Olympic Torch Relay Celebration

Chilliwack Hosts Huge Olympic Torch Relay Party

(Continued from main page. Photos below)

Chilliwack resident and junior curling coach, Fred Snooks, was pre-selected to carry the torch in July of last year. Applying to carry the torch was an extensive process but it was all worth it to him. He was No. 46 on the route which was in Rosedale.

"I'm very proud and very proud to be a Canadian very happy to be carrying this torch," he said.

Snooks, like every other torchbearer who wanted to keep their torch as a souvenir of the games, had to ante up $350 plus tax.

"It's going to be put away in a special place and then at some point down the road one of my grandkids will probably get it," said Snooks.

As soon as the torch crowd dispersed, crews began ripping the "Colossus" stage apart and it should be noted that very little trash was left behind.

Mayor Gaetz spoke with the Voice post-party.

"It was great to see all the little kids here, that was my favourite part," she said. "They were so excited and during the music they were dancing and clapping and waving their Canadian flags and it's just inspiring that some of those kids will go on and will inspire us further by being Olympians themselves and competing."

The Leisure Centre pool was packed as was the Ag-Rec building where the kids were having fun with bounce castles. At Prospera Centre Coun. Pat Clark was busy handing out the paper flags at the bustling rinks.

"Things went terrific today," she said. "It was a full day and all the acts were amazing. Everything went on time and we are just really appreciative of all the help that we had and Chilliwack entertainers really shone brightly today."

Chilliwack resident Charmon Peters brought a couple of kids for the free skating at Prospera one of whom was young Travis Reed who was fairly new to skating. "I like it, it's fun" he said.

Torchbearer Beanie Laws-Peel was also at the rink, talked about her horse Indy. "She's good, she did really well with the plane actually and all the people."

Laws-Peel earned enough to buy her torch by making and selling fudge. Asked where she was going to put the torch she said she wasn't sure. "Probably in my front room, my grandma worked hard for me to get it and we're going to keep it," she said.

Face painter Angela Estley who is with A-Star Art Parlour, the Burnaby company who does the face painting at Chilliwack Bruins hockey games, was going non-stop.

"I've lost track of how many kids faces I've done today," she said.

When VANOC did the test run last year, their plan was to have the stage set up in the lot adjacent to the Leisure Centre, but city officials thought that the site couldn't hold enough people and asked to change the location of the celebration site. Olympic organizers agreed and re-routed the flame. The original ramp jutted too far into the crowd zone so a hydraulic lift was adapted to lift Mitchell up to the stage.

February 7th will be remembered for a lot of reasons but one common memory will be that it was a heck of a party and probably one that the city won't see the likes of again.

Coke drummers. These guys were super! If you look close you'll see they are using coke bottles for drumsticks.

Debbie Mitchell, Myles Mitchell's mother who had to have been the proudest Mom in Chilliwack that day. She's watching as her son lights the cauldron.

Morgan Arnold (L) and Makayla Morissette from Ecole La Vérendrye French Immersion School.

Sadly the stage known as "Colossus" comes down. Note the lack of trash left behind by the voluminous crowds.

The painter, Fritz Branschat gave the Voice a pose. He later donated the artwork to the city. That was so cool. Thanks Fritz!

Ray Melnick is a COPS volunteer and you can find him many evenings out working to keep the city safe.

Downtown BIA executive director Kathy Funk (L) and Chilliwack City Hall PR executive Starlee Renton (R)

The flame is about to be transferred and continue on it's way. Next stop Abbotsford.

The end of the gallery. Thanks for looking. Below are excerpts from the ceremony.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Excerpts from Torch Stage Ceremony

Sylvain Gagne: This is something much bigger than ourselves. The people that carry the flame they are your friends, they are your family. They are people from your community from Chilliwack British Columbia.

Champion of positive change. The 12, 000 torchbearers who will carry the flame will also carry the ideal of the olympics with them.

The commitment to create a better world, a better Canada and a better Chilliwack British Columbia.

