BIOGRAPHIES

To view this page ensure that Adobe Flash Player version 9.0.124 or greater is installed.

Please login or register to make a comment!

BIOGRAPHIES Designers Omer Arbel In 2000, Arbel graduated with numerous honours from the University of Waterloo School of Architecture and subsequently apprenticed with several notable architects, including Enric Miralles, John and Patricia Patkau and Peter Busby. Arbel, who is based in Vancouver, BC, began working as a freelance designer in 2003 focusing on conceptually motivated and materially explorative furniture and objects. Work produced during this period (most notably the 2.4 cast resin chair) facilitated opportunities that led to founding two companies in 2005, OAO (Omer Arbel Office) and Bocci.

Both companies have achieved instant critical and commercial success at the highest levels of the design and architectural landscape. Pieces by Arbel have won numerous yellow pencil, good design, ID magazine review, iF and Red Dot awards, have been accessioned into various notable private and institutional collections, and have been featured extensively in the prevalent design, architectural and popular media of our times. He is considered one of the leading young voices in the international architectural and design landscape.

Corrine Hunt Born in Alert Bay, British Columbia in 1959, Corrine has been creating contemporary art for more than 22 years that reflects the themes and traditions of her First Nations Komoyue and Tlingit ... more. less.

heritage. Corrine 9s works include engraved gold and silver jewellery and accessories, custom furnishings in carved stainless steel and reclaimed wood, modern totem poles and other sculptural installations. A member of the Raven Gwa 9wina clan from Ts 9akis, a Komoyue village on Vancouver Island, Corrine 9s rich family history includes internationally renowned First Nations artists Henry, Richard and Tony Hunt, all of whom have influenced her art. From the beginning of her career, Corrine has searched for unique ways to bring the stories of her First Nations culture to contemporary life. She is continually inventing and reinventing stories from her culture, honouring her roots and cultivating a refreshing artistic expression at the same time. The engravings are not overly ornate; like poetry, they convey their message using as few lines as possible. Similarly, the custom furnishings combine materials that speak to old and new, and bring the concept of living culture into contemporary homes. Corrine began designing furniture and other installed art pieces in part because in First Nations households, adorned furnishings are part of daily life. Objects in the home are not only beautiful, they are also practical and infused with cultural significance. Corrine currently resides in Vancouver, BC. BIOGRAPHIES Athletes Jill Bakken 4 2002 Olympic Gold Medallist, Bobsleigh Bakken is considered an American bobsledding pioneer. Born in Portland, Oregon, she attended the first training camp of the fledgling US women's team in 1994, when she was a high school junior. That made her, at 17, the youngest bobsledder in the sport's history. A member of the US National Women's Bobsled Team since 1994, Bakken earned a gold medal with teammate Vonetta Flowers in the inaugural two-woman bobsled event at the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games, breaking a 46-year drought for the United States in the sport. Bakken and Flowers were subsequently selected to carry the Olympic Flag into the 2002 Closing Ceremony. In 1998, Bakken was a finalist for the Women's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year Award. Ranked in the top 10 since 1995, she won the first gold and silver medals in US women's bobsled history with brakeman Meg Henderson at the International World Cup held in December 1997 in Utah. She also won a gold medal with teammate Elena Primerano at the International Push Competition in Gotha, Germany, in August 1997. In 2000, she finished second in the overall World Cup rankings. In 1995, Bakken was a National Dial Award nominee and USOC [United States Olympic Committee] Sportswoman of the Year for Bobsledding. In 2002, she received the Olympic Spirit Award and was a finalist for the Sportswoman of the Year-Team honor. Bakken is now a coach with the BC Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association. She currently resides in Calgary, Alberta. Daniel Wesley 4 five-time Paralympian Daniel Wesley is a five-time Paralympian. He won his first Paralympic Gold medal as wheelchair racing at the Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games. After the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games, Daniel 9s focus switched to para-Alpine skiing. He went on to represent Canada in Para-Alpine skiing at the Lillehammer 1994 Paralympic Winter Games, Nagano 1998 Paralympic Winter Games and Salt Lake 2002. By the end of his career, he had won a total of four gold, five silver and three bronze medals at Paralympic Games. Daniel lost his legs at the age of 13, following a train accident; he became involved in wheelchair sports for the camaraderie. Residing in New Westminster, British Columbia, Daniel now uses his experience to support children and adults with a disability. As a sales and service representative for Medichair (a supplier of home health care and medical equipment), he helps new wheelchair users to regain their mobility. Youth Athletes Ben Dooley Ben is a typical 13-year-old boy who is a great hockey fan and dreams of one day having Don Cherry's job. He was born in 1996 in Vancouver to Pauline and Terry Dooley. A few days before Ben was born, his parents learned he had Spina Bifida, a neural tube birth defect, that left him a paraplegic. Ben is a social boy, attends grade 8 at Frank Hurt Secondary and currently plays sledge hockey and wheelchair basketball. He is a walking (rolling) talking encyclopedia of hockey. Ben has volunteered in the community, supporting various charities (Disabled Sailing, The Centre for Child Development) through ambassadorship. He is an honorary firefighter in Surrey, BC, his hometown. He is also the recipient of a Queen 9s Golden Jubilee Medal. BIOGRAPHIES