More on the North Vancouver Torch Relay

I took my 14-year-old son to Lonsdale Quay this morning for the Olympic Torch Relay. We breakfasted at a well-known coffee shop chain on Esplanade with a couple of networking colleagues, then we headed down to the Quay. Even at just around 8.00, the place was busy with musicians doing their sound-check, volunteers handing out Canadian flags (predictably, my son wanted one of the Coca-Cola sponsored ones, probably because they were glossier that a simple paper Maple Leaf) and a big group of kids from two of the nearby elementary schools. The kids had created great long banners and were proudly showing them off, along with their equally proud teachers.

By 8.30 the place was solid, with people up on the ICBC plaza, others on the external stairways and hundreds of others jammed into the space leading from the Seabus terminal and bus loop to the plaza. There was even one gentleman (who shall remain anonymous, as I know him well) on the roof of the office building adjoining the Seabus.

Just as my Grade 9 son was starting to get bored, we began to get some action, with a couple of morning DJs (are they still called that?) from Virgin Radio acting as MCs. There were the predictable speeches from the Mayor, MP and MLA and some very good drumming from the  Stony Creek First Nation Drummers prior to the relay itself.

Scheduled for 8.42 a.m., the runner appeared almost to the second. Victor Kraatz, a former Olympian who figure-skated in three Olympic Games with Shae-Lynn Bourne, brought the torch into the central plaza to loud cheers.

Following a brief stop, the flame was handed over to another runner (unfortunately, I was unable to find his name on the Torch Relay information sites) who headed back out and up to Esplanade for the next stage of North Vancouver's big day of Olympic excitement.

Thankfully the rain held off while we were at the Quay; unfortunately we had to leave as soon as the torch did so that I could get my son to school. Overall, though it was a most enjoyable event.

Originally posted February 10, 2010