Live@YVR: An Interview With the 5 Finalists

Dec 19 2017, 1:03 pm

Our Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has been twice named the best airport in North America in by the annual Skytrax annual World Airport Survey. So it only makes sense that within the walls of our transportation hub, lies some of the most unique stories ever. But who to tell them? Certainly not an average story teller. YVR would need the best story teller to narrate their tales.

So YVR is on the hunt. Last month, we told you about Live@YVR and the search to find the one person to live at YVR for 80 days and 80 nights. Now, they’ve narrowed it down to 5 talented finalists. The winner is chosen by popular vote, and you can check out the finalist here, or click on each finalists name to go directly to their video, watch and vote! Voting is open from July 25, 2011 @ 9:00 AM (PDT) to August 5, 2011 @ 11:59 PM (PDT).

We interviewed the five finalists for you to get to know them better.

Carrie Dymond

If you win Live@YVR and live at the airport for 80 days and 80 nights, what will you miss most from your “regular” life?

Definitely Bikram Yoga

Name one thing that the public should know about you that makes you the perfect candidate to be the Live@YVR storyteller?

If I can inspire people to dance on camera, I think the rest shouldn’t be too hard 😉

If you had to choose one occupation from the thousands offered at YVR. What would it be and why?

Working as a Customs Officer would be pretty intriguing. Being able to pick up on non-verbal cues, learning the skill of interrogation and taking a peek through people’s belongings sounds like a good day at the office!

What was your favourite bed time story as a child?

I had a book of fables at my grandmother’s house that I would read before bed. I always liked the story of the Crow and the Pitcher. The Crow was trying to figure out how to drink the last little bit of water at the bottom. Pebble by pebble, he worked diligently until the water rose to the surface.

You’ll be interviewing a lot of people to tell the stories at YVR. If you could choose to interview your favourite fictional character, who would that be and why?

Hmm. I’m one of those non-fiction types but Snuffalufagus would be pretty interesting if anyone could ever track him down.

 

Chris Jordan Lee

If you win Live@YVR and live at the airport for 80 days and 80 nights, what will you miss most from your “regular” life?

I’d have to say that if I won, since all of the things I enjoy are in the airport already (like the dentist and a place to buy tooth brushes), the thing I’d miss most about the real world is the excitement brought on by the prospect of visiting the airport. That and going to the movies.

Name one thing that the public should know about you that makes you the perfect candidate to be the Live@YVR storyteller?

I have a PhD in hilarity. All my videos would be entertaining and sort of… anti-dull. I’ve always had an obsession with entertaining people and I love approaching strangers and meeting them through intrusive questioning. As long as they’re not in a windowless van…

If you had to choose one occupation from the thousands offered at YVR. What would it be and why?

I’d want to be the security person who pats people down when they move through the metal detector. Only because, and this might sound kind of sick, if a famous person came through, while patting them down, I’d get uncomfortably close their ear and whisper, “Big fan…” Then when they were gone, high five all my security pals.

What was your favourite bed time story as a child?

With out contest, Murder on the Orient Express.

You’ll be interviewing a lot of people to tell the stories at YVR. If you could choose to interview your favourite fictional character, who would that be and why?

It would have to be the tooth fairy. His or her motives are confusing. Is there a high market value on teeth? Who’s buying them? Why haven’t others tapped into this market? I’ve always had so many questions for him or her. Why? Can you guys set up a meeting?

Jaeger Mah

If you win Live@YVR and live at the airport for 80 days and 80 nights, what will you miss most from your “regular” life?

Being that it’ll still be summer, I’ll miss any remaining opportunity to go swimming. That’s what summers all about, and I’m still waiting for that warm, late night, fresh water skinny dip… But I did notice that there is a “Lap Pool” in the Fairmont YVR, so I’ll be hitting that place up daily!

Name one thing that the public should know about you that makes you the perfect candidate to be the Live@YVR storyteller?

Strange people fascinate me. I love their stories and I love the challenge of making friends with them. It should be an Olympic sport. They have the most captivating stories and interesting quarks.

If you had to choose one occupation from the thousands offered at YVR. What would it be and why?

I would love to be the official captain of giving hugs. Basically, that person’s roll is to give tourists and people that don’t have loved ones to greet them, hugs. It’d be like “rent a hug” but for free… And I’d be the captain.

