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Pan Am Torch Relay to begin in Toronto this Saturday

May 27, 2015   ·   0 Comments

This Saturday will be Day 1 of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay, presented by President’s Choice and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming commission (OLG), when the Pan Am flame will arrive on Canadian soil for its 41-day journey.

The flame will be welcomed to Canada during a special ceremony as it travels by air, water and land at Toronto’s harbourfront. The relay’s first torchbearer will depart from the ceremony carrying the Pan Am flame, followed by several torchbearers who will carry it through the streets of Toronto en route to a community celebration in The Distillery Historic District. The first Canadian to walk in space, Col. Chris Hadfield, will be the final torchbearer of the day, carrying the flame into The Distillery Historic District to light the community cauldron.

The Pan Am flame will arrive in a lantern carried by Chris Rudge of the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015) Board of Directors.

The flame will then be carried by Elder Garry Sault, Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, who will travel in a flotilla of canoes.

Chief Bryan LaForme, Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, will receive the flame from Elder Sault, alongside Chief Ava Hill of Six Nations, Grand Chief Konrad Sioui of the Huron-Wendat Nation and President Gary Lipinski of the Métis Nation of Ontario.

The ceremony will feature an exclusive soundscape produced by local musical director Andrew Craig and will include unique performances from Obeah Opera and other special guests.

The first torchbearer of the relay will depart from the ceremony carrying the Pan Am flame.

At 4 p.m., in The Distillery Historic District (at 55 Mill Street, Toronto)a community celebration will feature performances by the Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra, The Chimera Project, Dance Migration, Jasmine Denham and other special guests.

First live performance of the official song of the Games will occur when the Flame will arrive at 5 p.m. carried by Col. Chris Hadfield, who will be the final Day 1 torchbearer.

The relay will reach Orangeville Celebration on Friday, June 12 (Day 14), with celebrations at Tony Rose Memorial Sports Centre that day and at the Orangeville Farmers’ Market Saturday, June 13.

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