Matt Corker

Four years ago, Jen Gill, the President of the Place Vanier Residents’ Association at the time, asked me to help her create a new event at UBC. She wanted something different, something people would talk about, and something people would be proud to participate in.

Enter the Mr. Vanier contest.

Ten gents competing for the coveted Mr. Vanier crown (made of nails, screws, and wire) by showcasing their dance moves, their unique talents, their ability to think on their feet during an interview, and their favourite casual and formal wear. As if the hundred screaming fans in attendance aren’t pressure enough, 3 judges are given the task of evaluating and ranking each contestant’s performance.

Not only do contestants compete for the Mr. Vanier title itself, they each strive to obtain their own “Mr.” title that fits their personality and performance. For example, Mr. Front Desk is awarded to the guy who is always there for you regardless of the time of day, Mr. Roommate for the one who makes the perfect sidekick that you could actually stand living with, and Mr. Congeniality (the only title voted on by the contestants themselves) for the gent who was well-mannered, easy to get along with and made the rehearsals fun to be at. While some titles are unique each year, others are repeated – creating a lineage of men sharing a similar reputation.

The Mr. Vaniers of previous years all come back to Place Vanier (wearing their sashes) to cheer on, support, and congratulate all the new gentlemen that are a part of this legacy. The previous organizers, choreographers, judges and contestants are all treated as VIPs for the night, but are really more of a peanut gallery – adding in witty banter or the odd “ow ow” when needed. This was the first year I sat in the VIP section without having been involved in the show. A strange experience, but I knew when I asked Warren Springer (Mr. Congeniality 2008) to keep the tradition alive, he wouldn’t let me down. And MAN did he deliver! Check out the first minute of the video below to get a taste of what he helped put on:

While the show itself was incredibly entertaining, I was more proud of Warren’s ability to keep the spirit of Mr. Vanier alive. Teaching a guy how to dance or perform his talent is not about teaching the motions – it’s about teaching the confidence required to pull them off. It’s about creating cohesion amongst a team of strangers. It’s about becoming a part of something bigger than just one night.

Mr. Vanier will always be more than just an event for us. It is about a community of gentlemen that faced a fear, learned something new, did something memorable, and were praised for just standing up and trying. To this year’s Mr. Vaniers, I extend an incredibly sincere congratulations and welcome. You’ve proved yourselves to be great additions to the team!

Until next year gentlemen…

Pick of the post: Jay Sean – Do You Remember (official music video)

Sometimes you just have to tell it like it is:

Pick of the post: Ke$ha – Your Love Is My Drug

With a familiar routine coming back into my life, it’s time to focus on my health. When I saw this ad for Asics, it reminded me that along with a strong body comes a strong mind. Getting more than just an endorphin rush, by exercising you refresh your outlook on life and strengthen your commitment to it.

Check. I’m ready to kick a little asphalt.

Pick of the post: John Mayer – Perfectly Lonely (live at Beacon Theatre)

Dust only collects on unused objects, forgotten memorabilia, and stagnant ambition. It’s time to shake the dust.

Pick of the post: Timbaland ft Justin Timberlake – Carry Out (official music video)

After 2 weeks of extreme sensory overload and more versions of ‘O Canada’ than I can count on five hands, the 2010 Olympic Games are sadly over. I spent my weeks both in and outside the bubble – visiting the pavilions and taking in the free attractions in between my volunteer shifts at UBC Thunderbird Arena and the rehearsals/performances as an “Athlete Marshall” in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Yes, I can now share the fact that I was one of the “snow people” that danced behind the athletes. I think Stephen Colbert said it best when he said: “The only thing whiter than their costumes was their dance moves.” Gotta love it!

Being in both of the ceremonies was quite an experience, especially considering it was far different than any other performance I’d ever been a part of. Below are, what I would consider, the most interesting elements of the ceremonies that only those working them would know:

1. There were understudies for the understudies. Not all the performers you saw on stage were those we saw in rehearsals. For example, the flying boy in the Opening had a female counterpart that performed at the dress rehearsal earlier that week. Likewise, there were three snowboarders practicing the memorable jump through the Olympic rings. One injured himself, which left two boarders to duke it out over a coin toss the night before.
   
