21 photos of the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay making its way across Canada
Ten years ago today, a military aircraft carrying the Olympic Flame, ignited in Greece, landed in Victoria and began a herculean cross-country Olympic Torch Relay, bringing the spirit of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games to every community across Canada.
Over 12,000 torchbearers traversed 45,000 kms and more than 1,000 communities, circling the country before making its way back to the West Coast, ending at the Opening Ceremony on February 12, 2010, at BC Place Stadium.
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Map of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. (VANOC)
The excitement was overwhelming; there was a display of patriotism that had not been seen in generations. Decked in red and white, millions of Canadians lined the streets to spot the Olympic Flame and attended the numerous community celebrations and festivals that marked the end of each day’s running schedule.
The sleek white torches and miniature cauldrons used for the community celebrations were designed by VANOC’s late chief designer Leo Obstbaum and manufactured by Bombardier.
In February of this year, the City of Vancouver Archives released tens of thousands of photos that extensively documented the relay, after going through the process of categorizing the files. This was from a library of 316,000 digital photos of the seven-year-long process of organizing the Games, as well as the weeks-long affairs, that VANOC transferred to the archives.
From this archival pool, here are 21 select photos from the Olympic Torch Relay for the 21st Olympic Winter Games:
Day 1 – The Olympic Torch Relay arrives at the community celebration held at the BC Legislature in Victoria. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 1 – The Olympic Torch Relay travels through Saanich on Vancouver Island. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 12 – Lineup for flame arrival in Kuujjuaq, Quebec. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 35 – Torchbearer Elise Marcotte lights the cauldron at L’Ancienne-Lorette’s Communtiy Celebration in Quebec. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 35 – Torchbearer Joannie Ferland passes the flame to Torchbearer Maxime Fortin in La Cite, Quebec. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 41 – Torchbearer Jean-Francois Monette carries the flame in Montreal, Quebec. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 50 – Ryan Bennett is the Community Torchbearer in Brampton, Ontario. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 50 – Torchbearer David Harris passes the flame to torchbearer David Burkholder in front of the CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 82 – Torchbearer Stephen Ames (R) passes the flame to torchbearer Doung Martineau (L) in Calgary, Alberta. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 105 – Chris Wilson lights the cauldron in Coquitlam, British Columbia. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 105 – Torchbearer Brian Bogdanovich passes the flame to torchbearer Tanya McLachlan in front of Vancouver City Hall, with Mayor Gregor Robertson. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 105 – Torchbearer Steve Cahillane carries the flame in Vancouver, British Columbia. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 105 – Torchbearer Steve Nash carries the flame in Vancouver, British Columbia. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 106 – Torchbearer Mac Stewart carries the flame across the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver, British Columbia. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 106 – Torchbearer Arnold Schwarzenegger carries the flame in Stanley Park, Vancouver. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 106 – Torchbearer Judy Caldwell passes the flame to torchbearer Rolly Fox in front of Inukshuk statue in English Bay, Vancouver. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 106 – Torchbearer Nadir Mohamed carries the flame into the BC Pavilion in Vancouver. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 106 – Torchbearer Dal Richards carries the flame into the BC Pavilion in Vancouver. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 106 – Torchbearer John Brock passes the flame to torchbearer John Brockin in front of the official countdown clock in Vancouver. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 106 – Torchbearer Jacqui Cohen passes the flame to torchbearer Cindy Crapper in Vancouver. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
Day 106 – Torchbearer Hugh Fisher passes the flame to torchbearer Kamini Jain in Vancouver. (VANOC / City of Vancouver Archives)
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