By rdnewsNOW staff

Torch lit in Ottawa for 2019 Canada Winter Games

Oct 4, 2018 | 2:09 PM

Today, the first-ever national MNP Canada Games Torch Relay kicked off on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and the Canada Games flag was raised across the country in past Host Communities.

As part of Canada Games tradition, the Canada Games Roly McLenahan Torch was lit from the Centennial Flame with guest of honour Minister of Sport, Kirsty Duncan.

Organizers say the Canada Games Torch Lighting is a significant element of the Games and has united communities across the nation for the past 51 years. In celebration of the lighting of the torch, past Canada Games Host Communities raised the Canada Games flag Thursday at Parliament Hill.

For the first time in the history of the Canada Games, the Roly McLenahan torch now embarks on a relay across Canada before arriving in Red Deer, Alberta for the Opening Ceremony of the 2019 Canada Winter Games on February 15, 2019.

“The MNP Canada Games Torch Relay is an exciting opportunity to share the spirit of the Canada Games across the nation,” Lyn Radford, Board Chair of the 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society said in a release.

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“We are proud to partner with MNP to deliver the first-ever national MNP Canada Games Torch Relay and celebrate sport and culture in communities across the nation from now until the Opening Ceremony of the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer.”

“As the torch starts its journey on the road to Red Deer, it provides a unique opportunity for our fellow Canadians to become a part of the 2019 Canada Winter Games in their respective communities,” said City of Red Deer Mayor Tara Veer. “Through the torch, Canadians from coast to coast to coast across our country will become a part of the energy and excitement that Red Deer will experience this February when we welcome the nation to our city”.

“We are thrilled that the MNP Canada Games Torch Relay is now underway and that the iconic Roly McLenahan Torch is set to travel across our beautiful country, galvanizing Canadian pride for youth and sport,” said Tom Quinn, Canada Games Council Chairman. “The Torch visits communities that have hosted past editions of the Canada Games and a feeling of nostalgia and effervescence is sure to take over as residents reminisce about how impactful the Canada Games were to their city and community.”

“For MNP, the opportunity to participate in the coast-to-coast Torch Relay is a real honour and a wonderful way for us, as a ‘Made in Canada’ firm, to celebrate our 60th anniversary,” said Jason Tuffs, Chief Executive Officer of MNP. “We wish all the athletes, their families, Games organizers, leadership and volunteers a fun and successful 2019 Canada Winter Games.”

The first torch relay stop is Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 9 and then the MNP Canada Games Torch Relay heads west visiting almost 50 communities across Canada through a series of torch relay and community celebration stops before arriving in Red Deer for the Opening Ceremony of the 2019 Games.

For the complete MNP Canada Games Torch Relay schedule, please visit www.canadagames.ca/2019/mnptorchrelay .

(2019 Canada Winter Games media release)