| BARRIE READY TO SHINE IN THE 2010 OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY
On December 29th, the eyes of the world will turn to our community as the Olympic Flame arrives in Barrie as part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola and RBC and supported by the Government of Canada.
The Torch Relay will arrive in Barrie on Day 61 and the City of Barrie is honoured to have been selected by VANOC as one of only 200 communities across Canada to host a Celebration. You are invited to join us! The Celebration will take place outside City Hall the evening of Tuesday, December 29th with activities starting at 5:00pm - public skating on the Circle at the Centre, Olympic-themed activities from Torch Relay sponsors Coca-Cola and RBC, and face painting. You can even meet Olympian and National Women's Figure Skating Champion, Jennifer Robinson. An exciting stage show will begin at 5:40pm featuring live entertainment, torchbearer arrival and lighting of the cauldron, and skating performances by future Olympians training at the Mariposa School of Skating. Watch the sky for a spectacular fireworks finale!
Support the Grocery Assistance Program Bring a non-perishable food item or cash donation for GAP (the Grocery Assistance Program) to the Community Celebration beginning at 5:00pm and receive a free hot chocolate! Come early as supply will be limited.
Take a ride on Barrie Transit To help people get to the Olympic Torch Relay Community Celebration safely and easily, Barrie Transit is offering a free ride on regular routes from 5:00pm to 9:00pm on December 29th.
Parking Parking is available in the general area of City Hall, including the Collier Street Parkade, the Barrie Public Library, and Heritage Park.
Road Closures
Collier Street from Owen Street to Mulcaster Street - 7:00am December 29th to 6:00pm January 1st
Collier Street from Mulcaster Street to Poyntz Street - 4:00pm December 29th to 10:00pm December 29th
Mulcaster Street from Dunlop Street to Worsley Street - 4:00pm December 29th to 10:00pm December 29th (Foodland will be accessible from Worsley Street)
Please expect traffic delays along the Torch Relay route as it travels through the community the evening of December 29th and the morning of December 30th. Rolling road closures will occur along the route, but will be re-opened as soon as the Torch Relay has passed.
Torchbearers A new torchbearer will carry the flame every 300 metres through the community as it travels on its 45,000-kilometre-long journey across Canada – the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history. Each community that hosts a regional celebration was given the opportunity to nominate a community torchbearer. This torchbearer will have the special task of travelling the final 300 metres to the celebration stage and lighting the community cauldron during the festivities. They were nominated as the person who best exemplifies civic pride and the Olympic Spirit. Don't miss Barrie's community torchbearer...Bob Middlemiss!
Be a part of this exciting time in Canada as we celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Torch in our community! On December 29th, show your Canadian pride - wear red and white, fly a Canadian flag, and come out to cheer on the Torchbearers for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
For more information on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay and the celebration planned for our Barrie:
· Keep checking back at www.barrie.ca - click on the Torch Relay Route Community web-button on the left side of the page
· Visit www.vancouver2010.com/torchrelay
· Become a fan of the 'Barrie – Torch Relay' page on Facebook!
LEARN ABOUT OLYMPIC SPORTS
With the excitement of the Olympic Torch Relay swelling in our community, the Barrie Speed Skating Club and the Mariposa School of Skating are hosting a special Olympic Open House at Allandale Recreation Centre on Monday, December 28th.
From 5:00pm to 6:30pm in the Blue Arena, join the Mariposa School of Skating to learn all about figure skating! From 5:00pm to 5:30pm, come out for a special showcase of skating talent from Canskate, to National, International and Synchro skating. Following the show, the public are invited to take to the ice for a FREE open skate from 5:30pm to 6:30pm - so bring your skates!
From 7:00pm to 8:30pm in the Blue Arena, join the Barrie Speed Skating Club to learn all about speed skating! A short demo will be followed by interactive time on the ice with the opportunity to try speed skating. Please bring a helmet, neck guard, gloves, knee pads and skates. The Club will have some equipment available to borrow on a first come, first serve basis.
TORCH RELAY ROUTE AND MAPS
The route through Barrie has been announced!
Day 61 - route begins at Essa Road at 6:18pm and ends at the stage on Collier Street in front of City Hall at 7:00pm. For full details on the route, visit www.vancouver2010.com/torchrelay and click to Day 61, then on the community listing find Barrie.
Click here to check out the Olympic Torch Relay Interactive Map and follow the Torch's journey across Canada!
Click here to view the Ontario Route Map
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