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2010 Olympic News - Paralympics Torch Relay | March 6, 2010
2010 Paralympics Torch Relay
March 3 - Ottawa
Founded in 1855, Ottawa is the capital of Canada and is located on the banks of the Ottawa, Rideau and Gatineau rivers. Canada’s fourth-largest city is a complementary blend of urban and rural lifestyles, old and new neighbourhoods, culture and heritage and business and government. Ottawa also has a high standard of living reflected in a multitude of accessible services, vibrant entertainment, exciting recreational activities and thriving businesses. A family-oriented city that gives back to the community, Ottawa offers a quality of life that is second to none. This includes world-class healthcare facilities, family services, high-quality public and private education and a variety of post-secondary institutions.
Residents also enjoy enriching cultural and historical choices such as museums, art galleries and cultural facilities. Ottawa’s entertainment options — for both visitors and residents alike — are as varied as the community itself, ranging from fine dining, festivals, sporting events and attractions that celebrate the richness and diversity of this great city. The abundance of over 800 well-maintained parks, woodlands and recreational paths stand as a testament to the city’s commitment to the environment and to connect urban, suburban and rural residents to its vast green space. Ottawa’s focus on healthy living is also represented in a rich array of recreational facilities and programs like summer camps, tennis, public skating and swimming.
Celebration Plans
The Paralympic Torch Relay will begin its 10-day journey with a Lighting Ceremony in Canada’s capital — Ottawa — taking place on Parliament Hill at 10:00 am. Thirteen torchbearers, chosen by each province and territory, will carry the Paralympic Flame, reflecting the country’s full participation in the relay.
During a special Lighting Ceremony taking place on Victoria Island, the Paralympic Flame will be lit by members of the local First Nations communities of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn and Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg. The event will end at 11:00 pm.
Read more about the Lighting Ceremony.
Please note — the exact time of each community celebration is approximate and is subject to change.
March 4 - Quebec City
As the capital of the Province of Quebec, Quebec City is the North American birthplace of the French civilization, a UNESCO World Heritage city and a vibrant port city with a unique identity.
In March 2004, National Geographic Traveler magazine ranked Old Quebec City sixth out of 115 tourist destinations. According to the magazine, this was due to the city’s vibrant culture, the historical quality of its beautifully restored buildings and the future opportunities in the field of sustainable development.
Geographically speaking, Quebec City has its own truly unique layout. The city was established along the shores of the mighty St. Lawrence River, one of the longest rivers in the world. The city stretches as far north as the Laurentian Mountains, base of the oldest mountain range in the world, and as far east as the spectacular Montmorency Falls. To the west, the city is bordered by the communities of Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures and Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier.
Celebration Plans
For the second day of the relay, the Paralympic Flame will visit a francophone community and the only one on the Paralympic Torch Relay route — Quebec City. Celebrations will be held at the Laval University campus in Ste-Foy, an ideal opportunity for students to witness the event.
Laval University is recognized for its Faculty of Medicine and its university sport program "Rouge et Or," a high-performance program allowing students to compete in football, basketball, volleyball, swimming, soccer, athletics, cross-country running, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, triathlon, golf, rugby, diving and badminton.
Please note — the exact time of each community celebration is approximate and is subject to change.
Community Torchbearer
Four-time Paralympian France Gagné will represent his province at the 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay Lighting Ceremony on March 3 in Ottawa. Gagné won a bronze medal in athletics (javelin) at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, a silver medal in javelin and a bronze medal in discus at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. He set up a Canadian record by placing fourth in shot put.
Gagné also brought back home a silver medal in javelin from the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games and another one in discus from the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games. In the last 15 years, he has participated at numerous national and international competitions.
Born with a visual impairment, Gagné became more involved in sport after he went through a difficult and long period when a surprise virus attacked his intestines at age 17. This kept him in bed for three months and resulted in three surgeries and several subsequent infections. After a long recuperation period, Gagné realized that life was short and he had to live it to its fullest.
He began training seriously in athletics at age 24 and became a member of the Rouge et Or Club of Laval University — an elite club. Despite being discouraged at time, he pursued his training and his desire to compete at an international level.
