I’m a proud Canadian anytime, but I am really aware of it when a Canadian does something extraordinary or a special event occurs that showcases what a wonderful country we have. There has been 
a lot of that happening these days with the Olympics set to open in Vancouver on February 12, 2010.
I got a chance to be part of one of those special events recently when the Olympic Torch Relay went through Hamilton. Don and I stood by the side of the road on a cold Saturday evening just before Christmas. The spot we chose to stand was perfect -- at the end of the ramp off the highway where the flame had been transported from Burlington. It was the beginning of a leg of a journey, so there were hundreds of people to watch a very-excited torch-bearer ignite her torch from the small spark in a transport container and cheer wildly as the flame began its journey through Hamilton. It occurred after dark which made the flame all the m
ore spectacular.
We were so excited that we stood by the side of the road again the next morning to watch the torch as it went through the east end of Hamilton (it spent the night in our city). The morning crowd was a much more subdued as we watched a fairly impressive parade of sponsor floats, motorcycles and support vehicles sail by before the flame. We were fortunate to wait with a runner, and to see the transfer from one torch to another. I even got my picture taken with the runner as he waited!
I know I am going to watch every moment of coverage of the Opening Ceremonies from Vancouver, especially the moment when that flame I saw run through Hamilton ignites the flame that begins the games. It’s a time when my great country gets to be showcased to the world and we will be proud!
a lot of that happening these days with the Olympics set to open in Vancouver on February 12, 2010.I got a chance to be part of one of those special events recently when the Olympic Torch Relay went through Hamilton. Don and I stood by the side of the road on a cold Saturday evening just before Christmas. The spot we chose to stand was perfect -- at the end of the ramp off the highway where the flame had been transported from Burlington. It was the beginning of a leg of a journey, so there were hundreds of people to watch a very-excited torch-bearer ignite her torch from the small spark in a transport container and cheer wildly as the flame began its journey through Hamilton. It occurred after dark which made the flame all the m
ore spectacular.We were so excited that we stood by the side of the road again the next morning to watch the torch as it went through the east end of Hamilton (it spent the night in our city). The morning crowd was a much more subdued as we watched a fairly impressive parade of sponsor floats, motorcycles and support vehicles sail by before the flame. We were fortunate to wait with a runner, and to see the transfer from one torch to another. I even got my picture taken with the runner as he waited!
I know I am going to watch every moment of coverage of the Opening Ceremonies from Vancouver, especially the moment when that flame I saw run through Hamilton ignites the flame that begins the games. It’s a time when my great country gets to be showcased to the world and we will be proud!
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