May 22, 2015 - The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay, presented by President's Choice and OLG, is coming to Thunder Bay on Sunday, May 31. A free Community Celebration, including a pancake breakfast and interactive displays and activities, will be held at City Hall to welcome the torch. Citizens are encouraged to attend.

The free pancake breakfast begins at 8 am at City Hall, followed by a variety of activities for all ages.

The City is proud to announce the official torchbearers:

  • Curt Harnett, four-time Olympian and three-time Olympic medalist in cycling, will bring the torch into the City Hall celebration
  • Andrea Cole, bronze silver and gold medalist as a Paralympic swimmer, will enter the Terry Fox Monument

The Pan Am flame will leave the Airlane Hotel at 8:19 am and proceed east on Arthur Street, turning north on May Strteet to arrive at City Hall at 9 am. It will leave City Hall at 9:30 am, and proceed down May St. with a brief stop at the Clayton Building on the CLE grounds. It will then proceed to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for a brief stop, and then proceed by convoy to the Terry Fox Monument.

The Canadian journey for the Pan Am flame starts with its arrival in Toronto on May 30, 2015. It will then visit five other cities in Canada, as well as 130 communities in all corners of Ontario. Three-thousand torchbearers will proudly carry the Pan Am flame across the province and share its welcoming Pan Am spirit on the 41-day journey towards the lighting of the cauldron on July 10, 2015 to officially open the Games.

 "We're excited that Thunder Bay is a major celebration community for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay, and we look forward to welcoming our torchbearers and the Pan Am flame as we showcase our unique heritage and sporting traditions," said Mayor Keith Hobbs.

TORONTO 2015 is proud to bring the relay to Canadian communities with the help of presenting partners President's Choice and OLG, community partner CIBC and signature supporter Ontario Trillium Foundation to ensure it is a memorable experience for everyone involved.

About the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay

The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay, presented by President's Choice and the Ontario Lottery Corporation, and supported by community partner CIBC, will invite Canadians to celebrate and share the Pan Am spirit throughout its 41-day journey towards Toronto, the Host City of the Games.

The torch relay starts May 30, 2015 and concludes July 10, 2015 with the dramatic lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony in downtown Toronto. The TORONTO 2015 Games are funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, as well as Lead Partner CIBC and other partners and sponsors.

For more information, visit www.TORONTO2015.org/torch-relay

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Contact: Doug Henry, Events Supervisor, Recreation & Culture - Community Services, 625-2487