Tinkerblue

Paralympic Torch Relay

 

The Paralympic Torch Relay was in Maple Ridge tonight, about 15 minutes from home, so we went out to see it.

 

It started in Ottawa on March 3rd, and takes place over 10 days.  Unlike the Olympic Flame, the Paralympic Flame does not have an ancestral home.  Local First Nations will create a new Paralympic Flame for each of the 10 celebration communities. Ashes from the ten community fires will form the foundation for the final fire to be lit by a Musqueam First Nation Fire Keeper. The final Paralympic Flame will be lit from this fire and will then be used to light the Paralympic Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony on Friday night.

 Note the Sumi hat.
 

Tiller's Folly who wrote and performed some of the music for the Cross Canada Century Flight DVD were performing.

 

Whistlers Own Torch Cauldron

It was lit as part of the first Victory Ceremony at Whistler Medals Plaza earlier this evening.
 

The Torch Relay made it to Pitt Meadows

On Monday morning Hubby and I woke up bright and early to see the Olympic Flame make its way through Pitt Meadows. It travelled down Harris Road and along Hammond Road, making a brief stop at the recently finished Spirit Square.  Inside the Rec Centre local kids featured drawings, homemade torches, collages, etc.  There were some really creative ideas.

Outside there was coffee and muffins and people everywhere. A lot of people got the message to wear red.

And then the Flame arrived to not quite rousing rendition of O Canada. We watched from Spirit Square, and it was okay.  Because we were not out the street we missed the Coke and RBC Trucks, and the convoy of Torch vehicles. 

Hubby might take my parents to see the Torch in Vancouver later this week. There's going to be a big celebration at the Yaletown LiveCity site.

Fairmont Whistler invites you to Paint the Town Red.

The Torch Relay Comes to Whistler on February 5th

 

The Olympic Flame arrives in Whistler on Day 99 (February 5th) of the Torch Relay and Whistler will be celebrating in style.

The Torch Relay will be coming from the Sunshine Coast and will join the Sea to Sky Highway in Lions Bay on February 4th.  It will wind it's way through Furry Creek, Britannia Beach, Stawamus before overnighting in Squamish.

On Friday February 5th, the Torch will make its way from Squamish to Whistler via Brackendale, Brandywine Falls Provincial Park and Whistler Olympic Park. It will be carried on foot, logger climbing tree (?) and snowmobile.

  

3:30pm - 5:45pm Village Square

• Barney Bentall and the Cariboo Opry will perform
• Joined by local musicians Dana-Marie Battaglia, Greg Reamsbottom, Jon Shrier and Rachel Thom.
• The Olympic Mascots will stop by for a visit
• Visit the Spirit Tent and have your face painted.

 

6:17pm Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre

There will be a ceremonial pass off between a Squamish and a Lil'wat torchbearer in front of the welcome figures of the main entrance on Blackcomb Way.  Join in the celebration, wear red, and bring your drum.

6:00pm - 8:00pm Skiers Plaza

• Squamish Nation Eagle Song Dancers
• Ali Milner
• The Whistler Children's Choir and the Whistler Singers will sing "There's a Light/Cette Flamme"
• The Flame is expected to arrive at 7:00pm
• The community torch bearer, Tyler Allison will carry the Flame on stage and light the celebration cauldron

Check out Whistler2010.com fand Vancouver2010.com for the route and more information.  I

'm excited to see the Torch Relay again.  Although right now the plan is for me to be in Vancouver later this week so it looks like I'll be in Vancouver while the Torch Relay is in Whistler.  And I'll be in Whistler when the Torch Relay is in Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody. I'm having trouble getting all the schedules to match up!

Whistler is looking for volunteers for their Torch Relay Community Celebration

The Torch will be in Whistler on February 5th.

You can read more information about the Torch Relay in Whistler here. 

You can read more about what would be expected of volunteers here. (will open a PDF file)

And you can apply here.

Applications close on January 25th.

I was in Whistler on Thursday for work, and I stole a few minutes to take some photos of the preparations that are moving ahead.

   

 

A friend and the Torch

30 Days to Go.  What better way to spend it than watching a friend running  with the Olympic Torch?

Heather was Torchbearer #102 on day 76 of the Torch Relay.  I didn't get to watch in person, as Heather was running in St Albert, AB and we are in BC.  But I did watch a little on the CTV Torch Cam.  I couldn't find a photo of Heather with the Torch yet, but here's the photo that's on the City of St of Albert's webpage. Click on her photo and you can read her interview.

 image City of St. Albert

Way to go Heather!  Can't wait to hear all about it. Wish we could have been there.
 