As this flame moves across Canada it leaves a path or Northern Lights stretching from north to south, from east to west, from coast to coast to coast. It is a 45,000 kilometer journey of possibilities passed from one person to another, one hand to another, one little step at a time.

And when the flame arrives in a few minutes it connects Prince George to Newfoundland to Tofino right there in British Columbia and most importantly to Chilliwack.

I can feel your energy going like this now ...

(Points to the stage floor)

When I say Chilliwack you're supposed to go wild and crazy, so lets do that again ... how are you doing Chilliwack?

(Crowd cheers)

Chilliwack are you ready?

(Crowd cheers)

Good so now we can start with our next presenting partner, Coca-Cola. They've been with us for 83-years and are an Olympic partner and they are with the Olympic Torch Relay for the 7th time.

They choose their torchbearers based on the simple question; How could you live a more active and "greener" life?

Would you be interested in living a more active and "greener" life?

So they asked that simple question but they also asked at the end, how could you do that for yourself and your community?

So that's what they asked from the torchbearer and you should go on thier website to look at the answer that's really impressive.

But tonight, today sorry, after 100 days we're getting mixed up with days and nights. So how are you doing? Are you feeling really happy today.

(Gagne does countdown test)

(Later as the torch is about to arrive)

So your moment is about to come. With open arms and glowing hearts its going to be here in a few minutes but I think you need to warm up a bit.

What do you think?

(Music plays)

When the torch arrived, Gagne asked Myles Mitchell about his 300 meters carrying the torch.

Gagne: Were you thinking that this would be such a big thing like this coming in the last corridor seeing all those people cheering for you?

Mitchell: I think that, well, I honestly think that First Nations should be adopted for our anthem too.

Gagne: Good. Myles I think you were a great choice for the community you represent well for the community and it's a great proof of courage for yourself to do that today. Good job. Thank you so much.

And now the Lt. Governor of BC Steven Point.

(Cheers and applause)

Gagnon: There you go sir.

(Gagne steps aside)

Point: What a great day for Chilliwack eh?

(Point laughs)

Gagne: So how does it feel to be here, I guess it's pretty emotional to be as a local boy in your hometown when the torch comes like this?

Point: Well this is amazing. The Olympic Torch symbolizes the spirit and intent of the Olympic Games and has the power to bring us together as one community across this great country and in the Province of British Columbia, but today is our day in Chilliwack, right?

(Cheers)

God bless all of you for the wonderful day today. Thank you.

(Cheers)

Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and MP for Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon

Gagne: You're welcome. And now the federal, the Honourable, let me just check that, Chuck Strahl. There you go.

(Cheers)

Gagne: So Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and MP for Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon. How are you doing today?

Strahl:
I'm doing pretty good but more importantly Chilliwack is doing pretty good.

(Cheers)

Gagne: It seems they are doing pretty well.

Strahl: We're here traditionally, in Sto:lo traditional territory, we're in the, you know, the green heart of British Columbia and Chilliwack is a great place. We're in the most beautiful province of all and in the greatest country on earth. Canada! Woooo!

(Cheers)

Strahl: So it's a pretty good day to be here and that is for sure.

Gagne: I guess so.

Strahl: Yes it is.

Gagne: You were with us yesterday and in Lilloet.

Strahl: I was there yes. It was a great turnout, you know it was a great day there as well, but you gotta, I'm the same as Mr. Point, this is my home town, I've never been so proud. This is, in some ways I'm not surprised. The crowd here is just incredible. It just goes off and off into the distance but that's typical of Chilliwack. Chilliwack has the spirit, the Olympic spirit and we're going to be behind our athletes for sure.

(Cheers)

Gagne: That is one of the reasons why Chilliwack is the only city that will see the torch relay twice in the same three days.

Strahl: We're not braggarts or anything but Chilliwack deserves it.

Gagne: I think you have something to give before you go.

Strahl: We have a plaque to present here, this plaque, if I could present this to Mayor Gaetz.

(Presented to the Mayor)

Minister of the Environment and Chilliwack-Hope MLA Honourable Barry Penner.

