Jaeger Mah, 29, won the contest created to celebrate the airport’s 80th birthday, beating out his closest competitor by more 2,000 votes, garnering over half of the votes submitted among dozens of entries.
The Port Alberni, B.C., native will have to stay in the airport for 80 consecutive days starting Aug. 17, bunking down at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel each night.
Mah will be armed with a video camera, a computer, editing software and a small daily allowance during his stay. His job is to compile a variety of social media postings, as well as produce four 90-second videos each week.
The airport authority is encouraging the public to send in story suggestions.
"Maybe you’d like to know the strangest cargo ever shipped out of YVR," airport spokesman Rebecca Catley said. "Or how many litres of paint it takes the mark the runway lines?"
Mah said his success was largely due to the "small town" support he got from media exposure and word of mouth. The Vancouver Art Institute graduate is looking forward to the possibility of meeting famous visitors during his residency.
"To actually meet some of the stars and celebrities that come through the airport ... even just to talk to (Richard) Branson or Donald Trump and who knows, maybe royalty figures," he said. "That would give me a chance to sit down with these people and really find out how they got to where they did today."
The former Small Business B.C. special events co-ordinator won’t be able to leave Sea Island, but will have full access to its beaches and pubs.
Mah said the whole trip will be similar to a paid "staycation," and he’s looking forward to partying with his friends and family during his downtime.
