And What a Day it was…
Unbelievable experience. We were walking to the bus stop to go into Whistler to hear Ali Milner and her band play at the Olympic Torch Lighting celebration. As we got to the corner the torch was actually going by! A life experience. Made me cry. So rather than wait at the bus stop, we followed it out to the highway.
Ali on the big screen at the Olympic Torch Lighting
When we got into town, we went over to Skiers' Plaza. Huge stage. And absolutely enormous crowds. Finally we saw the flame coming in from up the mountain, driven by our friend Julia Murray on snowmobile. Julia is the daughter of Crazy Canuck, Dave Murray, and she will compete on the Skier Cross team this Olympics. She handed the torch off to another Crazy Canuck and also a good friend, Steve Podborski who skied down the mountain with it. I cried again. Steve handed it off to Tyler Allison, a grade 12 student here in Whistler, who is a future Olympic hopeful for the London Games. Tyler lit the cauldron. Ali sang O Canada, and guess what, 9000 people in the Plaza sang along with her. What a moment!
After some speeches, Ali and the band played a terrific up beat set that had the crowd dancin' on the snow. Lots of folks were filming. I hope it ends up on YouTube. Let us know. Then Ali grabbed her keyboard and raced over to the Whistler-Canada Olympic House to play for another party with the Premier. An absolutely fantastic night. We are all caught up in Olympic fever.
Ali…before the Olympics even start
Living in Whistler is definitely living in the middle of the Olympics. New stuff happening every day. Even new bus stops, new hydrogen buses, new fences, new stages, army guys in fatigues, helicopters, F18's....I mean Wow! So how does this impact a 19 year old redhead who grew up here and who everyone knows as the go-to-girl for entertainment.
Just to give you a sense, I'll tell you about Feb 5th and Feb 6th. Feb 5th of course is the day the Olympic Torch comes to Whistler and the cauldron is lit. We have watched it cross Canada, excitement mounting all the way. So you can imagine how our little town is lining up to welcome it. We expect up to 9000 people at Skiers' Plaza. And guess who will be playing with her band when it gets here. How exciting is that?!
As soon as the Torch Ceremonies are over, Ali has to grab her keyboard and race over to the Whistler Canada Centre (formerly known as the Whistler Library) for a post Torch VIP reception hosted by the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation. Now it's actually difficult to race when you are hauling a keyboard, so this should be something to behold.
Next morning, she is up for another reception at the Whistler Canada Centre which takes her to mid-afternoon. And then, she may just have time for lunch before a special Olympic car picks her up to take her to Athlete's Village where she will perform for the world's best. How cool is that!
So 4 gigs in 48 hours...and the Olympics don't even start for a week after that.
FUN!!!
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Ali just released her new album “I Dare You”.
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Here is what Bob Segarini from FYI Music says about her...
“She didn't need an audience, she was there for the music. This young woman means every note she plays, every word she sings. This young woman is real. This young woman is special.”
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I Dare You showcases a singer/songwriter with voice, composure and songwriting skills way beyond her years and phrasing which, as amazing as it is, is bound to only get better with time. Pile on immaculate production by one Don McLeod, who puts his finger on the pulse of Milner's musical heartbeat, and you have a winner. An award winner, to my ears. I'm serious.
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