Outside his sporting career, Gagné gives presentations and speeches and offers demonstrations of his sport at schools and companies. He’s also part of an athlete and mentor program with the Canadian Paralympic Committee and is a spokesperson with Handicap Emploi.
March 5 - Toronto
As Canada's economic capital, Toronto is considered a global city and is one of the top financial cities in the world. Toronto's leading economic sectors include finance, business services, telecommunications, aerospace, transportation, media, arts, film, television production, publishing, software production, medical research, education, tourism and sports industries. The Toronto Stock Exchange, the world's seventh largest, is headquartered in the city, along with a majority of Canada's corporations. Toronto's population is cosmopolitan and international, reflecting its role as an important destination for immigrants to Canada.
Toronto is one of the world's most diverse cities by percentage of non-native-born residents, as about 49 per cent of the population was born outside of Canada. Because of the city's low crime rates, clean environment, generally high standard of living and friendlier attitudes to diversity, Toronto is consistently rated as one of the world's most livable cities by the Economist Intelligence Unit and the Mercer Quality of Living Survey.
Celebration Plans
The Paralympic Torch Relay will visit Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square from noon to 2:00 pm.
Please note — the exact time of each community celebration is approximate and is subject to change.
Community Torchbearer
Paralympian Jeff Adams is the community torchbearer in Toronto. He was a child when he was diagnosed with cancer. The radiation treatment he underwent caused burns on his spinal cord which left permanent damage. However, Adams did not let that deter him from achieving great success as an athlete and from becoming one of Canada’s leading wheelchair athletes.
Adams has represented Canada in a number of Paralympic Games and world championships over the past 12 years. He has won many medals, having competed in six Games. He’s won bronze in the Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games and the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games, silver in the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games and gold in the in Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games in both the 800-metre and 1,500-metre wheelchair track events. He is also a six-time world champion and previously held the world record in the 1,500 metre- and 400-metre track events.
In 2002, to create awareness for people with disabilities, Adams climbed the 1,776 stairs of the CN Tower in a specially designed wheelchair during the “Step Up to Change” event.
Adams has been an actor, a spokesperson, a CBC reporter and commentator, and a member of the Advisory Committee to the Secretary of State (Amateur Sport). He has also served as chair of the Accessibility Committee for the Toronto 2008 Olympic bid committee and as vice-chair of the Ontarians with a Disability Advisory Council, reporting to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in Ontario.
Adams is also co-founder of Marvel Wheelchairs, a Toronto-based organization that designs and manufactures innovative wheelchairs.
March 6 - Esquimalt and Victoria
Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt is located just west of Victoria, British Columbia and is home to the Canadian Pacific Naval Fleet. First established as a military installation by the Royal Navy in 1855, CFB Esquimalt has been serving the Canadian Navy from its inception in 1910 to this, its centennial year.
The base is responsible for providing support services to all ships and personnel of Maritime Forces Pacific. In addition to providing support services to both regular and reserve force units, CFB Esquimalt houses organizations such as the Canadian Forces Fleet School, Venture, the Naval Officers Training Centre and Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton. The base is a community within a community with its own services including police, fire, ambulance, postal, legal, social work and chaplains.
The base commander is the landlord of 1,500 buildings spread over 23 sites on nearly 5,000 hectares ranging from Masset to Matsqui. CFB Esquimalt and Maritime Forces Pacific contribute over half a billion dollars annually to the local economy, and employ approximately 4,000 military personnel and 2,000 civilians. The defence team is proud of its contributions to the local community through fundraising and volunteering.
Celebration Plans
The Paralympic Flame arrives in Esquimalt, British Columbia after visiting Ontario and Quebec first. Celebrations in Esquimalt will take place at Archie Browning Sports Centre beginning at 9:30 am.
The Paralympic Flame will then travel from Esquimalt to Victoria, British Columbia's capital, by road and by water between 11:00 am and noon. Two alternative modes of transportation will be used to carry the Paralympic Flame: a water taxi and an Aboriginal traditional canoe.
Please note — the exact time of each community celebration is approximate and is subject to change.
Community Torchbearer (Esquimalt CFB)
Lieutenant Hayley Mooney is the community torchbearer in Esquimalt. Mooney is a marine systems engineer with Canada's west coast Navy and is currently deployed as part of the Canadian Forces contribution to Olympic security.
