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Summer BBQ: Of Hot Dogs & Isotopes

29 July 2011

The TRIUMF courtyard was a flurry of people yesterday at our summer barbeque.  Despite the reputation Vancouver has had this summer, the weather co-operated and it was a beautiful afternoon full of clear sunshine.  Everyone was out at the picnic tables, mingling and relaxing while surrounded with friends and family.

As per usual for the TRIUMF facility, there is always some sort of a activity, although, yesterday’s was of a different kind – games galore!  The water started to fly as people from all parts of the TRIUMF family participated in the water-balloon toss, where a pair had to toss a water balloon between them without it breaking as they gradually increased the distance between them.  As you could guess, there were quite a few people who looked like they could use a blow dryer afterward – but not Jaroslaw Zielinski and his partner Alex Sitnikov who made it look easy!  Then, everyone switched gears to move to a mini-donut eating contest where the quickest chompers prevailed—including co-op student Nick Zacchia.  It was a mess of icing sugar, but everyone was all smiles throughout.

The day took a pause as our director Nigel Lockyer unveiled TRIUMF’s newest addition to the main office building – an elevator!  David Prevost joined him in christening it with a ride to the top. He was also the winner of the 50/50 raffle, with proceeds being donated to the Covenant House which aids homeless youth in Vancouver.  This elevator, the first in the Main Office Building, makes the second floor (and the auditorium) easily accessible for the Hot Spot Café staff with trays full of food or those with mobility challenges.

As the day came to a close, we decided to end it in an “egg-cellent” way – an egg race!  Contestants had to balance uncooked eggs on a spoon in their mouths and race from one end of the driveway to the other in front of TRIUMF’s main office building.  It was a messy affair as eggs went flying but Jennifer Fallis who works with the DRAGON experiment came out ahead!

Overall the afternoon was a fantastic one, with many thanks needed.  Thank you to Marcello Pavan for planning out this event, Niki and Jennifer for the games, along with Sharon and the Hot Spot team for the delicious meal everyone enjoyed.  And of course, thank you to Colin, Dragan, and the Holaco team for the new elevator!

 

For TRIUMF staff: Pictures from the BBQ!

 

-- By Lindsay Davies, Communications Assistant