2. To stay on on time and synchronized, all the cast members had in-ear monitors. Every cast group was on a different channel that listened to a choreographer or director walk them through every “call.” Our calls were simple: at ease, attention, sway, groove, mosh, and “too funky” (my favourite choreographed move that only appeared in the Closing ceremony, but got quite the applause from the crowd). Once we were out on the stage (or “field of play”) we had to turn up the volume on our monitors in order to still hear our instructions. When Team Canada first walked onto the field in the Opening Ceremony, the crowd erupted with such force that we couldn’t hear anything but the cheers. 
   
3. All the stage managers, crew, and choreographers were dressed in white. If you’ve ever worked in theatre, you would know that if you work behind the scenes, you are usually in black. Since the entire set, and cast, were dressed in white, this allowed crew members and choreographers to freely walk around on the field without drawing too much attention to themselves. In the picture below, those two lovely ladies are actually choreographers! Sneaky, but so effective!
   
4. You were a number and a coordinate. During rehearsals, cast members wore bibs with numbers on them. The floor of the rehearsal compound was marked out in a grid. The choreographers had huge floor plans of the field in the stadium that was also marked out in a grid. When doing formations, they would say “#31, you are on -1A” and then “walk to B6.” Those points and that path would then be your choreography markers. When we got into the stadium, all we had to do was find our coordinates on the field to know exactly where we were and where to go.
5. Some performers never showed. Joni Mitchell was supposed to be singing live in the Opening, and Martin Short was supposed to give another comedic speech during the Closing. No idea what happened to either, but we definitely didn’t see them when on their big nights.
   
6. Everything was top secret. This meant we did everything from not talking about what we were doing with our friends and family to going to a rehearsal from 10:30 pm – 12:30 am to practice the pyrotechnics in the snowboarding jump section. They wanted to keep everything as secret as possible. Same went for the “major talent” – all very hush hush until we got into the stadium and they were standing mere meters away from us. All this secrecy was pitched to the cast as part of our role in “enhancing the mystery around the ceremony.” And most of us just ate that right up and played along the entire time! It was part of the fun.
7. The gold touch. During the Closing Ceremonies, a mere hours after we had won our final gold medal, the creative team decided to celebrate by adding gold medals around all the giant hockey players’ necks. Sassy – but frig did we love them!
   

All that being said, the best part of the “behind the scenes” were the other cast members. I can easily say that they were the ones that made the experience so memorable. Waiting around for hours and “enjoying” the same boxed meal every day never seemed so bad when surrounded with such a positive and eclectic bunch.

Thanks so much for all the smiles! … now onto the Paralympics!

Pick of the post: 3OH!3 ft Katy Perry – Starstrukk (official music video)

“A difference, to be a difference, must make a difference.” – Dr. James Farr

This quote has been on a sticky for the past few weeks on my desk. It helps me contextualize buzz words like “different” and “remarkable.” These are just some of the nouns rooted in verbs – those requiring action to be realized.

While inspiring words are lovely to hear, inspiring actions are incredible to experience. That is how you will make a difference.

Pick of the post: Phoenix – If I Ever Feel Better

It’s easy to celebrate together when you’re nearby. When you are close, you can share high-fives, hugs, and tasty treats. It gets more difficult to celebrate together when you are timezones apart. With friends, family, and a wonderful partner now spread across the globe, I’m experiencing both the hardships and ease of sharing the celebrations with a global network. (And boy do we have something to celebrate here in Vancouver!)

Even though pictures, Skype calls, status updates, tweets and blogs can do a great job at sharing information it doesn’t overwhelm one’s senses. They give only a slice of the celebration. On Valentine’s Day, however, I was reminded how to warm someone’s heart from miles away.

My partner enlisted the help of three friends to deliver gifts and notes to me throughout the day. They were all unexpected and totally amazing. One friend even arrived to my pad as we were heading out to the bar with a huge bouquet of flowers. The smiles and the laughs I shared with my friends were the perfect reminder of everything I love about my partner and made for the best way we could have celebrated Valentine’s Day together.

