Our last two shifts - Part 16
- Isabelle Morin
- Feb 23
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 23
Our second‑to‑last shift on the 20th felt like classic “same‑same” East Gate duty. We were stationed at the entrance, guiding hospitality spectators and reduced‑mobility guests. Then something lovely happened: I spotted Valérie Maltais’ parents in the next lane; I rushed over, and to my surprise, her mom recognized me immediately, and remembered my name. I was ridiculously flattered.
She asked if I’d get to watch Valérie’s race that day. I told her that I wouldn’t be able to, because I was stationed outside, which was only partly true. The real reason? I was determined to catch the Men’s Hockey semifinal happening at the same time. As I explained in Part 12, East Gate volunteers are released once the race begins. So instead of watching speed skating, once release, Dave and I were planning to slip away to the Blues Canal (the unofficial Canada House) to watch the hockey game. We would miss the first period, but it was better than no game at all…And since I’d already seen Valérie’s first two races (both medal performances!), I didn’t feel too guilty. Sorry, Valérie’s mom… there just wasn’t time to explain.
Later in the shift, Rachel arrived late and got assigned alone at the metro entrance — nearly 600 metres from the nearest volunteer. When she texted me that, I told Dave I was heading over to join her. There was a huge plant & flowers exposition at the Rho Fiera complex that day, so security needed help managing the flow of expo visitors leaving, while speed skating spectators were arriving. We got some funny questions, including several hopeful expo visitors asking if they could buy last‑minute tickets to speed skating. Their disappointment was real when we checked online and saw everything was sold out. One woman even asked who “Holland” was playing against at hockey that day (because half the crowd was dressed in orange). I had to explain that there was no hockey in this arena anymore and that Dutch were just crazy speed skating fans! At 16:30, the competition began. Rachel returned to the East Gate, took over Dave’s job, and he met me at the metro so we could go watch the game.
The Last Shift
The morning of 21 February felt heavy with nostalgia. It was our final shift, the last time we’d wear the uniform officially (though I fully plan to wear mine back in Canada). Almost everyone we passed in the first ten minutes said some version of “Last shift… that makes me sad.” I felt the same, but I was also ready. Ready to stop standing for six hours straight. Ready because we had done every possible role (ushering, ticket scanning, giving directions, etc); and ready for the Games to wind down. You could also feel it in the air during the last few shifts, people were tired; it was not the same motivation or energy…
For our last shift, we were assigned to the East Gate (again!) and were promised we’d get to watch the second half of the race. Dave, Rachel, and I were chosen to scan tickets. There was only one real rush: the final 20 minutes before the race began. I saw Valérie’s parents again and told them I would see her race this time. As promised, we were released about 30 minutes after the start of the race, but our supervisor told us that we were needed afterward to help with egress.
Inside, the race wasn’t halfway done yet, so we caught the women’s semifinals — both Valérie Maltais and Ivanie Blondin qualified for the final. It was my first time watching the mass start event and, honestly, it’s far more exciting than traditional pairs. With 16 laps and everything decided in the final sprint, the energy was electric. Ivanie won silver, and Valérie (despite a fall on lap two) clawed her way back to finish fifth. Watching them take a victory lap together was wonderful.
When the medal ceremony began, they presented the men’s medals first. Since Canada hadn’t medalled, Dave and I slipped out to help with egress inside the arena. It wasn’t technically our assigned spot, but they’re always short‑staffed there, especially near the infamous closed door I mentioned in Part 13. I helped a few confused spectators and one very angry Italian man who declared the organization “shameful.” I resisted the urge to say, “Next time, you organize it.”
As soon as the women’s medal ceremony began, we hurried back inside, stayed until Ivanie received her silver medal, and then rushed back out to our original post. When we arrived, at least a dozen volunteers were already lined up to say goodbye to spectators. When I told the supervisor she didn’t need us, she laughed and said, “Usually no one shows up, even when I ask!” I guess everyone wanted to savour the final moments this time.
Dave and I joined the farewell line anyway. We waved people out, and the gratitude was overwhelming; countless spectators said thank you, and you could tell they meant it.
Near the end, I saw Valérie’s parents one last time and told her mom about my blog. I joked that she had far more important things to do right now, but she could read it once the dust settled.
I also ran into Ivanie’s cousin, who told me he’d checked out my blog (we had met after the team pursuit event where the Canadian women won gold). Then I spotted a tiny boy, maybe three years old, with the same iconic mullet as the men’s gold medalist, Jorrit Bergsma. When I pointed his haircut to Dave, someone in the boy’s group said, “That’s his son.” I immediately ran over and gave him one of my Canada pins.
When most spectators had left, the volunteers took one final group photo. People slowly drifted off, but Dave and I stayed a little longer, I was curious to see who else we would see. That’s when we saw Francesca Lollobrigida, the Italian double‑gold medalist (her first medal won during my very first shift!). Francesca was leaving the arena pushing a stroller with her son. Like everyone else, she was making her way down that very long hallway leading to the metro or taxis … one last time. And, a couple minutes after her, Dave and I walked that same hallway, for the very last time, with nothing else then the best memories ever!
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