VANOC
By artboomer on November 30, 2007 - 3:30pm
VANOC is turning our 2010 Olympic Games into a "Made in China" Games. Why do we have to have a Wal-Mart mentality when it comes to olympic consumer purchasing? A majority of Canadian consumers just don't seem to care where those shoes, clothes, mascots are made and under what unethical conditions secured from us. I am not talking about the less fortunate, shoe-string, welfare, low fixed income Canadians. They need access to lower prices in order to barely make ends meet - to survive. The Canadian consumer I am targeting are the upper and most middle class Canadians who can "afford" to buy more Canadian made goods. And yes there are a great number of foreign available products worth purchasing.
I was going to start a Facebook topic regarding Canadian consumer apathy ...but I realize those I want to reach are out buying the new Olympic mascots - not caring they are helping further stimulate the growth of the Chinese economy while taking away potential Canadian jobs. Remember VANOC turned down "Canadian" merchandising bids in support of their Chinese comrades knowing most Canadians won't care where any of their product merchandise is made. "Bargain basement pricing for higher profit comes before patriotism". Long live apathetic Canadians - we are what we buy.
If you would like to check-out my unofficial mascot Made in China flag...In the search bar type: VANOC, made in China.
By artboomer on November 30, 2007 - 12:35pm
Why are Vancouverites (Canadians) seemingly so unpatriotic?
Is multi-culturism finally getting in the way of national consumer support?
By artboomer on November 29, 2007 - 12:04pm
Well VANOC the verdict is in. Canadians are a much prouder race than you give credit. After your extensive market research geared to a younger market consumer YOU FORGOT it is the CANADIAN moms, dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles who will be buying on behalf of your niche chosen pre-teen market.
Made in China for any merchandising is going to raise havoc with proud adult Canadians everywhere. And for many good ethical reasons including the loss of Canadian manufacturing jobs! How much research VANOC did you really do in seeing if Canadians were willing to pay a little more for Olympic merchandise that displayed a "made in Canada" label...not!
Your continued shortsightedness in the operations of our upcoming 2010 Olympic Games is turning into a national embarrassment! With your apparent allegiance to China no doubt we can expect ALL official Olympic merchandise and apparel to be "made in China".
Again you have a wonderful Canadian model to work from - the 1988 Olympic Calgary Committee - OCO'88. They at least supported Canadian manufacturing which launched the successful "local" apparel company "Sun Ice".
Perhaps VANOC you should really be marketing the Beijing Olympic Games!
You just don't seem to get it...back to the drawing board.
If you want to see my editorial cartoon on this issue - click on the above "artboomer" link and on my homepage click on Blog drawings.
By artboomer on November 28, 2007 - 4:01pm
VANOC you never cease to amaze me...re: new mascot designs.
Yes they sure look cute but their rendered style unfortunately seems confusing to some Canadians. Today the local morning news stations interviewed a number of people on the streets of Vancouver and discovered that the majority thought they looked too Japanese (Manga Art), some were expecting the spirit bear, killer whale - that looked like a killer whale. Others flatly said they do not look Canadian enough rather Asian...Yikes.
If you want to see my editorial cartoon on this theme and more: click on
the above "artboomer" link then on homepage click on Blog dwgs icon.
By artboomer on November 28, 2007 - 12:01pm
VANOC you are once again forcing my drawing hand into overdrive! Yes we do have a large Asian population in Vancouver - a great community. But why oh why are you so bent and determined into making these games so controversial? Todays morning tv news programs looking for Vancouverite reaction to these new mascots beyond being "cute" is once again "controversial". The MAJORITY interviewed were finding them to be not in a "typical representational Canadian art style" but rather in a Japanese (manga art) style. This is the voice of Vancouver sounding off not just me.
Oh how I miss being part of the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary (CTV/CFCN production designer). It offered up a great Olympic logo creatively implementing the Olympic rings into a savvy CANADIAN maple leaf snow flake with cuddly non-controversial mascots - Heidi and Howdy.
VANOC you have a great Canadian Olympic model to work from - OCO 88. Just what the hell is your problem!...I am really getting tried in your lack of CANADIAN vision!...back to the drawing board.
By artboomer on November 27, 2007 - 1:05pm
Thanks but no thanks VANOC. We already have your Olympic logo which can easily dub as a mascot or two - with chosen names like: "Chuck", "Homer", and "Gumby". Choosing such a Winter Games Olympic icon that is first and foremost a sacred native heritage religious symbol took a lot of guts as the intended theme of this symbol has nothing to do with winter sports of any kind. But thank you for at least having the insight in selecting an image that "invites" open dialogue - an open mouth for satirical comment!
Is that Steve Miller's song "The Joker" I hear in the background...back to the drawing board.
By artboomer on November 27, 2007 - 9:29am
This morning VANOC unveils its two mascots. WHY. We already have an Olympic Winter Games logo that can easily be dubbed/work as a couple mascots. Like Chuck (Inukchuk), Gumby just to name two. And VANOC thanks for choosing a logo that did not follow your own design logo guidelines. "Sea to Sky, winter games, motion, capturing the essence in bringing together olympians into a global arena". Now it is time for us designers who entered your rigged design logo contest to strike back! Thank you so much for selecting a religious/spiritual symbol that has absolutely no connections to any sporting event winter or otherwise! But what I do like about it (a definite shortsightedness on your part VANOC) is it has an "open mouth begging for satirical comment" On behalf of all artists who entered your logo design contest thank you for opening "Gumby's" - I mean "Chuck's" mouth!
We will feast off your tunnel vision and lack of creative Olympian design...Back to the drawing board.
By artboomer on November 26, 2007 - 4:48pm
Why VANOC should have given us more insight in their perspective/stance in the mishandling and strong arm by the RCMP that caused the death of Robert Dziekanski is.....as in the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games - VANOC will be looking for approximately guessing - 1,000 "security volunteers"!!!
These concerned volunteer citizens may be a little apprehensive in standing next to or associated with gun slinging taser RCMP officers or they "morally" believe tasers should not be used (or only in extreme cases). They may also have been touched - in disgust in the way the RCMP ended the life of Robert Dziekanski. After all he was only looking for "police help"!
VANOC's silence in this matter could lead to a shortage of good men and women volunteering for olympic security personnel positions. Wouldn't be surprised if most Vancouverites morally want to keep a "safe" distance between themselves and the RCMP during the Games.
In family discussions and with close friends over the last couple 4 weeks...none want to be associated with or work with the RCMP. This can easily be translated as a serious moral issue working against VANOC during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. i.e. meeting their security quotas!
By artboomer on November 24, 2007 - 1:01pm
The Perception you are leaving us RCMP and YVR Airport Authority is in your continued self-denial and ineptness. If it were not for today's photo/video enhanced multi image gadgets you would have been able to shrug-off hide your inadequate inhumane behavior and abominable tactics.
No more no longer. Apparently there is a God after all and he is heavily into digital imagery devices.
As Vancouver's apparent and latest rebel non-conforming editorial cartoonist. I have been overwhelmed with emails in support in my graphic depictions in the tragic ending to a soul who was only looking for help but received instead the strong arm of the RCMP with no Airport Authority or security support for almost 10 hours. Such an injustice fuels my drawing hand.
And now in support I received today this 2010 Olympic t-shirt an "iconic depiction" illustrating something I have been trying so far in vain to prevent from happening VANOC and IOC...but your tardiness in this whole tragic affair has left you exposed and naked to this kind of graphic slander. Get ready VANOC this t-shirt is only the beginning it will prompt those you are turning off with your lack of "no voice" in this matter to realize you have become part of the problem.
