.
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Many have been working tirelessly to reach the goal set at the beginning: to make the 2009 MasterCard Memorial Cup a memorable event. But what is it that motivates all these individuals to give their time and energy to organizing and putting on this event?
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For some, it’s their love of hockey that spurs them to actively participate in hosting the Championship. “I’ve been an Océanic fan since they joined the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 1995, and I couldn’t imagine not participating in the Memorial Cup!” said a young dyed-in-the-wool ’Nics fan.
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For others, it’s the pride in seeing an event of such prestige and scope here in Rimouski. “Here in Rimouski, we love to give a special regional touch to the big events that take place here. So of course we’ll make our mark and set the bar pretty high for the coming years!” a woman dressed completely in red said proudly. That is why she didn’t hesitate to contribute by devoting many hours to organizing various aspects of the event.
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“We definitely want to leave visitors with a good impression, which will help promote tourism here and increase Rimouski’s visibility at the national level. It’s an opportunity to show our know-how and our warm hospitality to everyone,” her fellow volunteer added.
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The volunteers — no matter what reasons induced them to get involved — are the heart and soul of the event and the stars that make it possible to coordinate and present all the activities associated with the 2009 MasterCard Memorial Cup.
Photo by Rémi Sénéchal