A native of Ottawa, Mooney joined the Canadian Forces in 1999 and is a graduate of the Royal Military College in Kingston. In addition to having served in Afghanistan, she is an accomplished national military athlete in swimming and triathlon. Mooney will carry the Olympic Flame for two as she is pregnant with her first child.
Township of Esquimalt
Esquimalt, with a population of approximately 17,100, is one of four core municipalities within the Capital Region. The municipality has one of the highest ratios of jobs to residents. The area that forms the Township of Esquimalt was settled by two First Nations — the Esquimalt and the Songhees. Members of these nations reside on lands adjacent to Esquimalt’s north western boundary.
The name Esquimalt reflects its maritime setting. In the language of the native Coast Salish peoples, Es'whoy'malth means “place of shoaling waters.”
Community Torchbearer (Township of Esquimalt)
Brian Gray is the community torchbearer in the Township of Esquimalt. Gray was born with cerebral palsy and was told he would not be able to use his legs in many activities. Today, he walks, runs, swims, skates, rides a bike, plays hockey and dances.
For 20 years, Gray has helped and encouraged people with disabilities to gain greater independence. When he realized he wasn't going to be a great hockey player, he started coaching. When his three sons began to be involved in sports, he returned to coaching hockey, lacrosse, swimming and basketball.
One of his best moves as a coach was to involve three or four parents in keeping team statistics at every game. They were to record all line changes and a least one good play (pass, check, et cetera) per line and ensure that, as often as possible, every player would get mentioned at least once in the reading of "the great moments" after each game. This tactic encouraged the players and involved the parents at the same time.
Gray's vision about life is "we all have to make a choice for life —move or die. If we have to move we might as well dance."
Victoria, British Columbia
Greater Victoria is set in the midst of some of the most spectacular natural beauty in the world, and with a rich and exciting history. Founded in 1843 as a Hudson’s Bay Trading Post, Victoria is Western Canada’s oldest city. It possesses a unique culture due to its close ties with First Nations heritage, British traditions, diverse cultural community and a unique laid-back, west-coast lifestyle
Celebration Plans
Celebrations in Victoria will begin at noon at Ship Point.
Please note — the exact time of each community celebration is approximate and is subject to change.
Community Torchbearer
Victoria's Community Torchbearer is Peter Lawless. Lawless established the first wheelchair athletic training group on Vancouver Island, and three athletes from the group participated in four Paralympic Games. Trained by Lawless, athletes such as Michelle Stillwell, Alan Bergman, Karen March, Theri Thorson and Mark Ledo together have won over 30 championships.
Lawless served as chairman of the board of directors for PacificSport Vancouver Island, and volunteered with the Canadian Sport Centre Pacific. He currently sits as a director of the Coaches Association of British Columbia and Coaches of Canada.
Lawless is the recipient of many awards both as a wheelchair athlete and coach. He has also received The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards (gold and silver).
March 7 - Squamish
Squamish has been one of Canada’s “hidden gems” for many years. For centuries, the incomparable beauty of this valley has amazed visitors and residents alike. Squamish is ideally located at the tip of Howe Sound just 40 minutes north of Vancouver, and 40 minutes south of Whistler — and central to the 2010 Winter Games. The town is in the midst of a boom, growing in size with new investment, and with it new opportunities and new activities.
Squamish's reputation as the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada is spreading, and for good reason. The geography and climate of the Squamish area offer not only tremendous physical beauty but also world-class recreation opportunities. From hiking, biking, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, bird watching, golfing and sightseeing to sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, whitewater rafting and fishing there is truly something for everyone! Squamish also boasts the second highest number of residents who are artists by profession in all of Canada!
Celebration Plans
Celebrations in Squamish will take place on Cleveland Avenue beginning at 1:00 pm.
Please note — the exact time of each community celebration is approximate and is subject to change.
March 8 - Whistler
Nestled in the Coast Mountains, only 40 kilometres inland from the Pacific Ocean and 120 kilometres from one of Canada's largest urban centres, Whistler provides a Canadian west coast mountain experience with snowy winters and moderate temperatures. Whistler and Blackcomb mountains offer the highest lift-serviced vertical and the largest terrain of any ski area in North America, with large alpine bowls and forested glades, expert grooming and ski runs that last forever.
