To be able to share a conversation with someone of like interests is rare and a real treat. Without fail these people are passionate about their craft and love to share their experiences. To be able to share a day with fifty people in our business is a wonderful experience! Today was just such a day. Peter and I travelled to Vancouver to participate in the Themed Entertainments Association's Vancouver Experience. It was a long day of interaction with fifty of the top people in the northwestern division of T.E.A. with delegates from the Pacific Northwest (and well beyond). We got to visit with some great friends and also made many new contacts. While we networked and shared stories we travelled by bus to visit four of Vancouver's top attractions for a backstage tour. It was very informative and entertaining and a day well spent! THANKS to the many organizers of this well planned event!!
Work at it's best!
Once in a while we'll host a group tour of our shop. It is an opportunity to share what we do and at the same time learn from others in our industry. Today the marketing and operations departments from WhiteWater Industries dropped in for a visit. Whitewater is the largest waterpark supplier and builder in the world. We toured the shop, then jumped over to Peter and Hailey's place to see a different style. Then it was off to a local restaurant for lunch and some sharing of ideas. We wrapped things up with a visit to Cultus Lake Adventure Park of course.
Our day couldn't be complete without at least one ride and after a group vote we decided to do a rapid overview of the park on the Runaway Mine Train coaster. A fun time was had by all!
Adding some serious BLING!
We take the workshops we host very seriously. Our guests travel from literally all over the world to attend and we do our very best to make sure they get great value for their money. One of the things we do for each attendee is create a dimensional name plaque which they will take home at the end of the workshop. Each of these plaques is skillfully hand painted. Becke (our master painter) generally calls dibs on this task and she does a great job too. Some of the name plaques need a little extra BLING to take them over the top. Becke is a master at surface gilding and today a number of the name plaques got the treatment. Depending on what the plaques needed they got variegated gold, silver or 23K gold!
