By Lethbridge News Now (Aaron Mahoney)

Canada Games torch passes through Lethbridge on its way to Red Deer

Jan 17, 2019 | 9:02 AM

LETHBRIDGE – The MNP Canada Games Roly McLenahan Torch made a stop in Lethbridge on Wednesday, Jan. 16 as part of the official torch relay ahead of the 2019 Canada Winter Games taking place in Red Deer in February.

The Torch Relay kicked off in Ottawa where the torch was lit by the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill, and for the first time in the 52-year history of the games, the torch will make its way across Canada, stopping in nearly 50 communities along the way.

It was a who’s who of Lethbridge taking part in the local relay which finished up with Mayor Chris Spearman taking the torch and setting it down right outside of the ENMAX Centre.

Lethbridge MP Rachael Harder, Lethbridge East MLA Maria Fitzpatrick, five-time Canadian Boxing Champion Rick Duff, Lethbridge Hurricanes Director of Player Development Bob Bartlett, and Executive Director of the Lethbridge Sport Council Susan Eymann were among those who got a chance to hold the torch.

Eymann says the experience was a great one for her.

Plate cap removal

Taxi drivers protest proposed Vehicle for Hire bylaw changes in Red Deer

2h ago

are you convinced?

Roughly 300 Red Deerians attend first byelction forum for new city councillor

4h ago

Two Of Them

Red Deer road closures

9h ago

“Being sandwiched between Bob Bartlett, the king of hockey, and Rick Duff a boxing Olympian was fantastic,” she continued. “Anytime you have anything sport related the inspiration that it provides our youth in the community is fantastic.”

There were a number of young members of the community out showing their support, as well as a couple of local boxers who will be competing in the games beginning on Feb. 15.

“For many of the first-time athletes to a Canada Games, they don’t quite understand what a fantastic experience it is and what a huge event it is,” Eymann explained, but added they’re going to have a great time.

Lethbridge previously hosted the Canada Winter Games in 1975 and was among the cities in Alberta who bid for this year’s iteration though unsuccessfully.

When asked what it meant to take part in the relay, Eymann said she was very honoured and excited, but that there was a little bittersweetness about the event.

“Because of course when we bid for it not just our organizing committee but from our entire community, I still hear about it. People just love these games, they have such a wonderful legacy and so many people remember the ’75 games. I really hope that there are many people from Lethbridge that take the opportunity to go to Red Deer for the opening ceremonies and the closing ceremonies.”

A solid contingent of athletes will be headed to the games representing Lethbridge, with Eymann saying the numbers are a bit better than what the city has sent to previous winter and summer games. And because it’s in Alberta, it’s not just the athletes who will be heading to Red Deer.

“The number of officials that can be a part of the event is very nice. We have really strong clubs here in Lethbridge, and part of hosting events is about developing sport. It’s not just the athletes, but also the coaches, infrastructure and technical officials. To be able to see that there are many of our technical officials and coaches going, and volunteers from our sport organizations that are going up as well to help out with their sport events, it’s fantastic,” Eymann stated.

For the Canada Games, each province has a specific timeline when they can bid for the games and Eymann, unfortunately, relayed that Alberta isn’t on the list again until the late 2030s.

“It’s a way away, but we bid for the games and we know people in Lethbridge love hosting events. The legacy of just the excitement of the bid was fantastic, we felt that for a long time and there’s certainly no gap in hosting with the number of major events coming here in 2019.”