A Port Alberni man is a finalist in a contest that will see the winner pocket $15,000 and spend 80 days living and shooting documentary films inside Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
Jaeger Mah, 29, found out he was a finalist in the live@YVR contest last Friday while standing in line with his girlfriend waiting to pay for his car insurance.
“It was all quiet inside this place and when I got the call we just started jumping up and down cheering,” said Mah, who splits his time between Vancouver and Port Alberni.
“Everyone looked at us and I said ‘We just found out we have to pay less for our insurance’”.
Mah found out he was a finalist on Friday but was asked top keep it under wraps after it was announced on Monday.
More than 90 people entered the contest, which is sponsored by YVR and the Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel to commemorate the airport’s 80th anniversary.
The winner is expected to live in the Fairmont and film short documentary films chronicling life at YVR for 80 days.
Mah runs a video production company and knows his way around a camera.
The winner will also pocket $15,000 plus $50 per day.
In order to win the contest Jaeger needs people to log onto the contest website: http://liveatyvr.ca/entry/183205, click on vote now and register to vote for him.
Once you’ve registered a link will be sent to your email address. Click on the link and follow the menu until you reach his video The HEART of YVR! - Employees, Volunteers & Jaeger Mah.
Click on ‘Vote for this entry’ to vote for Mah.
Supporters have until Aug. 5 to cast their votes, one per day from one e-mail address.
Who ever has the most votes after Aug. 5 wins.
Mah entered the contest after finding out about it on Facebook.
He entered on July 18 and soon after received a phone call from CBC’s Ian Hanomansing, who saw Mah’s Youtube clip and was doing a story about the contest.
“Myself and some of the other contestants met him at the airport and he asked us to come up with a story idea on the spot about what the most important thing was about YVR,” Mah said.
One finalist pitched how efficient the airport is, while another talked about how baggage is handled.
Mah, however, pitched documenting what happens to items that are confiscated from passengers.
“I wanted to show the treasure room where all this stuff is stored and how it’s handled,” Mah said.
“Maybe even reunite the items with the people they were confiscated from.”
The idea impressed Hanomansing, Mah said.
reporter@albernivalleynews.com