Centennial Park in Beaconsfield came alive last night to the sound of over a 1,000 visitors come to admire a unique celebration surrounding the lighting of an Olympic Cauldron by local torchbearer Benjamin Mumme.
"It's awesome having all these people come together. It's amazing. It shows the spirit of community that Canada has," Mumme, a graduating Beaconsfield High School student who was chosen to be the last torch-bearer of the city after being nominated by his school for his involvement in local sports activities, said yesterday.
Mumme carried the flame for 300 metres, dashing from Lakeshore Road after picking up the flame from a previous torch-bearer to the cauldron on the giant stage assembled by the city, the Vancouver Olympics Committee for 2010, and its two main sponsors, Coca Cola and the Royal Bank of Canada.
The event lasted around two hours, highlights including a thumping hip-hop dance by Dollard des Ormeaux-based group 8Count, from the multiple award-winning studio of the same name, as well as performances by the Juno Award-winning Montreal Jubilation Choir.
Fritz Branschat, a Toronto-based artist who has been touring with the various Olympic celebrations across the country since they began in the east, presented the city with a painting he assembled in six minutes in front of the live audience as they cheered and jumped to a variety of songs.
The sight of the torch brought memories flooding back for some who watched.
"When I was a kid, I represented Canada in Mexico City (in 1968)," recalled Pointe Claire resident Meilan Carr, who came out with his family yesterday to take in the festivities. "This brings it all back," he said.
Beaconsfield resident Penny Vilagos also had a personal connection to the event. As a silver medalist in synchronized swimming at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics, and a neighbour to Mumme, she just could not help but show up.
"I thought it was a fantastic choice," she said of having Mumme as a torchbearer. She praised him as a solid athlete—Mumme is a waterpolo player in Dollard des Ormeaux—among many in his family and someone with a lot to give to the community.
Local officials showed up to address the public as well, with Mayor David Pollock publicly thanking the entire organizing committee, as well as recognizing retired long-time Beaconsfield councillor James Hasegawa, who had carried an Olympic Torch during the 1976 Montreal games.
Federal Liberal MP for Lac St. Louis, Francis Scarpaleggia, also showed up at the event, along with Jacques Cartier Liberal MNA Geoffrey Kelley.
The latter proudly wore a tuque first donned by his father in 1988 in Brockville, Ontario as a torch bearer for the winter Olympics in Calgary that year.
"He was so proud of it that he wore it for the rest of his days," said Kelley of the hat.
Many of those who showed up came with their young children to let them have a good time.
"They loved it, they danced so much," said Beaconsfield resident Chantal Lemieux, adding it was extremely well-organized.
As the event winded down, Stefan Faucher from Sucrerie de la Montagne in Rigaud hovered busily over the taffy he had prepared among all the other sweet treats he and co-workers brought. "They asked us to prepare food for well over 1,000 people," Faucher, who runs the place with his dad, owner Pierre Faucher, said, adding he was hoping it would all get eaten up.
After a detour to Mont Tremblant today, the Olympic Torch is slated to re-enter the West Island tomorrow, passing by Dollard des Ormeaux town hall on De Salaberry Boulevard a little bit after noon. By 12:40 p.m, Kirklanders can watch it there on St. Charles Boulevard. At around 1 p.m., bearers will carry the flame from the corner of Hymus and Alstom to St. John's Boulevard in Pointe Claire. At 1:23 p.m., the Dorval Gardens mall in Dorval will be the place to be to catch a sight of it.
Be advised that the roads in question will be closed off to cars as the flame passes.
