I watched as one man ran the torch up from the Causeway to the steps of the Parliament Buildings. He was greet by dignitaries, and - really the reason I was there - Rick Hansen. Rick was born in Port Alberni, here on the island. He was an all-star athelete in 5 sports when at the age of 15, he was in a vehicle accident that left him in a wheelchair. Rick became known when, inspired by Terry Fox, he embarked on his Man in Motion World Tour on 20 March 1985 from Vancouver. Although public attention was low at the beginning of the tour, he soon attracted international media attention as he progressed on a 26-month trek, logging over 40,000 km through 34 countries on four continents before crossing Canada. He returned to Vancouver's BC Place to cheering crowds of thousands on 22 May 1987 after raising $26 million for spinal cord research and quality of life initiatives. (content borrowed from Rick Hansen's Wikipedia page)
He got to enter BC Place again in the Olympic Opening Ceremonies, bringing the Olympic flame into the building. And today I got to watch him carry the Paralympic flame in Victoria. It's pretty awe-inspiring.
I had forgotten my camera in my office on Friday, and didn't give myself enough time to pick it up before the event, so the pictures are all from my cell phone. I'm hoping I'll get the names of the other torch bearers from the news later...
Duane Sheeper is carrying the torch up the from Lower Causeway where it had travelled over from the Laurel Point on a dragon boat
Duane Sheepers is the torch bearer on the far right, with Rick Hansen in the wheelchair to the left. And that's Gordon Campbell, Primier of BC in the white & red sweater.
The exchange of the flame
Rick now has the flame
Rick Hansen is passing the flame over to the next torch bearer, Shannon Langevin. They held their torches together as the crowd sang "Oh Canada"
Shannon Langevin carries the flame back down though the Lower Causeway...
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