You can be a 2010 Olympic Torchbearer

John Crescenzi tries the 2010 Olympic Torch on for size. The torch was on hand at the RBC Main Street branch Tuesday as a prelude to the party the city can expect on December 30th as the flame passes through the area.


The spirit of the Olympic Flame was captured this week in the Bay as RBC officials offered residents a chance to see the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch up close and have their picture taken with the Torch.

Even political types Mayor Vic Fedeli, MP Anthony Rota and MPP Monique Smith had an opportunity to get in on the celebration.

Rota says it is a very special occasion, not only to have the torch pass through the area, but to have the games in Canada period.

“What it does is it brings everybody’s consciousness to the Olympics, and just says look we’ve got the best of the world coming to Canada.

He adds while the Canadian Government supports athletes in the budget there is room for to do much more.

“Funding athletes is an issue that is always out there and you can never have enough for our Olympians who put a lot of time and effort into what they do and I really feel for them because they are doing a lot with very little.”

“There are a lot of different theories out there as far as money or the Olympics and Olympians and I think we can do better.”

RBC representative Wendy Trumble says RBC is proud to be a partner in the Torch relay and that North Bay is fortunate to be one of the 1,000 communities across Canada to have a torch celebration with community members acting as torchbearers.

“The torch will be coming through North Bay December 30th,” she explains.

And there will be a big celebration at the back of the bank here (Oak St.) in the Heritage Area and then it will be on its way to Quebec towards Val Dor.”

Fellow RBC official Laurie Petz said it was thrilling for the bank to have the torch in North Bay.

“It gives everybody an idea of what it will feel like and look like,” she states.

“And I hope everyone has made their pledge on how to make Canada a better place to live.”

The 2010 Olympic Flame will travel 45,000 km from coast to coast to coast over a 106 day period and if you want to be a torchbearer enter today at rbc.com/carrythetorch. Contest closes July 15, 2009.