It’s been a big year for Trochu.
First, the community of about 1,100 came out on top last fall in the bid to win a giant 12-metre golf tee, installed outside the local golf course.
Now, the town has been named grand prize winner in the Own the Podium 2010 Municipalities’ Challenge by the Canadian Olympic Foundation. Winning the fundraising challenge means the community will receive an authentic Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games podium.
The community will also be recognized on a billboard in the Vancouver area during the Games, a signed flag by Canada’s athletes and a feature story on the Vancouver Olympic Committee website at www.vancouver2010.com
Town staffer Blaine Peterson, who sat on the Olympic Torch Relay committee and helped drum up support for the challenge, said there was a lot of excitement when they found out they were the overall winner.
“You still hear people talking on the street asking about when (the podium is) coming.”
It hasn’t been decided yet what to do with the mementos when they arrive. They will share them with the local school and they will all eventually end up in the museum.
The competition pitted municipalities against each other to raise the most money per capita in donations of $20.10 each. Trochu raised $642.50, which put it in the lead for communities under 40,000. The money raised goes to Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
The City of Red Deer won in the 80,001 to 120,000 category and will take home the autographed flag, and will get the billboard and website recognition.
Calgary won the over 160,000 category and will get the same prizes, along with Lanark County, Ont., (40,0001 to 80,000) and Cambridge, Ont., (120,001 to 160,000).