What was your favourite bed time story as a child?-My mom and dad used to make up the awesomest fictional stories on the spot. They were full of bears, dragons, boys that saved the world, men that won YouTube video contests…(wink, wink). Guess that’s where I adopted the skill if storytelling!

You’ll be interviewing a lot of people to tell the stories at YVR. If you could choose to interview your favourite fictional character, who would that be and why?

Forest Gump! Not only has he found his legs, fought wars, won medals, opened his own shrimp company and founded monumental sayings like, “shit happens”.. He can share his heart like no other.

 

Marelle Reid

If you win Live@YVR and live at the airport for 80 days and 80 nights, what will you miss most from your “regular” life?

I think I’ll miss my mom’s dog, Yoshi, the most. He gets so excited to see me he sometimes pees when I walk through the front door. I’ll miss that warm welcome while I’m at YVR.

Name one thing that the public should know about you that makes you the perfect candidate to be the Live@YVR storyteller?

When I was in high school I was mocked for being too curious. I asked too many questions. And, to this day, I ask, “What’s wrong with asking questions? Isn’t that how you get the answers?”

If you had to choose one occupation from the thousands offered at YVR. What would it be and why?

Baggage handler. I would get to make SURE all those lost bags found their way home, even if it meant my having to personally escort them to their various world-wide destinations.

What was your favourite bedtime story as a child?

When I was a kid I liked so many bedtime stories I never really had a favourite. Since I kept bugging everyone to read to me all the time, my mom eventually convinced me to just break out the crayons and write my own story. It’s called A House for the Hedgehogs.

You’ll be interviewing a lot of people to tell the stories at YVR. If you could choose to interview your favourite fictional character, who would that be and why?

Dwight from The Office, because he’s always got a story to tell. Also, he’d have no problem giving me all the dirt on everything that’s happening behind the scenes at all times.

Sarah Szloboda
If you win Live@YVR and live at the airport for 80 days and 80 nights, what will you miss most from your “regular” life?

I’ll miss performing with some of the best improvisers and people in the world (in my humble opinion!) at Instant Theatre, Vancouver Theatre-Sports League, and in my improv group Fancy Pants.  I’ll definitely miss watching my baby brothers grow up (80 days = a lot of haircuts and cuteness from those little guys!).  I’d say I’d miss my friends, but I’ll only be a skytrain and a click of play away!

Name one thing that the public should know about you that makes you the perfect candidate to be the Live@YVR storyteller?

I may not be a broadcast journalism grad, or have perfect newsroom formula, but every single day of the 24 years that I’ve been alive has given me a particular skillset to find and share a story through a personal view and quirky eye.  While someone else might be able to provide a slicker YVR commercial every day, I can promise to dedicate every breath and blink of my 80 days and nights to connecting with the real heart of YVR and truthfully sharing every moment of that with you.

If you had to choose one occupation from the thousands offered at YVR. What would it be and why?

Assuming I couldn’t be Live@YVR, I would love to be an Air-Traffic Controller.  My knowledge of the field is limited to a Billy-Bob Thornton movie I once saw (and not a very good one at that) but the amount of focus and organization it would take to be as successful as they are up there in the tower is remarkable.  I would love to say I had a hand in ensuring everyone lucky enough to come to and fly out of our airport made it home safely and on time.  While ATC’s may not be on the front-line, they have a lot of best interests at heart with every decision they make.  Awesome.

What was your favourite bed time story as a child?

My grandma was and is the absolute best bed time storyteller.  Truly.  I could listen to her tell me about The Little Red Hen over and over again.  My absolute favourite though was when she would read me The Phantom Tolbooth, which still to this day is one my favourite books.  Adventures, princesses, and puns…perfect.  Thanks grandma!

You’ll be interviewing a lot of people to tell the stories at YVR. If  you could choose to interview your favourite fictional character, who would that be and why?

Great questions!  I could go with one of the fictional characters that always seem to exist beyond the pages of the book, like Jo March from Little Women for example.  Every word about her seemed to go much further than the fictional…but who would I pick to interview?  I’d love to catch up with Boo Radley from To Kill a Mockingbird.  Why?  Firstly: He is a recluse so an interview would be a real exclusive.  Secondly: He was a hero in the face of serious adversity, and would undoubtedly have some of the most worthy untold stories to grace the screen.

DH Vancouver StaffDH Vancouver Staff

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