Jack Poole
Encyclopedia
John W. "Jack" Poole, OC
, OBC
(April 14, 1933, Mortlach, Saskatchewan
– October 23, 2009, Vancouver
, British Columbia
) was a Canadian
businessman who, as the head of the VANOC bid committee, was responsible for bringing the 2010 Winter Olympics
to Canada.
He died of pancreatic cancer
shortly after midnight on October 23, 2009, hours after the Olympic Flame
was lit at the beginning of the 2010 Winter Olympics torch relay, in Olympia, Greece
Poole was made a member of the Order of British Columbia
in 2003 and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
in 2006.
in 1954, with a degree in civil engineering
. He subsequently entered the field of real estate development
(in which position he hired current B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, then a teenager, as a laborer; Poole later joked that he had given Campbell "his first job", and that by choosing Poole to chair VANOC, Campbell "gave me my last"). Poole co-founded Daon Development Corporation, the second-largest real estate development company in North America until its collapse in 1982
.
, is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
. His granddaughter Erin Hawksworth
is a reporter.
and 2010 Winter Paralympics
, the former Thurlow Plaza was renamed Jack Poole Plaza in his memory. The external cauldron for the games was chosen to be built at the Jack Poole Plaza as well.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, OBC
Order of British Columbia
The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
(April 14, 1933, Mortlach, Saskatchewan
Mortlach, Saskatchewan
Mortlach is a village in Wheatlands Rural Municipality No. 163, Saskatchewan, Canada. The population was 254 at the 2006 Census. The village is located on the Trans Canada Highway about 40 km west of the city of Moose Jaw...
– October 23, 2009, Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
businessman who, as the head of the VANOC bid committee, was responsible for bringing the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
to Canada.
He died of pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
shortly after midnight on October 23, 2009, hours after the Olympic Flame
Olympic Flame
The Olympic Flame or Olympic Torch is a symbol of the Olympic Games. Commemorating the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus by Prometheus, its origins lie in ancient Greece, where a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics. The fire was reintroduced at the 1928...
was lit at the beginning of the 2010 Winter Olympics torch relay, in Olympia, Greece
Olympia, Greece
Olympia , a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad , the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC...
Poole was made a member of the Order of British Columbia
Order of British Columbia
The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
in 2003 and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 2006.
Professional history
Poole graduated from the University of SaskatchewanUniversity of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
in 1954, with a degree in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
. He subsequently entered the field of real estate development
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
(in which position he hired current B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, then a teenager, as a laborer; Poole later joked that he had given Campbell "his first job", and that by choosing Poole to chair VANOC, Campbell "gave me my last"). Poole co-founded Daon Development Corporation, the second-largest real estate development company in North America until its collapse in 1982
Early 1980s recession
The early 1980s recession describes the severe global economic recession affecting much of the developed world in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The United States and Japan exited recession relatively early, but high unemployment would continue to affect other OECD nations through at least 1985...
.
Family
Poole was born the son of John Poole, a grain dealer. He is survived by his second wife Darlene, four daughters, a stepson and his extended family. One of his grandsons, Blake HawksworthBlake Hawksworth
Blake Edward Hawksworth is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is 6' 3" and weighs 195 pounds.-Career:...
, is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. His granddaughter Erin Hawksworth
Erin Hawksworth
Erin Hawksworth is a Canadian reporter, who works for KCPQ, the Fox affiliate in Seattle. Previously, she worked for WFXT, the Fox affiliate in Boston, WFAA in Dallas, Texas and KJCT in Grand Junction, Colorado...
is a reporter.
Legacy
To honour his work and achievement for the 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
and 2010 Winter Paralympics
2010 Winter Paralympics
The 2010 Winter Paralympics, officially the X Paralympic Winter Games, or the 10th Winter Paralympics, were held in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada from March 12 to 21, 2010. The Opening Ceremony took place in BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and the Closing Ceremony in Whistler...
, the former Thurlow Plaza was renamed Jack Poole Plaza in his memory. The external cauldron for the games was chosen to be built at the Jack Poole Plaza as well.