There are plenty of other activities year round to entice the summertime visitor, including hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, white water rafting, mountain biking, golf, tennis, in-line skating and sailing. In the winter, there are snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, skating, hockey and, skiing and snowboarding. Whistler is a lively mountain community with 9,500 permanent residents. The sense of community is very strong with a passionate commitment to protecting the natural mountain environment surrounding us and moving to become a sustainable community.
Celebration Plans
Home to most of the sport events during the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, Whistler will welcome the Paralympic Flame for a three-hour celebration in Whistler Village Square beginning at 3:00 pm.
A Lighting Ceremony will be performed in Whistler Blackcomb, then the flame will be carried to the peak of the Blackcomb Mountain and taken on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola to Whistler Mountain. Torchbearers will carry the Paralympic Flame on various modes of transport, such as skis and a snowboard, to Whistler Village Square.
Celebrations in Whistler are the last major event before the 24-hour relay to be held in Vancouver from March 11 to 12.
Please note — the exact time of each community celebration is approximate and is subject to change.
Community Torchbearer
A member of the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski team (CPAST), Matt Hallat, is the community torchbearer in Whistler. He has been a member of CPAST for the past five seasons and competed in many NorAm (North America), Europa Cup and World Cup races around the world. The Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games were his first Games.
At the age of five, Hallat was diagnosed with a form of cancer — Ewing’s sarcoma. One year later, his right leg was amputated. His life never was going to be the same, but his love for sports didn't cease. When he was growing up, Hallat played soccer, baseball, hockey, golf and went mountain biking, but he found his calling the moment he stepped into his first skis. He says, “When I get up in the morning, go to work, the grocery store, and take on the normal day's tasks, I am disabled. But when I step into a ski, I am equal. I can ski with anybody.”
Since he was a boy, Hallat has aspired to become an Olympian. When Vancouver won the bid to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, he realized he could accomplish his dream at home and it made his desire to be successful that much greater. Hallat gives his time and energy to the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program through many fundraising events, activities and media initiatives.
March 9 - Lytton and Hope
Located at the convergence of the mighty Fraser River and its largest tributary, the Thompson River, Lytton is known as the "Rafting Capital of Canada" and "Canada's Hot Spot." The gateway to the Stein River Valley, it’s known for hiking, with trails through a variety of terrain and diverse vegetation with different climatic conditions.
Lytton is one of the oldest, continuously settled communities in North America. First Nations named this area Camchin (the meeting place). It continues to be a meeting place today and is at the heart of major transportation routes. The Lytton community serves about 3,000 local residents and welcomes visitors from all over the world.
Celebration Plans
Celebrations in Lytton marking the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay visit will take place on 4th street at Fraser beginning at 10:00 am.
Please note — the exact time of each community celebration is approximate and is subject to change.
Community Torchbearer
Andrea Drynock is Lytton’s community torchbearer. At age two, she was struck by a train, losing her legs and also affecting her arms, but that didn't stop her from living life to the fullest. At age 16, she Drynock began competitive swimming and quickly discovered a hidden talent.
Between 1983 and 1985, Andrea won three gold medals in swimming at the BC Games. Her sport career came to an end, however, when she started a family. Today, Drynock is busy raising her family and volunteering with the PLAYSAFE! program of The War Amps. With her positive spirit and sunny outlook on life — a perspective she shares with everyone she meets —Drynock embodies the spirit of both Lytton and the Paralympic Winter Games.
Hope, British Columbia
Hope is located two hours east of Vancouver at the top end of the lush Fraser Valley. The community of approximately 7,000 is nestled below the Cascade Mountains, at the junction of the Fraser and Coquihalla rivers. Just to the east of Hope is Sunshine Valley and E.C. Manning Provincial Park — well known as a year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts. In the winter, Manning Park offers Nordic and alpine skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating. In the summer, hiking, mountain biking and canoeing/kayaking are popular activities.
To the south of Hope is the wilderness of the Skagit Valley Provincial Park — an area offering excellent fly fishing and endless hiking trails. To the north of Hope is the scenic and historic Fraser Canyon, where river rafting, fishing, hiking, gold panning and rockhounding (collecting rocks and/or mineral specimens) are the order of day.
