Blackfalds welcomes 2019 Games torch relay

“We shut down the studio tonight because we really wanted to promote sports in Blackfalds and in Alberta. They said, ‘Let’s all get out and cheer on Ms. Heather’. They did and it filled my heart so much.”

“I can’t describe how fun, how exciting it was to come into the Abbey Centre and to go through the only indoor trail in Canada as we came around down to the lighting of the podium,” said Poole.

Lyn Radford, Board Chair for the 2019 Canada Winter Games, says Blackfalds was initially slated to host the badminton event before things went in a different direction.

“We needed a gymnasium that would be able to host badminton and this (Abbey Centre) was a suitable facility and the school across the way could have been used as a practice gym. When we got into the bid and into the planning, we realized the logistics would not have worked as well for us,” Radford recalled.

“When the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre became available, we thought that was going to be a better alternative, particularly for our wheel chair accessible athletes.”

Despite not hosting any events Radford says Blackfalds has continued to be a strong supporter of the 2019 Games.

“We thank them for being so neighbourly and gracious when we had to make the change.”

The torch relay will have visited 47 communities before arriving in Red Deer for the Opening Ceremonies on Feb. 15. Upcoming torch relay visits include Innisfail on Wednesday, Olds Thursday, Lacombe on Saturday (Feb. 2), Sylvan Lake on Feb. 5, and Ponoka Feb. 7.

by Troy Gillard (Twitter: @Troy_Gillard)

Blackfalds welcomes 2019 Games torch relay

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