Cranbrook teen selected for Olympics
Mount Baker student Frank Robertson will get the chance of a lifetime to attend the Olympic games in Vancouver and report on his experience.
Robertson is one of 40 teens from throughout Canada that will attend the 2010 Vancouver Olympics as a member of the Historica Dominion at the Games project.
The students were selected based on essay and video submissions.
"The students will enjoy a unique perspective of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games," said Andrew Cohen, President of the Historica-Dominion Institute. "As student reporters they will play an important role in communicating what is happening in Vancouver during the Games to the world, from a student's point of view. The Games bring the world together in a celebration of sport and culture; the Historica-Dominion at the Games Project will bring together the youth of Canada, through the power of the internet."
Robertson, who was born and raised in Cranbrook and is currently in grade 12 at Mount Baker, was nominated by SET B.C., which gives technology to people with disabilities.
"I worked for a few months with SET B.C. on a journalism program in Ottawa," said Robertson, who has Cerebral Palsy. "They decided to nominate me for one of the six slots they were given by Historica-Dominion."
He has done several other journalism projects including writing for the B.C. Winter Games in Cranbrook and Kimberley.
"I've been interested in writing my whole life," said Robertson. "I enjoy the stories, the ideas and the excitement of things like the Olympics."
Robertson admits he is not as excited as he could be, since he is currently in the middle of writing provincials exams for courses such as Physics, Chemistry and Psychology.
"I will probably be excited the day I'm heading to the airport and realize this is actually happening," he said. Besides academics and writing, he can also be found singing and acting in such recent plays as Treasure Island, Aida and Footloose.
For his Olympic writing gig, Robertson will be traveling to Vancouver on February 10 and staying for two weeks with relatives.
"I don't know yet what events I will be covering. But I'm going to have a press pass and will be taking pictures and interview people," he said.
Robertson will participate in the Virtual Voices Village, a journalism program and online community for students with disabilities. Virtual Voices Village is a partnership of 2010 LegaciesNow.
"Together with our partners in the Virtual Voices Village program, we are proud to support these students with disabilities as they joing their peers for this unique opportunity to develop their leadership, writing and multi-media skills," said 2010 LegaciesNow CEO Bruce Dewar.
Be sure to check out the Kootenay Advertiser newspaper and website www.KootenayAdvertiser.com to follow Robertson's reports. Readers can also go to www.vvvillage.org.
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