He reminded me that when you are looking to celebrate something from a distance, think about how to overwhelm their senses. The personal touch from people around them usually does that the best. Help create those connections rather than just sharing the celebration after the fact.

So, on that note, don’t be sitting alone the next time you’re watching Team Canada win a gold! Share the moment!

Pick of the post: Michael Franti & Spearhead – Say Hey (I Love You) (official music video)

The 20 seconds we share with a stranger passing us on the street is filled with opportunity. We could smile and brighten their day. We could ignore them and give them the cold shoulder. We could trip them, nudge them, yell at them, or even try to steal their iPod.

The interesting thing is that we don’t usually know who that stranger is or, more importantly, who that stranger will become. They may go on to yield incredible influence and be able to shape how our community, our country, our world is led – for better or for worse.

Now imagine if those 20 seconds were the ones that gave them such a positive perception of your community that they went on to create monumental changes for your community.

With the world coming to Vancouver for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, we have more than just 20 seconds with some strangers. We have packed buses, crowded streets, and long lines that are filled with opportunity.

We can yell, get frustrated, and complain about all these “stupid tourists.” Or we can smile, have patience, and offer up our seat. We’re not just here to “welcome the world.” We are here to engage with the world. It is with a level of engagement, those small interactions and nuances, that we will be able to leave a lasting impression on the hearts of future world leaders.

They are coming.

How are you going to represent Canada when they are here?

Pick of the post: Kris Allen – Live Like You’re Dying (official music video)

Since August of last year I have been following a great blog called Five Rules For Life. Essentially, readers submit to the author what their five guidelines to leading a “happy, successful, and fulfilling life” are.

In December, I decided to commit to determing what my five rules would be … and I just finished now!

Over the last two months, I asked myself some questions like: What values shape the way I think? How do I want to live my life? What are the rules in work, love, family, community? (…and, the big one) What five lessons would I want to pass on to my children?

So, without further adieu, my five:

1. Say please and thank you. I agree with the SuperForest Humanifesto when it says that these three words will save the human race.  Some may chalk this up as having good manners, while others could categorize this as being respectful, having compassion, or showing gratitude. Those three words encapsulate all of that for me.
2. Make positive changes. Simply stated, it is our responsibility to leave this world a better place than when we first arrived.
3. Invest in people. Put your energy, time and money into developing great leaders and citizens. No other investment will ever provide a greater return than this one does.
4. Be an explorer. Discover new ideas, landscapes, and yourself.
5. Enjoy it.

Nailing down only five from my looooong list was a tough process. That being said, I’m amazed at how refreshing it is to look at these ones. It signals to me that the nail has been hit on the head. Boo yah!

If you had to write five rules to life, what would they be?

Pick of the post: Needtobreathe – Something Beautiful

My black suit hates me. While I’ve worn each piece separately, I don’t think the full suit has seen the light of day (or the tunes at night) for some time. This may be because my love for its step-cousin (the vest) has a firm grip on me or because I just feel boring in it. Wearing it reminds me of those events in business school where everyone is standing in a sea of black suits … bored.

Recently, I started feeling a little boring with my work wardrobe. Not a good sign, as I didn’t want to go out and buy new clothes (and there are only so many ways of wearing the same shirt). Instead, I thought back to this video I saw from the GQ Rules’ Style Minute series last year:

Check! To get back to feeling great in my work wear, I needed to add some pizazz! My totally rad bro-in-law then rocked my world at Christmas with the best find that did just the trick: Happy Socks!

Each time I wear them I get compliments on my sock choice! I then grin even bigger when I get to lean over and say “they’re called HAPPY Socks!” That usually involves both parties chuckling and some even respond with a “of course they are.”

If you’re getting bored of wearing the same outfits to work, save some pennies and grab some socks that will make a statement. These bad boys certainly make MY feet smile!

Pick of the post: I Believe – Nikki Yanofsky (…in honour of my first volunteer shift – today! HEYO!)