Canada’s Vancouver International Airport is seeking someone to live in the airport and blog their experiences for 80 days.

It’s a unique social networking initiative which has obvious applications for the retail sector…

Duration notwithstanding, the goal is much the same: a first-hand voice on social media to bring the institution to life, writes trend monitoring website Springwise.com.

In celebration of the airport’s 80th anniversary, the Vancouver Airport authority late last month launched its Live@YVR contest as a way to publicise “the unique, interesting and little-known stories of Canada’s second largest airport,” in the organisation’s own words.

Only residents of British Columbia are eligible, and the winner will be required to stay at YVR and its Sea Island home for the entire 80 day period, which begins on August 17.

Accommodation will be provided at The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel, and the winner will also receive a living allowance during their stay plus a C$15,000 honorarium upon completion.

In exchange, he or she will be equipped with a camera and editing equipment and will act as an all-in-one producer, director, reporter, editor and post-production supervisor in the chronicling of life at YVR (the airport’s destination code) via liveatYVR.ca, Facebook and Twitter.

To apply, prospective storytellers had to submit a video online by July 18. Close to one hundred entries were received, and judging is now under way, with voting beginning July 25.

Advertising and mass-media promotions are all very well and good, but there’s also plenty to be said for the real-life stories of a prolific onsite blogger. Savvy brands around the globe: it’s time to start thinking outside traditional ads channel and embrace the social media airwaves instead.

Inside Retail prompts: Would it not be intriguing to appoint a full time blogger to bring a shopping centre or department store to life?

Website: www.liveatyvr.ca