Hope also has a vibrant community of artists and its downtown is an outdoor art gallery featuring dozens of wooden sculptures created by chainsaw carvers. Hope also has a rich heritage with a culture that’s influenced by the Stó:l? First Nations people. The community was a Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading fort and a starting point of the famous Fraser River Gold Rush — an event that, more than 150 years ago, brought the world to Hope's doorstep.
Celebration Plans
Celebrations in Hope commemorating the visit of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay will take place at Memorial Park, on Wallace Street, beginning at 4:00 pm.
Please note — the exact time of each community celebration is approximate and is subject to change.
Community Torchbearer
Heather Stewin is the community torchbearer in Hope and is the founder of "Storytime in the Park," a program dedicated to addressing literacy issues in the community. Since 2004, this program has provided books and lunch to over 150 participants weekly at Memorial Park during the summer months.
Visually impaired, Stewin has strong beliefs and a steadfast determination — traits for which she was recognized in 2006 when she was awarded the Betty Urquhart Community Service Award, named after a University College of the Fraser Valley founder who believed strongly that the local post-secondary educational institution should maintain strong ties with its communities.
Stewin mobilized the community in Hope, such that its members got involved in her dream of giving books to kids who didn't have any. With friends, she fundraised, encouraging local service groups to give their time and money to the dream, and then inspiring other businesspeople to follow her lead and sponsor the lunch meals and donate prizes. Stewin also organized transportation for First Nations families who needed assistance getting to the reading sessions.
March 10 - Vancouver (Riley Park) and Maple Ridge
One of the signature venues of the 2010 Winter Games is in the Riley Park neighbourhood near scenic Queen Elizabeth Park, adjacent to Nat Bailey Stadium and the Riley Park Community Centre, home of he Vancouver Olympic Centre/Vancouver Paralympic Centre. This Games venue, located in the geographic centre of Vancouver, hosted the curling events during the Olympic Winter Games, and is slated to host the wheelchair curling events during the Paralympic Winter Games.
Celebration Plans
Marking the Paralympic Torch Relay’s first day in Vancouver, the inaugural celebration will take place at the Riley Park Community Centre near the Vancouver Paralympic Centre. The event will begin at 11:00 am.
Please note — the exact time of each community celebration is approximate and is subject to change.
Community Torchbearer
Fourteen-year-old Priya (Jasdeep) Sekhon is the community torchbearer at Hillcrest. A testament to resiliency, perseverance and self determination, she was involved in a car accident at age five which left her with pentaplegia and limited movement in her arms and tongue, making speech difficult and requiring that she use a ventilator to breathe.
All this doesn't stop her from continually striving to do her best, learn as much as she can and to try new things so she can experience as much as possible. For the past two years, Priya has been a member of her school choir, attending concerts and participating in oral presentations without assistive technology.
With hand over hand assistance, Priya participates in ceramics classes — both at her high school and in her community. She tries her best to be as much a part of her school environment as possible and does not allow herself to be defined by her limitations or to make decisions based on what she can and cannot do.
During the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Priya had the chance to attend to a curling event, an experience she embraced fully. Her favourite mascot is Quatchi.
Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Situated on the shores of the mighty Fraser River and nestled against the Coast Mountains, Maple Ridge is a mecca of adventure for outdoor enthusiasts. Located 45 kilometres east of Vancouver, it’s a progressive community well known for its beautiful countryside and spectacular scenery.
Maple Ridge has become a year-round centre of festivals and festivities, such as the Jazz and Blues Festival, Maple Ridge Fair and the Santa Claus Parade. Its Town Centre is the focus of community life in the area, offering a state-of-the-art leisure/youth centre complex, library and performing arts centre.
Celebration Plans
Celebrations in Maple Ridge will take place at Spirit Square beginning at 6:30 pm.
Please note — the exact time of each community celebration is approximate and is subject to change.
Community Torchbearer
Jennifer McKenzie is the community torchbearer in Maple Ridge. Active since her youth with the Swim Pony Club, in 2009 she competed in the first North American Young Rider Championships hosted by the Maple Ridge Equi-Sport Centre.
