Tilbury preparing for the Olympic Torch Relay

Submitted by Kathy Cottingham on behalf of the Tilbury Olympic Torch Relay Committee

The countdown is on.

The Olympic Torch Run will be coming to Tilbury on Wed., December 23. We are anticipating an early run (around 8 a.m.) The torch will be coming through the main intersections in town along Queen Street South to North , down Queens Line, Mill St. or Hwy #42 West and then on to Windsor-Essex.

We suggest that you be there at least 15 minutes to half an hour early. There will be a huge entourage with the torch and two of the sponsors, Coke and Royal Bank, will be there to help get us excited for the torch’s arrival.

We are encouraging all citizens, schools, service clubs, businesses, church groups and not for profit organizations including sports teams and clubs to line the street in your groups and give these runners a rousing welcome. We will be providing some noise makers and flags. We encourage you to make banners and streamers. You might want to make and wear a “heart” on your chests to let our runners know that it is ‘with glowing hearts’ we encourage them in this huge endeavour.

Please remember to respect the sponsors and the commitment they have made to the Olympics by making sure you do not have any signs or clothing that would advertise your company or display its logo. Feel free to make banners that wish the runners and our Olympians well. If your business is along the route you may choose to stand in front of your business.

After the run we will be meeting at the arena for some fun activities, a pep rally and a free community skate. Please note that the times are only approximate depending on when the torch actually arrives:

• 8:30 a.m. – Gather at the Arena

• 9 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies

• 9:15 a.m. – Pep Rally

• 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Community Activities: Entertainment, Children’s Activities, Face painting, Carolling, Free Hot Dogs

Several local singers and entertainers have volunteered their time and talents to the celebration.

We hope others will decide to join us in this celebration of excellence and community business, all are welcome at no cost, so please join us.

Help Tilbury be among the 33,000,000 Canadians who want all the world to know that we welcome them for these inspirational games. During this time we would like to organize a pep rally to cheer on all of our Olympic athletes.

We would like to videotape this rally and send a DVD on to Vancouver so that in their down time our Canadian athletes can watch this video and know that in Tilbury, Ontario, we are watching them and WE BELIEVE too. We are still looking for someone to volunteer to tape this for us. If you have equipment or expertise in this area, we would like to hear from you.

Please participate as well in the torch lighting ceremony in Chatham on Dec. 22.

Activities begin at 2 p.m. with skating parties and children’s activities. At 6 p.m. the entertainment begins and the torch lighting will follow at about 8 p.m.

A young man from Tilbury, Chris Beausoleil who is an activist, athlete, humanitarian and spokesperson for Cystic Fibrosis was chosen to light the torch for all of Chatham-Kent at the Kinsmen Arena that evening. Please consider coming out to support Chris in this great honour.

In addition, two of our citizens who were nominated for this honour will be profiled in a power point presentation at these ceremonies. Congratulations to Humphrey Rogers and Deb Ready.

Volunteers are needed to make these great celebrations happen. We need help with children’s activities, handing out hot dogs and hot chocolate, handing out flags and noisemakers and helping with supervision on the ice rink.

We are also looking for individuals, groups or businesses that would like to help with the costs of the celebration. We will be accepting donations for the banners, flags, hot dogs, hot chocolate and miscellaneous supplies.

Feel free to contact any member of the committee or myself as well for more information.