Our Part -- How We Got Involved

We were approached several weeks before the official ceremony of June 19, 2003 by Thornley Fallis Communications of Toronto to see if we were interested in creating plaster handprints of some, at the time, unnamed athletes.  Several conference calls later we had finalized the size of the plaster bats, the number of rubber molds, the logistics of the event itself, and barring any last minute glinches, to have adequate back up.

So we took on the challenge and went to work.

First we made five 16" by 16" square Polyurethane RTV Rubber molds.  Then we experimented with the right plaster to use.  We would have one chance to get it right, so we practiced, mixing by hand (no noisy mixers would be allowed during the speeches), getting the soaking times, the mixing times, and resting times down correctly.  The exact minute to fill the molds was crucial, and finally, the exact minute which the athletes could insert their handprints into the plaster.  We had calculated that the wet plaster would require another two minutes to set around their hands.  So timing was extremely crucial.

And here is our story.

 
First, we made five plaster bats, 16 by 16 inches square, affixed them to our working boards, and then mixed and poured the polyurethane RTV Rubber.  The set and curing time for these rubber molds is 24 hours. Shauna prepping the molds, making sure there is no debris inside the rubber molds Shauna spraying the molds with a special mold release.  We had to supply everything -- the plaster, the water, the piles, carts, and so on
All four rubber molds have been prepped and we are now waiting for the speeches to conclude. We will fill the molds with wet plaster and we are ready to roll. Starting at this end is Brundy Surin Next to Bruny, is Marnie McBean
Starting at this end is Curt Harnett And next to Curt, is Cheryl Pounder John with the four Canadian Olympians.  At this point, we are not quite finished, we still need about another 60 seconds
 

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