THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – The countdown to the Pan Am Games is almost underway. For Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario, the Pan Am Games start with the Torch Relay. Thunder Bay is as far west as the Pan Am Games Torch Relay will travel in Ontario.
On Sunday, May 31, Day 2 of the Pan Am Games Torch Relay presented by President’s Choice® and OLG, the Pan Am flame will visit several communities in northern Ontario, including Fort William First Nation, Thunder Bay, Nipigon, Terrace Bay, Marathon, White River and Wawa.
The relay day will begin at sunrise in front of a picturesque backdrop as the Pan Am flame visits Fort William First Nation before travelling to Thunder Bay City Hall for a community celebration. From City Hall, torchbearers, includingCurt Harnett, legendary cyclist and Team Canada’s chef de mission for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games, will carry the flame along the streets of Thunder Bay, including a visit to the Terry Fox Monument.
Continuing on its journey, the flame will visit Nipigon and the Terrace Bay Lighthouse, Marathon and the Winnie the Pooh statue in White River. Day 2 of the torch relay will conclude with an evening celebration at Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre when community torchbearer Diane Spencer, selected by the Municipality of Wawa, lights the community cauldron.
Sunday, May 31, 2015 – Relay Day 2: Fort William First Nation to Wawa.
Fort William First Nation – 6:00AM (EDT) at the Mt McKay Lookout there will be a Pan Am flame indigenous Welcome Ceremony atop Mount McKay.
- Lenny Pelletier to be the first torchbearer of Day 2
Thunder Bay City Hall – There will be a community celebration:
- Flame to arrive at 9:00AM EDT, the torch will be carried by community torchbearer Curt Harnett, three-time Olympic medallist (cycling) and chef de mission for Team Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games.
Terry Fox Monument – 10:55AM EDT where the Flame will be carried by Andrea Cole, Paralympic and Parapan Am medallist, swimming.
Terrace Bay Lighthouse – 2 p.m. (ET) (Simcoe Plaza Intersection, Trans-Canada Highway, Terrace Bay)
Photo opportunity:
- Flame to be carried in by torchbearer Helen Jones and exchanged with community torchbearer Stacey Wallwin, who will then depart with the flame
Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre – (3 Chris Simon Drive, Wawa)
Evening celebration:
- Community torchbearer Diane Spencer will be the final torchbearer who will light the community cauldron at 7 p.m.
- Francesco Yates will perform at the celebration
The Pan Am Games Torch Relay is a 41-day journey that will share the Pan Am spirit in more than 130 communities. The torch relay is one of the most exciting events as it sets the stage leading up to the Games. There will be more than 3,000 torchbearers and 180 community celebrations taking place.