Penner: This is a fabulous day and it started off with the Olympic flame reaching the Fraser Valley for the first time this morning in Hope and we carried on to Seabird Island, Harrison Hot Springs, Agassiz (and) downtown Rosedale (and then to) Chilliwack.

(Cheers)

Gagne: I just want to know because I know you followed it up all over BC to study the effect, the flame, the torch had with all the communities but what would be your best moment in BC?

Penner: The absolute best moment is today with the flame reaching the Fraser Valley and we're going to carry this positive momentum from all of you so that Canada will own the podium when the games start.

Gagne: Thank you and now welcome the Mayor of Chilliwack, Sharon Gaetz. It's great to be here with you today.

Gaetz: I'm doing very well thank you and so excited to be here with you.

Gagne: Good. The City of Chilliwack ...

(Cheers)

Gagne: ... over the years you have had big events for cultural and social but how does this rate compared to the torch relay here today?

Gaetz: Oh my goodness, the people of Chilliwack know how to party!

(Cheers)

Gaetz: You look out over this group and not all of us agree on absolutely everything but there is one thing that we agree on and that is that we support our Olympian athletes and want to host a party!

(Cheers)

Gaetz: You know I want to take this moment to send this out to Kelly Vanderbeek who could not be here and could not be participating in the Olympics but she has done us proud, has she not?

(Cheers)

Gaetz: I want to say that deside you there are young men and women who may be your future Olympians. Could you give a kid beside you just a little hug right now? They may be the next stars. Yeah.

(Crowd hugs)

Gaetz: And finally I want to say to all of you the party doesn't end here. We're going to be having some tremendous festivities throughout Chilliwack. If you head on over to the pool there's free swimming, in this rink right over here (due to sponsor obligations the Mayor was not allowed to say the name of the arena which was Prospera Centre) there's free skating. You don't even have to bring ice skates. At the landing Leisure Centre and have hot chocolate because we know to ...

Crowd: Party!

Gagne: We have many people to thank for this big gathering and this energy around here in Chilliwack.

(Cheers)

Gaetz: So many people worked on this party. I want to give special thanks first of all to Councilor Pat Clark who headed it all up, Councilor Pat Clark and she had a great committee working with her day and night. I've seen City Hall full of people working on this event, ladies and gentlemen could you please put your hands together and give it up for the committee?

(Cheers and applause)

---------------------------------------

VANOC Torch Presentation
On behalf of the torch relay team and the torch relay right across Canada this wouldn't be complete without a small token of our appreciation to you and the people of Chilliwack for welcoming us, for having us and hosting the Olympic flame and for throwing this incredible celebration. We thank you from the bottom of our glowing hearts and we ask that you display this Olympic Torch somewhere residents can hold that for years and years to come.

(Cheers)

Gagne: And now Chris ( last name unintelligible) from VANOC Torch Relay.

Chris: What we wanted to do is connect Canadians to the Olympic spirit and give an outlet for people to show their national and civic pride. I think that is evident right here in Chilliwack. You see it from persons young at heart, everyone is out here sporting their red and white, the athletes are arriving in Vancouver and the finishing touches are going on in those games and we're counting down days and I know some people are counting down the hours and the minutes to the point where Canada, BC and the host region will welcome the world for fantastic games.

If I can just go off a little bit here, I would love for everyone here to join me in a little bit of a cheer, if we could get our voices as loud as possible, cheer on the athletes, the parents of the athletes and the friends and family of all of our Canadian Athletes.

Join me ... 1, 2, 3

(Cheers)

The volunteers have worked tirelessly and we do hope that you will cherish these memories for years and generations to come. Thank you very much.

(Cheers)

Gagne: Go Canada go! Now you have wittnessed for yourelves the power of the Olympic flame. The power to bring communities together, the power to inspire our nation and the power to make our hearts glow. We have all carried the memories and now you become a member of the family of Olympic flames. Welcome to that family Chilliwack.

You are now officially a part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

(Cheers)

Gagne: From here today and the rest of your life you'll be able to say 'I was part of the day it ran here in Chilliwack British Columbia.

Chilliwack thank you again for the privilege to be here for a second time. We say goodbye and we wish you a great Olympic games.

