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Jack Poole Chair of Vancouer Olympics Dies

by Sudha Krishna | October 23, 2009 at 10:14 am

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Jack Poole the chair of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics has died. A prominent businessman, Poole, played a major role in bring the Winter Games to Vancouver.

Indeed, he passed away shortly after the the Olympic committee arrived in Olympia, Greece for the lighting of the Olympic torch.

His long time friend and colleague John Furlong provided a play-by-play of the event to Poole who was not able to travel to Greece for the ceremony.

BC Premier Gordon Campbell and Furlong issued a prepared statement mindful that Poole's struggle with Pancreatic cancer was drawing to an end.

"Each of us face choices about how we will spend our lives. Jack chose to spend his honouring what was best in all of us, encouraging others to do well and to help others to reach for their aspirations.

"We shall not see his like again, but in honour of his memory we can each strive to follow his example. In doing so we will make not just ourselves better people, but we will make our province and our country better places for all of us."

A child of the Depresssion Poole made millions as a developer in Vancouver. He founded VLC properties in the 1980s with evolved into Concert Properties - one of the largest property developers in B.C.

The head of the International Olympic Committtee, Jaques Rogge

Sasketchewan born of Metis origin, Jack Poole recieved the Order of Canada, and the Order of B.C.

He was 76.