The Pan American Race

On July 8, 2015 the Mentors and Young Reporters split up into teams to explore Toronto as well as to team build. We were given tasks to accomplish during the morning. My team, Team 5, got off to a slow start due to the tardiness of one of our teammates. Nevertheless, we forged on. Armed with a map, subway tokens, and gift cards, we went from place to place riding the trolly, train, and subway. Along the way we were tasked to find places, take pictures, buy Canadian snacks, order from Tim Horton's, a popular donut and coffee shop that can be found almost on every corner and in the subways, and find Pan American venues, sponsors, and symbols of the Games. In addition, we had to get our uniforms and accreditation. We also did quite a bit of walking. There were 7 of us 2 mentors and 5 reporters. We accomplished all but one task, going up the CN Tower. Most teams ran out of time. It was a lot of fun though we came in last.

The task of taking a selfie with an icon of the Games. Check.

Pachi is the official Mascot. 

Building on Ryerson University Campus. 

This is where the basketball venue is located. A couple of blocks from our dorms.

This is Rajay and he is from Jamaica. He has a great spirit. He is willing to talk to anyone and everyone. As we were walking, he spotted a bicyclist who competes for Mexico. He ran after him and one of the reporters from Mexico took as selfie and we talked to him. He had competed in several Olympic Games. It was cool meeting him.

From inside an upscale market. It is wonderful.

We had to find "center ice" for this famous ice rink. It happened to be on isle 25 at the local grocery store which was next to the basketball venue. Historic!

At this store we were asked to by some popular Canadian snacks. Most of the team wasn't too keen on the Ketchup Lays Potato Chips, but I loved them. I had tried them when I worked at the Vancouver Olympic Games in 2010.

Here Alejandra is from Guatemala and here she is passing out the subway tokens. Now that we have our accreditation, we can ride the public transportation for free. 

My teammates.

This is how you can tell what stop we are approaching and which ones are coming up. The green lights are the stops the subway train has already passed, the yellow lights are the transfer stations, and the red lights show how many more until the end of the aisle. It is very helpful.

Posters like this one are all over the trains. I thought is was beautiful.

Rajay is doing his thing. He is fulfilling a task we had by talking to a rider about the universities around Toronto.

These trains were long. The picture on top is to the right of me, and the picture below is taken on the left of me.

They were trying to figure out which donut they wanted.

There are many pieces of art all over the city. This one is in the subway.

This is where we try on uniforms for sizes.

At the accreditation and goodies.

This is the volunteer wall. It has signatures for all over the Americas and the Caribbean. 

Volunteers who were helping us.

Can you find where I signed the volunteer wall?

Waiting for everyone to get their uniforms and accreditation.

One of the hallways in the Main Media Center. There are names of people hanging from the celling.

Flags surround the Main Media Center.

This is the fountain and vegetable and herb garden outside of the dorms.

Just liked this building.

Passed this lady doing chalk art out is the subway.

I love how they have art and beautiful architecture.

Shaka was on top of a bus shelter.

Love the sculptures around town.