2014 Grey Cup

[TheLionKing]

Lions announce the GM and Co-Chairs of the 2014 Grey Cup Committee

http://bclions.com/video/index/id/85333

[danfootball48]

Were is Scott Ackles again ?

[TheLionKing]

My thought as well. Never heard of the GM and the co-chairs.

[Hambone]

Were is Scott Ackles again ?

It was said shortly after it was announced Vancouver would be hosting that he wouldn't be leading this one. Not sure if that was his own decision or not. The amount of time and effort it takes to head up something like a Grey Cup has to take a tremendous amount of time and energy and as a result take a heavy toll on one's family life. After having led the charge for the 2005, 2009 and 2011 Grey Cups I'm thinking he'd probably like to sit back and enjoy one for a change.

[sj-roc]

My thought as well. Never heard of the GM and the co-chairs.

I knew I'd heard Jamie Pitblado's name before but wasn't sure where until I just did some googling. Turns out he was on the 2005GC organising committee so he probably learned a thing or two from SA and they no doubt remain no strangers to each other; he had a similar role with the 2007 CHL Memorial Cup. He was also one of the founding members of the Waterboys group that Bob Ackles started when he came back in 2002, and is among the trustees of the BC Football HOF (which Ackles was also instrumental in establishing). His regular gig is VP Promotions & Community Investment with the Vancouver Sun & Province papers; no doubt Skulsky's own history in the newspaper business came into play here.

http://bcfootballhalloffame.com/directo ... blado.html

[sj-roc]

Lions announce the GM and Co-Chairs of the 2014 Grey Cup Committee

http://bclions.com/video/index/id/85333

Here's the print version of the story also from the Lions' website. Scott Ackles might have been a more recognisable public face for the Lions to put forth but it seems like a safe bet none of these guys are Johnny-Come-Latelys. All of them are members of the Waterboys and worked on at least one of the last two Vancouver GCs, in 2005 and 2011.

http://bclions.com/article/lions-announ ... rship-team

Wednesday, June 26th, 2013

BCLions.com Staff

BC Lions president and CEO Dennis Skulsky announced this morning the appointment of Jamie Pitblado as the 2014 Grey Cup Festival general manager as well as Bill Weymark and Michael Graydon as festival committee co-chairs.

"We are fortunate to have people with this quality of senior leadership experience and pedigree agree to take on this important role of helping our community put on the best possible Grey Cup Festival,” said Skulsky. “All three of these gentlemen have been successful in business and leadership roles and I know they will work exceptionally well together and surround themselves with a strong team of Grey Cup Festival staff and volunteers.”

"I am so pleased that our 2014 Grey Cup Festival team has Jamie, Bill and Michael at the helm,” said David Braley, owner of the BC Lions. “I truly believe we have found an all-star cast to take on these key leadership roles and I’m confident that we are in for an outstanding Grey Cup Festival following the tremendous successes we saw in 2011 and 2005."

A familiar face in the Vancouver business community, Pitblado spent 19 years as vice president, promotions and community investment for Pacific Newspaper Group Inc., publisher of The Vancouver Sun and The Province and was responsible for the overall strategy and direction of the promotions department and its role in promoting and marketing the sale of both newspapers.

“Jamie Pitblado will be taking on the role as general manager of the 2014 Grey Cup Festival and will also be joining the BC Lions Football Club as a member of our management team,” said Skulsky. “Jamie is a great acquisition to play the lead role for the club to work with the CFL in helping to organize and stage the 2014 Grey Cup Championship and Festival here in Vancouver. He has an extensive network of contacts and relationships with business and community leaders throughout our province. As a founding member of the Waterboys business ambassadors group, his passion and enthusiasm for the Lions, CFL football and our community is well-documented."

Jamie was also the lead for the Canwest sponsorship of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games and also served as the company’s spokesperson on all media-related issues. No stranger to CFL football, Pitblado is a founding member of the Waterboys group and also served on the 2011, 2005 and 1999 Grey Cup Committees.

“I am thrilled and grateful to be named general manager of the 2014 Grey Cup Festival,” said Pitblado. “Having had the pleasure of working with Bill and Michael on past Grey Cups and of course, my long relationship with Dennis Skulsky, I am confident our festival will among the best in CFL history and I cannot wait to get started.”

Joining Pitblado and bringing a wealth of managerial and Grey Cup festival experience are Bill Weymark, president of Weymark Engineering Ltd. and Michael Graydon, president and CEO of the BC Lottery Corporation.

"We are very pleased to have Bill and Michael agree to take on these significant roles as co-chairs of the 2014 Grey Cup Festival Committee,” said Skulsky. “They are both exceptional leaders and bring different and yet very complementary styles to these roles. They are big, big football fans and have been outstanding supporters of the BC Lions and the CFL. They also bring a varied network of contacts in our community which will bode well for ensuring our business success."

In addition to overseeing Weymark Engineering Ltd., a company providing consulting services to businesses in the private equity, construction and resource sector, Weymark is also director of the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Board, and a number of public and private companies. Bill has been active with the BC Lions for many years as one of the co-founders of the Waterboys and a member of the 2005 and 2011 Grey Cup Committees.

“I am very pleased to be named co-chair of the 2014 Grey Cup Festival,” said Weymark. “As long-time Lions and CFL supporter, I look forward to making our festival the very best it can be for the people of British Columbia as well as visitors from across Canada.”

Graydon, a former member of the 2011 Grey Cup Committee and Waterboy has more than 30 years of progressive marketing and general management experience. His innovative approach in the highly-competitive and challenging gaming market resulted in the launch of PlayNow.com and he is leading the transformation of BCLC’s lottery, casino and eGaming businesses to generate socially responsible revenue growth.

“It is truly an honour to be a part of 2014 Grey Cup Festival,” said Graydon. “I look forward to working alongside Bill and Jamie as well as the Lions staff to make our event a great success. Grey Cup Festivals are a celebration for our entire nation and 2014 will raise the bar yet again.”

The 2014 Grey Cup is slated for Sunday, November 30, 2014 at BC Place.

[Hambone]

It would only be natural for the press release from the club to do nothing less than put these guys in a positive light. Regardless of Ackles not being involved it certainly appears that the organization of the 2014 Grey Cup is in very capable and experienced hands who will put on an event that will do us proud.