---------------------------------------------------------

Number 93 Torchbearer Chantal Horel

Randy Horel (dad): Chantal is going to be taking the torch. She's flown in from Winnipeg to take the torch at station number 93 heading towards Vancouver I guess.

Horel: She's part of a group that was part of the planning over the last couple of years with Participaction and she was selected to carry it here.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number 46 Torchbearer Fred Snooks

Snooks: I've been living in Chilliwack since 1992. I applied through the Royal Bank and my volunteer coaching as junior curling here in Chilliwack.

I've been coaching now for about 3-years. Found out about being a torchbearer last July via e-mail that notified me that I was pre-selected as they called it, then I had to fill out all the application stuff and then about two weeks after that I got notified. It was special.

I have my son and my wife here. Out in Rosedale is where I actually carried the torch. I was number 46 next to Inline Nurseries.

Voice: What it was like to carry the torch? Was it heavy?

Snooks: You're so high that it wasn't a problem. It gets heavy if you're holding it like this.

Voice: Are you buying your torch?

Snooks: I've already purchased my torch. It's going to be put away in a special place and then at some point down the road one of my grandkids will probably get it. I'm very proud and very proud to be a Canadian very happy to be carrying this torch.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mayor Sharon Gaetz

Voice: What was it like for the city to have the torch?

It was fantastic having the torch here in our town. I was so excited when I saw it coming in. All the people that gathered to watch it, there were about 10,000 here Craig.

So it's fantastic. I talked to some of the organizers who said that they felt like it was the best organized and the best attended. So that was pretty cool.

There was a lot of hard work put in by the committee and Pat Clark, the person who charied us, but there were lots of committee members who worked really hard. Like I said up there on the stage, City Hall was just buzzing this week with everyone flying around and setting up this place and figuring out if all the last minute details have been done and they have. It turned out without a hitch I think.

It was great to see all the little kids here. That was my favourite part. They were so excited and during the music they were dancing and clapping and waving their Canadian flags and it's just inspiring that some of those kids will go on and will inspire us further by being Olympians themselves and competing.

This is a big sports town and I actually too Craig, just came back from the high school curling championship and those kids did great. The girls came in 3rd and the guys came in 6th in the province out of 16 teams and they did fantastic. I'm very proud.

But today was great and I'm really excited to go down and look at the community events and Winter Party... I think its a very proud day for the City of Chilliwack but more than that it really is a proud day for Canada because the torch has come all the way across and you think about all the people who have meaningful stories to tell and the cities that they've run for and we get to join in that parade and it's been exciting.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Voice caught up with Councilor Pat Clark who was busy handing out paper flags at Propsera Center.

Voice: How's things going today?

Clark: Things went terrific today. It was a full day and all the acts were amazing. Everything went on time. I've heard estimates anywhere from 8-10,000 people. Just really appreciative of all the help that we had and Chilliwack entertainers really shone brightly today. It was a good time and the crowd was enthusiastic, lots of Canadian flags waving in the air. Lots of red and white out there. It was good.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skaters at Prospera

Charmon Peters has lived in Chilliwack for 15-years and brought along a friend and two kids is from Chilliwack and they walked over to the Ag-rec and had some fun there before going to the rink.

Young Travis Reed was lacing up skates for the first time this year. He's only been skating for 2-years.

Voice: what do you think of free skating?

Reed: I like that.

Voice: Are you a good skater?

Reed: uh huh.

---------------------------------------------

Torchbearer Beanie Laws-Peel

Voice: How is your horse?

Beanie: She's good. She did really well with the plane actually. Beanie bought her torch.

We raised enough money making fudge to be able to buy it and the stand which came with it.

Voice: Where are you going to put the torch?

Beanie: Probably in my front room. My grandma worked hard for me to get it and we're going to keep it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Face Painter at Prospera Centre

Angela Estley is with A-Star Art Parlour and does the face painting for the Chilliwack Bruins.

Voice: How many faces have you painted?

Estley: We're a company from Burnaby to be honest.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The end of the excerpts. Thanks for reading.