Elainah Andrew Mount Currie 9s Elainah Andrew is 10 years old and an active participant in the Whistler Youth Development Luge Program. She was born in North Vancouver and has two older siblings and a younger cousin in Lil 9wat. She dreams of attending Harvard, as she is a great student and winning an Olympic Gold Medal. She learned about the luge development program through a newspaper ad and as a natural snowboarder, soccer player and track and field athlete her parents encouraged her to get involved in a sport with training close to home. She started immersion in her Lil 9wat native tongue at 3 and transferred to Signal Hill Elementary School where she is now a grade 5 student. Royal Canadian Mint Ian E. Bennett President and CEO Royal Canadian Mint Ian E. Bennett was appointed President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint on June 12, 2006. A distinguished federal public servant, Mr. Bennett has held several positions within the Department of Finance including Deputy Minister from November 2004 to June 2006. Previously, he served as Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund representing Canada, Ireland and the Caribbean countries from September 2001 to October 2004. Mr. Bennett has also held other senior positions within the federal government including Associate Deputy Minister of Finance and G-7 Deputy for Canada from 1998 to 2001, Associate Deputy Minister of Revenue Canada and Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Operations). Born in Nelson, British Columbia, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (First Class Honours Economics/Commerce) from Simon Fraser University and a Masters of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Toronto. Renato Romozzi Design Coordinator, Corporate Engineering Royal Canadian Mint Renato Romozzi first joined the Mint as a mechanical technologist in 1986. Highly experienced in the field of mechanical engineering, Renato was asked to oversee the daily management of all manufacturing activities related to the Vancouver 2010 athlete medals. As one of the first members of the team, Renato played an influential role in sourcing specialized equipment required to produce the medals. BIOGRAPHIES Over the course of his 23-year career, Renato has been instrumental in implementing the use of CAD design and programming automated production equipment at the Mint. His broad experience includes structuring coin models for studies of domestic and foreign coinage prototypes and multiple architectural renovation designs for the Mint 9s 101 year-old Ottawa facility. Prior to joining the Mint, Renato was a circuit board designer for UK-based NR Systems. A native of Ottawa, Renato graduated from Algonquin College with a degree in Electro- Mechanical Technology. Stéphane Ouellette Lead Machinist Royal Canadian Mint An employee of the Mint since October 2003, Stéphane Ouellette was invited to join the Vancouver 2010 athlete medals production team in August 2008. As an experienced machinist, Stephane is responsible for manufacturing the first medals, programming computerized (CNC) milling machines, creating manufacturing jigs for multiple departments and controlling overall machining operations quality and process improvement. Over the course of his six-year career, Stéphane and his colleagues have been responsible for increasing the use of CNC technology and Cad Cam programming in the Mint 9s Machine Shop. In addition to designing and building custom production equipment, Stéphane also played a role in the manufacturing of the Mint 9s record-breaking 100 kg, 99.999% pure gold cMillion Dollar Coin d. Prior to joining the Mint, Stéphane was a Machinist and Supervisor at ATG Industries, and participated in a series of challenging aerospace, robotics, and telecommunications projects. Born in Gatineau, Quebec, Stéphane graduated from Ottawa 9s La Cité Collégiale with a Mechanical Engineering Technician degree, specialized in tooling and has been licensed as a General Machinist since 1998. He has also taught in his field at La Cité Collégiale. BIOGRAPHIES Teck Resources Limited Donald R. Lindsay President and Chief Executive Officer Teck Resources Limited Don Lindsay was appointed President of Teck in January 2005 and assumed the additional responsibility of Chief Executive Officer in April 2005. Before joining Teck, Don was President of CIBC World Markets and led the bank 9s Investment and Corporate Banking Division as well as the Asia Pacific Region. Earlier in his career he was responsible for CIBC 9s Global Mining Group. Don has a B.Sc., (Hons.) Mining Engineering from Queens University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Don is currently a Governor of the B.C. Children 9s Hospital Foundation in Vancouver and is also Chair of the Campaign for B.C. Children, a capital campaign to raise $200 million to build a new acute care hospital. Earlier in his career he served on the Board of St. Michael 9s Hospital Foundation in Toronto and was Co-Chair of the Heart Health Campaign. Don was a member of the United Way 9s Major Individual Giving Cabinet in Toronto for several years and has also served the United Way of Lower Mainland in B.C. as division chair for Natural Resources. He was Vice Chair of the Greater Toronto Scout Foundation and Chair of the Investment Committee. Don is on the Board of Governors of the Royal Ontario Museum. He also served for several years on the Board of the Canada China Business Council. In his capacity as Chair of the International Zinc Association, Don has been actively involved in launching the Zinc Saves Kids campaign, a program in partnership with UNICEF designed to address zinc deficiency which claims the lives of as many as 450,000 children annually around the world. Teck is a diversified resource company committed to responsible mining and mineral development with major business units focused on copper, metallurgical coal, zinc, gold and energy. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, its shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols TCK.A and TCK.B and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TCK. Further information about Teck can be found at www.teck.com .

less