Interview with Randy Nelson

Partial Transcript: The only Canada Games I've been a part of were the 1993 Canada Games here in Kamloops.

Segment Synopsis: Randy explains how he became involved in the 1993 Canada Summer Games in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Keywords: 1993; Basketball; Canada Summer Games; Diving; Kamloops; Sailing; Security; Wrestling

Subjects: Volunteering

Partial Transcript: Well I was born and raised in Saskatchewan on a farm near a little town called Hodgeville and participated in a lot of sports...

Segment Synopsis: Randy tells us a little about himself including where he was born, where he grew up, and where he lives now.

Keywords: British Columbia; Department of Fisheries; Fraser River; Hodgeville; Kamloops; Saskatchewan; Saskatoon

Partial Transcript: Well, getting there before any events were set to begin and just checking doors. I expect today Canada Games are, you know, the amount of security required….

Segment Synopsis: Randy talks about his volunteer role doing security at the wrestling venue at the 1993 Canada Summer Games in Kamloops, BC.

Partial Transcript: Well, I guess when I was there, having Saskatchewan roots you never lose those roots and I sort of became chummy with the Saskatchewan wrestling team.

Segment Synopsis: Randy talks about the socialization that took place at the Canada Games, and the relationship he formed with Team Saskatchewan's wrestlers.

Keywords: athletes; cheering; coaches; socialize; wrestling

Subjects: Spectator's Perspective

Partial Transcript: Yeah, as I said, Saskatchewan was a powerhouse team and there were, as I remember, about ten events.

Segment Synopsis: Randy tells the story of the gold medal men's wrestling match that he witnessed at the 1993 Canada Summer Games in Kamloops, BC and calls it "one of the most exciting sporting events I've ever witnessed."

Keywords: Final; Gold Medal; Team Newfoundland; Underdog

Subjects: Spectator's Perspective

Partial Transcript: Yes, yes, and that’s what’s so much fun; their innocence, their naiveté, their nervousness, it's all pent up and you never know how you're going to rise to an occasion until you're put into that spot at any age.

Segment Synopsis: Randy explains how he has encouraged his own children to participate in sports.

Keywords: Kids; Sports

Partial Transcript: Quite a bit of time has passed. It's been, you know, 27 years since the Games. I haven't kept in touch; I did for a little while with some of the Saskatchewan wrestlers...

Segment Synopsis: Randy talks about how he witnessed the Canada Games as a unifying force for Canadians everywhere.

Keywords: 1967; 2010 Vancouver Olympics; amateur; camaraderie

Subjects: Canadian Identity; Unity Through Sport

Partial Transcript: Yes, I'm not just a sports junkie, I'm a sports memorabilia junkie and I have a boxfulls of stuff.

Segment Synopsis: Randy talks about the different pins he collected at the 1993 Canada Summer Games in Kamloops, BC.

Keywords: Gear; Memorabilia; Pin(s); President's Pin; Tracksuit

Subjects: Preserving Canada Games Materials

Partial Transcript: Kamloops is known as the tournament capital of Canada. That's our slogan for the community.

Segment Synopsis: Randy lists the various buildings and infrastructure left behind as built legacies of the 1993 Canada Summer Games in Kamloops, BC.

Keywords: Canada Games pool; Community; Running track; Sport facilities; Swimming

Subjects: Built Legacy

Partial Transcript: I would say for most it's much of a distant memory, and it was to me as well until I read the article about it that reminded me.

Segment Synopsis: Randy says that the memory of the 1993 Canada Summer Games is distant for many in Kamloops, BC.

Keywords: Event

Subjects: Collective Memory

Partial Transcript: I participated in a lot of sports myself, and I had done a little bit of volunteering. I helped organize the first ever Terry Fox run in 1981 in Terrace.

Segment Synopsis: Randy talks about why he loves to volunteer at sporting events, and the connections that can be built between the athletes, participants, and the community.

Keywords: Kamloops; Running; Terry Fox Run; Tournament capital

Subjects: Spectator's Perspective; Volunteering

Partial Transcript: Well, when I got them out I took pictures of them and I put them back in the boxes. I didn't dig them out again today but I know, one large banner that says, “Share the Dream”.

Segment Synopsis: Randy lists some of the different items and ephemera he was able to collect from the 1993 Canada Summer Games in Kamloops, BC.

Keywords: Banner; Memorabilia; Passport; Stamp(s); Tracksuit

Subjects: Preserving Canada Games Materials

Partial Transcript: Probably the tracksuit, I guess. It's not something, you know, it wouldn’t be available to anybody, it was kind of a special gift.

Segment Synopsis: Randy talks about his Team Saskatchewan tracksuit and his Rick Hansen autograph as a few mementos that stand out in his personal Canada Games collection.

Keywords: Brier; Gear; Prince George; Rick Hansen; Team Newfoundland; autograph; pamphlet

Subjects: Preserving Canada Games Materials

Partial Transcript: I thought about that and probably if I dug back to some of the head organizers of getting the Games together I’d probably find out.

Segment Synopsis: Randy says that the "Share the Dream" slogan meant to him that the community and all Games participants were able to play a part in making the sporting dreams of these young athletes come true.

Subjects: Unity through Sport

Partial Transcript: I was middle aged when it happened. I was in my late 30s. So, I had a lot, formed a lot of ways that I dealt with it.

Segment Synopsis: Randy says that the Canada Games helped him see the value in spectating and learning about new sports, and the value in volunteerism. He also talks about how participating in sport impacted his children when they were growing up.

Keywords: Curling; Dancing; Speed skating; Swimming

Subjects: Discipline; School; Time Management; Volunteering

Partial Transcript: Absolutely. I think sport does more to unify a country than just about anything else, these Canada Games certainly as well.

Segment Synopsis: Randy talks about how sports bring people together.

Keywords: 2010 Vancouver Olympics; Camaraderie; Oh Canada

Subjects: Canadian Identity; Spectator's Perspective; Unity Through Sport

Partial Transcript: Just being proud that... I knew somebody from Newfoundland, for example.

Segment Synopsis: Randy explains how sports can be used to unify Canadians in all different provinces and territories, and the role of coaches in driving athletes to succeed in sport.

Keywords: Coach(es); Gold Medal; Team Newfoundland

Subjects: Canadian Identity; Unity Through Sport

Partial Transcript: No, I haven't had the opportunity. You know, I would and might someday if it happens.

Segment Synopsis: Randy talks about whether or not he's attended any other Canada Games.

Keywords: 2025; Newfoundland

Partial Transcript: No, I haven't had the opportunity. You know, I would and might someday if it happens.

Segment Synopsis: Randy offers some encouragement to individuals thinking about volunteering at the 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagara.

Keywords: Rewarding

Subjects: Volunteering

Partial Transcript: No, I went through my diary. I keep daily diaries. I went through it and I'd forgotten that we were part of these Games right from the torch run.

Segment Synopsis: Randy shares his special memory of running with his family and other members of the community the last kilometer of the torch relay before the opening ceremonies began.

Keywords: Opening Ceremonies; Torch

Subjects: Spectator's Perspective