Paralympic Torch is coming
Shelley Lipke, Staff writer
The Paralympic Torch Relay will make its debut on the streets of Esquimalt and Victoria, promising an experience far different than the Olympic Torch Relay.
On March 6, instead of granting spectators a passing glance at its travelling convoy of vehicles and the odd glimpse of a torch bearer, the torch relay will go through 14 selected cities across Canada with hosted community-focused events packed with entertainment, speeches, native welcoming ceremonies, activities and a chance to meet and greet the torchbearers.
CFB Esquimalt was asked by the Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC) to organize the relay because the Paralympic movement originally stemmed from a need for war veterans with disabilities to become more active through sport.
"It was decided to make this event more accessible and include our neighbouring community by inviting the Township of Esquimalt to jointly host the celebration. We are inviting everyone to join us for this historic event," said organizer and Commanding Officer of HMCS Ottawa Cdr Frédérick Caron.
Esquimalt will be the first community in British Columbia to host the relay.
"It's going to be a good opportunity to talk about sport and about people with disabilities and bring people together during the community celebration," said Cdr Caron.
It kicks off at 8 a.m. at the back of the Archie Browning Sports Centre with a Lion's Club free pancake breakfast to warm up the early morning crowd.
Then in the 90 minutes leading up to the 9:30 a.m. torch relay start time, displays, music and entertainment for children with a bouncing castle will keep the crowd amused.
"We will have the Naden Band and the VIVA Youth Choir singing and playing music, the Canadian Forces caravan display, and 11th Field Ambulance will have displays with computers and a video screen so people can learn about the Navy and also see a medical simulator," said Cdr Caron.
The Canadian Naval Centennial Committee will be there to alert people of the centennial events planned this year, and the Disabled Sailing Association will have paralympians that have raced at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games and one of their sailboats on display as well and information on sailing for the disabled.
The Esquimalt Access Awareness committee from the Township of Esquimalt have invited many organizations such as the Capital Mental Health Association, Recreation Integration Victoria, the Disability Resource Centre, Canasist, BC Transit, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the Island Deaf & Hard of Hearing Centre. Each will have a display and will there to show their program and answer questions. Also, the Vancourver Island Society of Disable Artists will showcase artwork being made on location by disable artists.
"In each city across Canada a local First Nation's community is chosen to build a fire from the land. This fire will be used to light the cauldron on stage. The welcoming ceremony by the First Nations community will bring the flame to the stage and will officially kick off the torch relay," said Cdr Caron.
Capt Trevor Greene, the army officer injured during an attack by an axe-weilding Afghan youth in 2006, will take the honour of being the first torchbearer. He will be introduced and interviewed briefly before he leaves the stage with the torch.
"The torch bearers will take a portion of a 800 metre route around the ground of the Bullen Field and returns back to the stage with three exchange points. This allows each of the 15 torchbearers to travel a distance suitable for them," said Cdr Caron. "While the torchbearers are out on this route, VANOC will keep the crowd entertained by interviewing RAdm Tyrone Pile, Esquimalt Acting Mayor Bruce McIldoon, and other federal and provincial government representatives."
Cdr Caron says this route will allow the crowd to stay at the stage and with the activities while being able to cheer for the torchbearers as they depart and return to the central area.
Of the 15 torch bearers, Maritime Forces Pacific was allotted two spots, which were awarded to LS Kirsten Arensen, a Naval Communicator in HMCS Winnipeg, and Lt(N) Hayley Mooney, Executive Assistant to Deputy Commander Joint Task Force Games. Both are triathletes nominated by their bosses.
At 11 a.m. the Esquimalt portion of the relay will end and the flame will make its way to Victoria for their celebrations and closing ceremonies.
The torch will travel down Lyall Street to Westbay Marina where it will board a navy rigid hull inflatable boat. On the water it will be transferred to the Navy Dragon Boat team for transfer to the landing area downtown Victoria where a torch bearer will carry it to the awaiting crowd at Ships Point to kick off the Victoria celebration.
"At the Esquimalt event people will be invited to either follow the flame down to the Westbay Marina, and if desired follow along the Inner Harbour walkway to meet up with the Victoria celebration at Ship's Point, or go inside Archie Browning Sports Centre and see the Paralympic curling demonstration and try their hand at paralympic curling."
The Paralympic Torch Relay begins in Ottawa on March 3 and travels through 13 other cities before arriving in Vancouver on March 12 to light the cauldron officially opening the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.
