Readers reflect on the Calgary Winter Olympics, 35 years later

Published Feb 24, 2023 • Last updated Mar 30, 2023 • 6 minute read

Reflecting on the 35th anniversary of the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics; cartoon by Vance Rodewalt.

With this month marking the 35th anniversary of Calgary’s Olympic Games, readers have been sharing their reflections and memories. Here are some of the many responses received from readers.

“I’ve lived in this fabulous city ‘all my life’ (I’m officially a senior citizen now), but I remember well our outstanding Winter Olympics . . . I was a volunteer with the Olympic Arts Festival and was able to take a leave of absence from my job in order to participate in this festival. I still have my Olympic outfit and Olympic outerwear clothes, too. Great, proud and joyful memories.” — corinnemathhewslinder on Instagram

Story continues below

“Things I remember: Pin trading. The chinook. Running into then Prince Albert of Monaco. A tremendous teen crush on Liz Manley!” — Ken Frampton on Twitter.

“He (Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards) was one of the best things about the ’88 Olympics — him and the Jamaican bobsled team. That was such a blast. Glad to have lived through it.” — sheley_t1 on Instagram

“In January 1988 I attended training sessions at the Red and White Club at McMahon Stadium to prepare for duties at various venues during the Olympic Games. I was involved with the access control at the Big Four Building to monitor the various participants as they entered the building to ensure everyone had the proper credentials when they arrived at the gate. I was also delegated to check the curling judges, the coaches and the players as they entered the curling venue. This was a great opportunity to meet international curlers and listen to their stories and techniques regarding the game of curling. I have retained my Olympic clothing that was provided and still proudly wear it on occasion.” — John Dyck, Olympic volunteer via email

Story continues below

“Brian Orser has continued to promote skating to Canadian youth! A true champion.” — lmcfadn on Instagram

“The Olympics changed the city and province in all ways and forever. The world watched us and saw the success of those Games.” — Freddie Jackson on Facebook.

“These were the best Olympics ever. It was so much fun to be part of that.” — Sandra McLay on Facebook.

“I was lucky enough as an 18 year old visitor from the U.K. to be able to be at the ’88 games staying with my brother and his family who still reside in Calgary. A few images from an awesome time !” — Dominic Sore via email

1988 Winter Olympic visitor from the U.K. Dominic Sore (left) and friend Greg Knight ran into Olympian Ken Read at the Games. Photo courtesy Dominic Sore.

Dominic Sore (left) and Chris Sore (right) display one of the banners they created to cheer athletes on at the 1988 Winter Olympics. Photo courtesy Dominic Sore.

“It was a great time in Alberta.” — Magaly De la Vega on Facebook.

“Wow! Amazing! 1988! Calgary was finally on the map!” Isabel Simonka on Facebook

“Two memories among hundreds: 1.) My students at Buchanan Elementary were part of a two year Young Olympians club after school. We went to pre-Olympic events and had guest athletes come to speak to us. They designed a T-shirt and wore it to all our meetings/events. Our stories and photos were in the Herald. One photo made the front page on March 3, 1987, with the Dutch Bobsled Team showing the students how they fit into their sled, sitting scrunched together on one of the classroom tables. I am sure those students remember the Olympics with affection due to their involvement up close.2.) I was the volunteer distance measurer in front of whom Eddie the Eagle landed his first jump in ski jumping. So, you know just how high I was up on the hill! — Janet Wees via email

Story continues below

Here’s a copy of that original photo seen on the March 3, 1987 front page, courtesy Janet Wees.

This photo also submitted by Janet Wees shows a piece of artwork created by the Young Olympians at Buchanan School in 1988, listing the names of all the school students on the flames and showing photos of the students on the bottom set of rings.

“I was in Grade 10 and got to see a few hockey games at the Saddledome and ski jumping, too — Eddie the Eagle! Great memories. My goodness — this was 35 years ago? Seems like yesterday! — Patrick Handlovsky on Facebook.

“My memory is hearing the chant of Ed-die, Ed-die from my front step. I live where I can see the ski jump from my front step. I watched with binoculars the run down the hill, the fly in the air, then raced back into the house to see the landing on the TV. The chanting for Eddie the Eagle was so loud I could hear it plain as day at a mile away.” — Pam Wilson via email.

