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Today is Torch Run day in Timmins

Updated news and information on today's torch run event

The Timmins Times
1/1/10

Dress warmly. Bring a camera. Park in the free parking lots downtown. And expect to have a good time in Timmins tonight.

That's about the best advice being offered by the city's Olympic Community Celebration Committee, which is putting the final touches on the New Year's Day Torch Run extravaganza at the Hollinger Park.

Along with the promise of a dazzling fireworks display. Residents should be able to witness hometown singing sensation Shania Twain carry the Olympic flame along the final leg of the local torch route followed by two hours of local entertainment.

"We haven't asked Shania to perform," said committee chair Timmins Police Const. Al Richardson. "But she is being given some time to speak to her hometown crowd. We don't anticipate that she'll sing. We don't have any preparation for music or anything for her to do that, but who knows," Richardson added with a grin.

The local run will begin at about 6:14 this evening at the South Porcupine sign on Highway 101 East near the Tim Horton's. The run will proceed westbound for roughly 600 metres to Legion Drive. The flame will then be driven to the eastern limit of Schumacher at the flags park. The run will continue along Father Les Costello Drive and then westbound along Algonquin Boulevard toward Brunette Road.

At about 6:57 p.m. the flame will be lit on the torch held by Shania Twain where she will be waiting on Algonquin Boulevard at Brunette Road. Twain will then proceed south of Brunette and east into the Hollinger Park, and she will carry the flame into the Fred Salvador Field. Once there, her torch will light a cauldron on the stage to kick off the local festivities.

There have been concerns voiced in Timmins in recent weeks that other well-known citizens and athletes were not invited to participate in the torch run along with Twain.

"RBC and Coke were the ones that chose the lion's share of the runners throughout Canada," Richardson explained at a media conference last week. "We had only one choice as a committee for our community, to represent the community and put our best foot forward."

He added that not all the runners in Timmins are from Timmins. He says the same situation exists in most communities where torch runs are being held.

The stage for the final run in and performers is being set up in the baseball area at Fred Salvador Field in the Hollinger Park. The stage is to be set up in the area behind second base, facing the bleachers. Large screens on either side of the stage will carry televised images. The gates to Fred Salvador Field will open to the public at 4:30 p.m. today.

Organizers say up to 1400 residents can sit in the bleachers section. Most spectators are expected to be on ground level where Coca Cola and RBC will be set up with interactive displays and booths. Local businessman and performer Rob Knox, chairing the entertainment portion of the event, says the show will consist of "some very powerful and wonderful stuff" consisting of First Nations drumming and dancing, Timmins Police Pipes and Drums, a special version of O Canada performed by Meaghan Walsh and traditional French Canadian folk dances performed by Les amies qui danse.

There will even be a Winter Olympics dance performed by Cathy McKeown's Classical Dance ballet troupe. Well-known Timmins vocalist Chantal Delorme will also be performing. Knox says the community performances will be capped off with a nighttime fireworks display.

There will also be music and videos provided by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).

"I think all around it's going to a really neat two hours for the community," he said.

As for the weather, there is a contingency plan if the weather turns bad, but details were not released last week. "Luckily as Northerners, we are prepared for bad weather. We are fully anticipating lots of snow and cold temperatures," said Richardson.

"I can tell you we do have a contingency site, an indoor contingency site. We're very much hoping we're not going to use it because it would significantly reduce our numbers.

"We are probably going to forge ahead whatever the weather is," said Richardson.

Environment Canada has indicated snow and minus 20 temperatures are likely for this evening.

Those who choose not to go to the Hollinger Park can still see the torch run, most likely, along the Highway 101 corridor . The route will move at the speed of the slowest runner and will have a police and Olympic security escort.

"Actually the route was designed by VANOC. We had limited input. They designed it and did all through Google Earth®. We were presented with it and we had to work with it," Richardson added.

He added that as regulations from VANOC indicate, runners alongside or behind the official torch runners will be discouraged for safety reasons as well as security reasons. Also no one will be allowed to share the actual Olympic flame other than an official torch runner.

As for attending the Hollinger Park, Fred Salvador Field, Timmins Police Service Deputy Chief Des Walsh says don't expect to be able to drive up to the site. "We are encouraging everyone to carpool that day," said Walsh.

He added that for the comfort of the public, there will be washrooms, heated washrooms, at the Hollinger Park location. A medical facility will also be provided with a physician on hand along with eight nurses. Police also advise that no folding chairs will be allowed in the park. Those who inadvertently bring folding chairs can leave them at the front gate and pick them up afterwards.

Walsh added that since it is a statutory holiday, there will be free parking at all the city owned parking lots in the downtown area, especially those closest to the Hollinger Park.

Brunette Road will be closed down this afternoon, as will a brief eastbound section of Algonquin Boulevard this evening from Spruce Street through to Brunette Road.

Also because of the holiday, there will be no Timmins Transit service or Handi-Trans service on New Year's Day.

There will be 10 torch runners in the Timmins portion of the torch run. They are sponsored by Coca Cola and RBC.

-RBC South Porcupine (ON) Nathalie Vézina

-Coca-Cola South Porcupine (ON) Sharon Jones

-VANOC Timmins (ON) Anne MacDonald

-Coca-Cola Timmins (ON) Marc Gagnon

-RBC Timmins (ON) Michael Hill

-VANOC Timmins (ON) Debbie Legrow

-Coca-Cola Timmins (ON) Paul Herring

-RBC Timmins (ON) Leo Lafleur

-VANOC Timmins (ON) Riley Kolisnyk

-VANOC Timmins (ON) Shania Twain

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