Tom Hanks may have wanted out in the movie The Terminal, but Vancouver International Airport is looking to find someone excited about living there for 80 days and reporting back on the experience.
The contest is designed to celebrate the airport's 80th birthday and tell the story behind the scenes at the second busiest airport in the country, and it comes with more than a few perks. For one, the digs are better than most airport sleepers get - a room at The Fairmont is included along with expenses and a $15,000 honorarium - and it comes with a security pass to see what most passengers never experience.
In exchange, the winner of the Live@YVR contest will tell the story of the airport through blogs, video and social media and not leave Sea Island even once for 80 days.
"We don't want this to be a prison sentence," said airport spokeswoman Rebecca Catley, but she said there's plenty to keep people busy.
The winner will get to follow a piece of luggage through the terminal, peak inside the air traffic control tower and have a close-up look at some of the unique aircraft that touch down on the runway, as well as whatever ideas their imagination can conjure up. Outside the terminal, Iona Beach and the Flying Beaver Pub are within bounds.
"There's 23,600 people who work on Sea Island, and we really want this person to tell the story of what happens here," said Catley.
The airport is looking for someone who has "a real sense of the camera and
how to tell a story, and obviously an engaging personality," added Catley.
"Someone who can turn the camera on themselves and say here I am at the domestic terminal at 2 a.m., here's what's happening, and someone who's not afraid to approach passengers and ask them questions."
Applicants need to submit a video by July 17, and the top five will be voted on by the public to choose a winner.