 

More Mascots and The Paralympic Torch Relay

Besides being our 10th wedding anniversary, yesterday Miga, Quatchi, Sumi and Mukmuk celebrated their 2nd birthday. Today is their birthday party at The Bay Downtown.

Did you know that at www.vancouver2010.com there are colouring pages and 3D paper mascots you can make yourself.  Clicking on any of the images below will open the full size pdf file.

 This is last years colouring page, Mukmuk has a 1 on his head.

  

 alll images VANOC/COVAN

Check out all the mascot souvenirs available at the online store. I think the hooded towels are adorable.

 

Did you miss out on being an Olympic Torchbearer?  Maybe you'll get a change to be a Paralympic Torchbearer.  

 VANOC/COVAN
 

From the news release:

Beginning March 3, 2010

The Paralympic Flame — which has no ancestral home — will spring to life in a special Aboriginal-themed Lighting Ceremony with a uniquely Canadian flair on the lawn of Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Each of the 10 provinces and three territories will select a torchbearer to participate in the ceremony.

Apply to Become a Paralympic Torchbearer 
Any Canadian over 13 years of age who is interested in becoming a Paralympic Torchbearer may apply though the Province of British Columbia at http://www.yougottabehere.ca

Potential torchbearers will be asked to tell their story in 250 characters or less, explaining why they want to be a torchbearer in the 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay. They’ll also be asked to tell how they demonstrate the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality in their lives. What would being a torchbearer mean to you?

The Paralympic Torch Relay will light up the following Canadian cities and towns:

March 3 — Ottawa, ON.
March 4 — Quebec City, QC 
March 5 — Toronto, ON. 
March 6 — Esquimalt/Victoria, BC
March 7 — Squamish, BC
March 8 — Whistler, BC
March 9 — Lytton/Hope, BC
March 10 — Vancouver (Hillcrest)/Maple Ridge, BC
March 11 — Vancouver (UBC)/Vancouver (downtown)
March 12 — Vancouver (downtown)

 
 
 
 

Torch Relay Live Webcam and a Pin Giveaway

You can now watch the Torch Relay live, wherever you are. CTV's new Olympic Torch Cam is following the relay from Halifax to Vancouver.

The Paralympic Torch Relay will begin March 3rd, 2010 in Ottawa.  It will visit 11 communities over 10 days.  Details regarding the Paralympic torchbearer program will be released later this month.

 image VANOC/COVAN

A ticketing update:

The Main Ticket Centre opened Wednesday in downtown Vancouver in the UBC bookstore at Robson Square. Anyone who bought tickets in Phase 3 and chose the "will call" option can pick up their tickets here. Tickets purchased in Phase 1 and 2 will be delivered in early December.

 Canadian Press

It's been raining and raining and raining and raining and raining and raining, and well you get the picture. I bought a heap of these pins to send to friends and I have one left over. Pin #1157 from the Iconic series. Yep it's an umbrella and it's perfect for this week of wet weather.

So leave a comment and when it stops raining Mukmuk will draw a random winner.  I'm kidding, we could be waiting a very long time.  Leave a comment before 5:00pm PST on Sunday November 22nd.

Inside the Torch

Now that I've shown you a little bit of the torch relay, do you want to know more about the torch?  No? Don't keep reading then.  Yes? Then read on. 

 (image VANOC/COVAN)

The Olympic Flames symbolizes peace, brotherhood, and friendship.  So what about the torch? 

• Designed and manufactured by Bombardier. Each torch is assembled in Canada and signed by a Bombardier worker.
• Inspired by the smooth, fluid lines that are left behind in the snow and ice from winter sports.
• A red maple leaf on the back of the torch is not only a symbol of Canada, but is an air intake valve to ensure the flame burns.
• The motto, "With Glowing Hearts/Des plus brillants exploits" is engraved on the torch.
• Ilanaaq, the Vancouer 2010 emblem and Olympic rings are also part of the design.
• It is 94.5cm tall and weighs 1.6kg 
• Will operate in temperatures as low as -50c and as high as +40c.  I don't think it will get as high as +40c in Canada between now and February!
• is made of aluminium core, stainless steel burner, white composite exterior
• Burns a blend of propane, iso-butane and hydro carbons
• Runs on a two burner system.  The external burner, which is what we can all see during the relay and an internal system that holds an internal flame to keep the Olympic Flame burning, in case the exterior flame is accidentally extinguished.
• Operates for about 12 minutes
• 12000 torches were manufactured, one for each torchbearer.
• Torchbearers can purchase their torches for $349.00