By Stephanie Froese

Stories of 2010, #5 Memories of the Olympic torch

Dec 27, 2010 | 6:19 AM

Many will remember the national pride brought by the Olympic Torch relay that made a two day stop in Prince Albert, before continuing its trek to the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Thousands lined the streets in PA as the torch passed from one runner to the next and finally arrived at Memorial Square where Blair Morgan, an accomplished Prince Albert athlete, lit the city’s Olympic Cauldron.

“I’ve done pretty big events and travelled around a lot and I didn’t realize how this thing touched a lot of people. There was a few people getting all weepy on the bus because they were able to be part of it. I didn’t realize that it meant that much to a lot of people. That was probably the one thing that really stuck to me,” Morgan said.

Morgan won a national championship in motocross before an accident in 2008 forced him to end his racing career. He continues to be a huge role model in the community. While the flame continued to move on, each bearer had the option to keep their torch.

“I have it up sitting on my fire place so I see it every day and everyone sees it. One of the first things they say when they come to my house is ‘oh is that the torch you used? You got to keep it?’ and I’m sure years from now it’s going to be there.”

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Lisa Davis was the chair person for the Olympic torch relay in the city. She was a crucial part of organizing the Olympic celebrations, Prince Albert style.

“I just get covered in goose bumps thinking about how magical it was. Like the weather was perfect. In January I was just wearing a hoodie. You know the streets were just packed with people. Everybody was just so excited. All of the pieces of the event came off without a hitch … the whole excitement of the event just went on and on for days afterwards as well,” Davis said.

Even the torch relay committee, based out of Vancouver, was impressed with the celebrations.

“They even said Prince Albert really really rocked the scale of excitement and enthusiasm based on everybody across the country, because they traveled to all of the different communities and they said by far we were really up there, way close to the top.”

While the excitement continued in the city, the flame made its way to Shellbrook where Tim Strom, who had taught there for five years, took a turn as a touch bearer.

During an orientation Strom was warned about the wave of emotion that goes over a person before they receive the flame, something he didn’t take seriously until it happened.

“It’s the whole anticipation, you could see the previous runners running towards you with the torch, you get to hug your family. You wouldn’t expect there to be that much emotion involved. That was probably the best moment for me.”

That was the second time in 21 years that the Olympic Flame passed through Prince Albert.
Estimates from the city had as many as 8,000 people come out as the torch wound through Prince Albert on that Monday night.

sfroese@panow.com
 

Previous stories from 2010's top 10:

Stories of 2010, #10 Relay for Life success

Stories of 2010, #9 Fire Mentor Program cancelled

Stories of 2010, #8 First Nations University nearly closes

Stories of 2010, #7 Emotional rollercoaster around pulp mill

Stories of 2010, #6 Spring brings serious crime