Well the Paralympics are open and we can all take a very brief moment to reflect. The last year and half has seen many highs and of course some lows to get to the show we presented on Friday. Throughout the process we commented we should have done a documentary on the process. Although it likely would have been a comedic documentary.

The show began to take shape in a ‘retreat’ to Whistler last year where we all put together thoughts and ideas and left with a clear theme ‘One Inspires Many’. The theme was so strong it helped us stay the course throughout the process. Having something so strong to come back to really helped, as we faced changes and challenges along the way.

Along the way we all met many new and fabulous people. Some of the early highlights for me included a trip to California with Patrick where we met Aaron (extreme wheelchair athlete) and his Mom. Getting to know Luca ‘Layz Legz’ in Seattle and then again in Montreal. And a trip to Toronto and Montreal with Patrick and Rob where we solidified design concepts. The summer also saw us start to put together the amazingly dedicated ‘behind the scenes’ team.

Along the way we always knew we wanted to present a fun, energetic, inspirational show. This is not the scale of the Olympics but it is no less important and we wanted a unique way to present our message. From all reports we succeeded. There are so many more highlights and images but time is tight as we are just finishing our load out from BC Place and leave for Whistler to present the Closing Ceremonies. These Ceremonies will also have high energy and reflect on the 2010 Paralympics. They will also be the final party to the Vancouver 2010 experience which we have been involved with for over 8 years.

One final thought from the Opening Ceremony and perhaps the biggest highlight. On Wednesday night as most of the cast and crew had left the building we rehearsed the final Cauldron lighting. It was then that Zach Beaumont found out from Betty Fox he would light the cauldron. That moment and the actual lighting during the Ceremonies are hard to put into words but as Zach’s dad told me yesterday he (and many of us) are having an ‘emotional hangover’.

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