Thousands cheer on torch

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Torchbearer Errol McKay makes his way to the Manitoba Legislative Building from Memorial Boulevard Tuesday evening before the torch moved on to The Forks.

WINNIPEGGERS showed that Canadian pride is alive and kicking in the Prairie city, as they came out in droves Tuesday night to catch a glimpse of the Olympic flame.

About 20,000 people packed the downtown route and The Forks to see the legendary flame, said Kenny Boyce, chairman of the Torch Relay Committee.

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Desiree Blackmore high-fives Kevin Young after passing the flame to him in Selkirk. (DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

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About 30 protesters delay the torch on Broadway. (TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

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The flame is held outside Ed Golding Memorial Arena in readiness to light the first torch of its Winnipeg visit. (PHIL.HOSSACK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)

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Grade 1 student Ilona Bullert beams as she greets the torch in Oakbank. (RUTH.BONNEVILLE@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)

"I'm extremely happy with the outcome," he said. "For those who will never travel to Vancouver to see the Games, this will be as close as they come. It was really beautiful."

About 30 protesters created the only major snafu of the city's relay. The group snarled the torch's progress along Broadway, one of the last legs of the Winnipeg trip on its way to The Forks.

They handed out leaflets titled Resistance 2010: the flame of shame, condemning the government's handling of poverty and homelessness, missing and murdered women, stolen native land, the environmental impact of the Olympics and the cost of policing the event.

Neither the 10-minute delay nor the -20 C wind chill could cool the enthusiasm of those waiting at The Forks, as people were packed elbow to elbow, waving Canadian flags, chanting and cheering.

The first full day of the torch's return trip to Manitoba culminated with two hours of live, local entertainment, video presentations by Canadian athletes and a few oversized red beach balloons that bounced around the crowd.

"It was awesome," said Clarissa Brown, who waited nearly two hours at The Forks with her husband and two sons for the flame to arrive. "There's so much pride to be a Canadian and everyone here has that same feeling. It makes you want to cheer and scream."

Local teen hero Noah Palansky was the most popular person of the night, posing for photos with dozens of others as local country rockers Doc Walker entertained the crowd.

The 13-year-old carried the torch into The Forks and was selected to light the Olympic cauldron.

"This is amazing," Palansky said, his grin widening ear to ear. "This will always be with me. I'll remember it forever."

Winnipeg MP Steven Fletcher, Premier Greg Selinger and Mayor Sam Katz welcomed the torch as it reached the cauldron.

Katz received a commemorative plate from Fletcher, and a commemorative torch from Olympic Committee CEO John Furlong.

"We will display it with immense pride," Katz said.

Earlier, the torch arrived on time at Louis Riel's grave just before 6 p.m. to boisterous applause from Winnipeg's French quarter and thunderous ringing from the St. Boniface Cathedral's bell.

"To even pass by the grave is commendable," said Art Carrier, a board member of the Métis Culture and Heritage Resource Centre.

The torch arrived in Winnipeg at 4:26 p.m. as Harvey Tschetter was met with chants of "Eh, oh, Canada go!" as he carried it out of the Ed Golding Memorial Arena.

The hundreds who lined the parking lot erupted into applause, waving Canadian flags and Olympic banners, chasing after Tschetter as he paused on Pandora Avenue and posed for photos and video.

The torch earlier passed through Steinbach.

Late Tuesday morning in the automobile city, Lennie Plett, 31, a Special Olympian, carried the torch onto the stage at Clearspring Centre and lit the ceremonial cauldron.

"This is one of those days," said his mom, Heidi, who shed some tears as her son proudly carried the torch. "It is really wonderful that he had this opportunity in front of all these people to be honoured in this way."

Plett won two silver medals and one bronze medal at the World Special Olympic Winter Games in 2001 in Anchorage, Alaska, as a cross-country skier.

Hundreds of people attended the Steinbach event, including schoolchildren, who enthusiastically waved Canadian flags.

The torch was brought into Manitoba by Marc Bissonnette of Kenora at about 8:30 a.m.

Bissonnette said he always dreamed of competing in the Olympics, but it never materialized.

"Absolutely... everybody does, right?" he said, just moments after handing the Olympic Torch to Scott Solmundson as it made a short visit to Falcon Lake.

The torch and the accompanying entourage also visited the communities of Richer and Ste. Anne before arriving in Steinbach just before 11:30 a.m.

"It was just fantastic," said Bissonnette. "A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Just being a part of the whole experience, and being one of the 12,000 Canadians to do this, was worth it all."

matt.preprost@freepress.mb.ca allan.besson@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 6, 2010 B1