After a life-altering equestrian accident, and with the support from her community and the North Fraser Therapeutic Centre, McKenzie was able to return to her favourite sport and the world of competition. She became a member of Para-Equestrian Canada, representing her country at the 2003 and 2007 World Championships as well as the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
McKenzie recently returned from Australia, where she was the top-placing Canadian rider, winning the individual championship at the Saddlewood Para Dressage International competition in Werribee. She also assisted the Canadian team in earning a second-place finish. A highlight for McKenzie was to have her own horse, Valentine 11, accompany her to Hong Kong where the equestrian events of the 2008 Paralympic Games were held. Valentine 11 was the only Canadian-bred horse to compete at the Games.
McKenzie continues to train at D'Alnima Haven Stables in Pitt Meadows. She’s hoping to compete at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, Georgia, USA.
March 11 - Vancouver (UBC)
The main campus of the University of British Columbia (UBC) is located 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver and, with its spectacular view, is a must-see. Snow-capped mountains meet ocean, and breathtaking vistas greet you around every campus corner.
Each year, 50,000 students come to UBC to pursue their post-secondary studies. Vancouver's best attractions and recreation facilities can be found near UBC, including the Museum of Anthropology, the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, and endless opportunities to explore forested trails in the 763-hectare Pacific Spirit Regional Park.
Celebration Plans
Celebrations on the UBC campus will take place outside of the Student Union Building near the UBC Thunderbird Arena — home to ice sledge hockey competitions. The event will begin at 11:00 am on March 11.
Please note — the exact time of each community celebration is approximate and is subject to change.
Community Torchbearer
The University of British Columbia community torchbearer is Bonita Sawatzky. An associate professor in orthopaedics (in the spine division) at UBC, Sawatzky’s research focuses on the physiological and biomedical effects of wheelchair propulsion in both adults and children. In her research, she hopes to improve function and decrease long-term overuse injuries as a result of wheelchair propulsion.
She is one of the investigators of the new spinal cord research centre, ICORD, located at the UBC Hospital site, and co-leads the Disability Health Research Network for British Columbia. This network brings researchers, students and community groups together to address issues related to those with disabilities. One of the collaborations the network assisted in funding is the only research group allowed into the Vancouver athletes’ village during the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.
Prior to a car accident in 1993, Sawatzky was active in sports (swimming, cycling and hiking). In 1987 she won two gold medals at the BC Summer Games for the Physically Disabled in the 1,500-metre and 3,000-metre cycling events. She has involved many Paralympians in her research projects and applauds their abilities.
March 12 - 24-hour relay in Vancouver (downtown)
Downtown Vancouver is well recognized for its numerous attractions, restaurants, shopping, entertainment and special events. Robson and Granville Streets are known for outdoor shopping and art. Robson Square is also a busy area of downtown Vancouver with the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Countdown Clock and the GE Ice Plaza.
Downtown Vancouver is where people from different cultures and backgrounds meet.
Celebration Plans
A 24-hour relay will start near Robson Square in downtown Vancouver beginning at 2:00 pm on March 11. The lower level of GM Plaza will be the site of celebrations, a video screen will show Paralympic Games highlights and visitors can watch and try out Paralympic sport demonstrations.
The Paralympic Flame will be continuously carried and passed between torchbearers for 24 hours. The event will conclude at 12:00 pm on March 12.
The Paralympic Flame will then be brought into BC Place for the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.
Please note — the exact time of each community celebration is approximate and is subject to change.
Community Torchbearer
Laurel Crosby has been nominated by the Province of British Columbia to be a torchbearer in the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay.
Crosby has an extensive history of supporting the Paralympic Movement and athletes with disabilities. She has twice had the experience of leading Canada’s team into a Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony; the first in Seoul, Korea (1988) when she was the wheelchair team manager and in Barcelona, Spain (1992) where she was the chef de mission.
In March 2009, Crosby was recognized with the Daryl Thompson Award, presented to individuals who make a significant contribution to sport over a long period of time. She is the past president of the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association and, for the past 30 years, has been a member of the BC Wheelchair Sports board of directors. She acknowledges the tenacity of the athletes and the commitment of volunteers as motivating factors for her continued support for athletes with disabilities.
In addition to her role in Seoul and Barcelona, Crosby has also attended the Paralympic Games in Atlanta (1996) and Nagano (1998). She also served as president of the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
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