There are just eight days until the biggest multi-sport event in Orillia’s history begins. With that in mind, OrilliaMatters will be publishing a daily countdown to help you get ready for the 2018 Ontario Winter Games.
Wednesday, Feb. 21
Each of the 3,200 athletes, coaches and managers who participate in the 2018 Ontario Winter Games hosted by Orillia will receive a welcome package that includes a hand-made postcard.
“We were talking one day about what we could give visitors that would not only be a personal welcome, but a souvenir as well,” said Gill Tillmann, chair of the Games’ organizing committee. “We had heard about a Seniors Games for 55+ where each participant was given a hand-knitted scarf. We knew there were way too many people coming for this event to knit scarves, so we came up with the idea of creating postcards.”
And while she conceded it seemed like a “daunting task” to inscribe thousands of postcards with personal messages, the reality was a little different. Tillmann said the three-person committee charged with the task employed social media to get the word out – and were flooded with interest and people willing to put pen to paper.
“One morning I was manning our booth at the Orillia Farmers’ Market and I had four teachers come and volunteer to make postcards a class exercise,” said Tillmann. “Those kids created some fabulous postcards. They’re adorable, have heartfelt messages printed with coloured pencil crayons … they are amazing.”
But it wasn’t just school kids that embraced the idea. Tillmann said local groups, families and individuals were happy to create original designs on the pre-printed postcards which were emblazoned with the colours and symbols of the 2018 Games.
On top of that, donations that came in with the postcards more than covered their cost. “It really is touching to know how many people wanted to send well wishes and to welcome athletes to Orillia,” said Tillmann.
