Yesterday (December 12th) the Olympic Torch Relay took place in Ottawa...I spent much of the day following it around...first stop (for me) was Beechwood and Marier - which happens to be right by the Jacobsons (the store that the company that I work for owns), so I did a bit of shopping then all the staff headed out to cheer on the torchbearer...
After Beechwood, I headed over to City Hall, but not before running into the relay a few times while en route...I got to City Hall just about 5 minutes before the torch bearer - Melissa Brunet, who is from my end of town - and I was lucky enough to be right beside the red carpet where the torch was run down...(sometimes there are benefits to being late). The cauldron was lit while the crowd chanted Go Canada Go, then we all sang O Canada...After speeches from Max Keeping, the Mayor, and Gordon Campbell (among others), I ran into a friend of mine who happens to be a city councellor (Rainer Bloess) and was lucky enough to accompany him up onto the stage once the festivities were over...however there was still lots going on on stage - photographers everywhere taking pics of the Olympic Athletes that were present (Elizabeth Manley, Barbara Ann Scott, Sue Holloway, Rob Marland & Greg Joy). I had my picture taken with the Olympic torch and cauldron...(thanks Rainer). and also got some great shots of the athletes and local celebs! Some of the pics are attached, but the ones of me will have to wait until Rainer sends them to me...
At 5:45 p.m. I headed over to Parliament Hill to see the torch arrive and the simultaneous lighting of the cauldron and Christmas lights...Joe Juneau carried the torch for that leg and again, I had a great view...he was so close that I just got a blurred pic as he was flying by!!!! Again, the crowd sang O Canada and after a few speeches and a Joe Juneau interview, Tom Cochrane played...
Coca Cola was there handing out glow in the dark Coke bottles, Royal Bank was handing out little tamborines, and the NCC was giving everyone little torches that were lit and made the whole hill quite lovely. I heard one of the girls working in the Coke booth saying that the stage was the most impressive one she has seen throughout the relay and in her words, she has seen many over the past 44 days. Way to go Ottawa!!!!
Stay tuned for more news once I arrive in Vancouver - I don't expect to post much on for the next six weeks as nothing much Olympics related will be happening (to me)...see you in February!!!!