“I was a volunteer driver in Canmore! A great month of memories!” — Cindy Lisenchuk Simpson.

Memories include “filling out the hundreds of torch relay applications; going to the pre-Olympic hockey games at the Saddledome; taking in the bobsled and luge and ski jumping competitions; going down to the Olympic Plaza to watch the athletes receive their medals; trading pins with people from out of Calgary; and, helping visitors find their way on the CTrain.” — Jim Krueger via email

“The best time.” — jenniferjanenahas on Instagram

Story continues below

“I was staff with OCO’88, starting in 1984, right after Mount Royal College, and was hired in Public Relations and Communications doing intern and administrative tasks. . . The OIympic Welcome Center and display at Palliser Square was being designed and created and we needed Olympic memorabilia donated/on hand for the Olympic Welcome Center. Personally, it was incredible to open a box of skates that were Barbara Ann Scott’s and to look at her Olympic medal winning skating costume in the flesh. . .It was an exciting time and place and the other staff members, volunteer personnel and committees were growing rapidly. I was staff member number 42 and we grew by the time the Games were staged to over 500 staff. . . My memory that stands out most is for Feb. 13, 1988, and the total excitement and relief when viewing the Opening Ceremonies and witnessing that perfectly beautiful spectacle (minus the hot air balloons, cancelled due to weather). So proud, so very proud. As a young person, I had the privilege of learning from and working alongside William Pratt, Bill Wardle, Frances Jackson Dover, John Russell and Jerry Joynt to name a few and let me tell you, they were inspirational leaders. Ethical leaders. Motivational isn’t a strong enough word. . . Now retired from government, I can truthfully state that no other job or role in my 38-year-career was ever the same as working with Team ’88. — Ann Smith via email; OCO’88 staffer 1984-1988

Story continues below

****

INTERESTED IN MORE BLAST-FROM-THE-PAST ARCHIVE POSTS? Subscribe for full access to calgaryherald.com at https://calgaryherald.com/subscribe/ and check out our daily archive posts, along with a full serving of news, business, opinion, features, entertainment and sports coverage.

To read more about the 1988 Winter Olympics, check out the following and scroll to the bottom of any of these posts to share your memories and join the conversation in the “Comments” section.

Test your Calgary Olympic IQ: 20 Questions — Let us know how you do!

35 Unforgettable Photos from 35 Years Ago: Calgary Welcomed the World to the 1988 Winter Olympics

35 years later, Calgary’s Winter Olympics legacy lives on but is starting to show its age

Ken Read: The legacy of the ’88 Games — How Calgary and region can elevate sport to benefit all

Video: Calgary now and then — 35 years ago in Stampede city

Video: Choir serenades Central Library crowd with Olympics-themed show

Readers reflect on the Calgary Winter Olympics, 35 years later

Readers reflect on the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, Part Two

Story continues below

Olympic Rewind Day One: Successes and secrets of Calgary’s 1988 Winter Olympics

Olympic Rewind Day Two: A Finn flies, Jansen falls and Eddie soars — ‘Now I’m an Olympian’

Olympic Rewind Day Three: Let the pin trading begin

Olympic Rewind Day Four: Scalpers say business is up while sex workers see a slowdown

Olympic Rewind Day Five: Games become the biggest bash in city’s history

Olympic Rewind Day Six: Luge crowds grow; Orser sparkles; men’s hockey disappoints

Olympic Rewind Day Seven: Canada gets its first medal

Olympic Rewind Day Eight: Battle of the Brians

Olympic Rewind Day Nine: Golf Course opens during Calgary’s ‘Winter’ Olympics

Olympic Rewind Day 10: Another precious medal for Percy

Olympie Rewind Day 11: A medal haul for Canadian speedsters, fliers and gliders

Olympic Rewind Day 12: Soviets crush Canadians’ golden dreams

Olympic Rewind Day 13: Controversial judging, disqualified Canadians and a tragic skiing accident

Olympic Rewind Day 14: Games spirit shines brightly

Olympic Rewind Day 15: The Manley miracle on ice

Olympic Rewind Day 16: Thousands of Calgarians can say, ‘I helped. I was part of it.’

* * * * * * *

You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.

Create an Account

Join the Conversation

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.