Vancouver 2010: Torch Relay at Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto)

The Olympic flame heated up Toronto Thursday as the torch run moved into and through the city, culminating in a huge rally at Nathan Phillips Square.

The notables who carried the torch included:

CTV Toronto news anchors Christine Bentley and Ken Shaw
Acclaimed filmmakers Deepa Mehta, and the father-and son duo of Ivan and Jason Reitman
Former Olympian Vicky Sunohara
Habitat for Humanity CEO Neil Hetherington
Philanthropists Craig and Marc Kielburger
Renowned ballerina Karen Kain

The run had been expected to cause traffic delays throughout Toronto from the time the Olympic torch crossed Steeles Avenue at 1:52 p.m. until it arrived at Nathan Phillips Square about six hours later.

The torch travelled through Vaughan before entering Toronto at the Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue intersection. It is then expected to be carried through North York via Yonge Street to Cameron Avenue.

At that point, a vehicle convoy carred the torch eastbound on Highway 401 towards Scarborough, exiting at McCowan Road.

From there it will head south on McCowan and then east on Progress Road all the way to Grangeway Road and Consillium Place.

The torch journey will then turn into a run one more time from Town Centre Court to the Scarborough City Centre. A large community celebration at the Scarborough Civic Centre took place to welcome the torch.

The torch then made its way towards downtown Toronto. The torch run continued:

West along Borough Drive, south on Brian Harrison Way to Ellesmere Road
West along Ellesmere Road where the torch was put into a vehicle convoy at Brimley Road onto Crocus Drive
Run resumed heading west on Ellesmere Road, from Parkwoods Village at York Mills Road
South on Yonge Street towards College Street
The torch was boarded a TTC streetcar at College Street and head west to Elizabeth Street. The run will once again resume at that point, carrying the torch west on Elm Street, north on University Avenue to Gerrard Street West.

For the final leg of the tour, the torch was to continue south on Yonge Street, then west along Queen Street West.

It was to arrive at Nathan Phillips Square at around 7 p.m. for a community celebration, but delays caused by protesters put the event almost an hour behind schedule as the torch's route had to be diverted.

However, the children waiting in the lobby of the Hospital for Sick Children weren't disappointed. The torch still made its appearance there, delighting patients, family and staff. One of the torchbearers there was Murray Dowey, an Olympic hockey medallist for Canada in 1948.

Vicky Sunohara, another Olympic hockey hero, took the flame home to Nathan Phillips Square, lighting the cauldron. A party then followed with an amazing fireworks display.


Video credit: CTV Toronto
No copyright infringement intended

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• vancouver
• 2010
• olympic
• winter
• games
• olympics
• paralympics
• torch
• relay
• toronto
• ontario
• sick
• kids
• hospital
• children's
• healthcare
• for
• children
• british
• columbia
• canada
• whistler
• crowd
• canadian
• athletes
• stars
• notables
• flame
• cauldron
• stage
• celebration
• culture
• torontonian
• t-dot
• national
• anthem

[Sirkus7]

Thank you so much for sharing this video. It is very touching. My family spent many weeks at Sick Kids and it is so great that these children got to experience this event.

[smartssa]

thanks for posting this coverage. This moment is very important for the children, considering it was almost ruined by the protesters at the time.

Cheers.

[SiSi2320]

what protesters?@smartssa

[Michaelsp9]

I go to sick kids very oftaen because I have a physicle disability this makes me so happy to see

[pickford7812]

nope, health care and clean water does.

[UltimateHockeyFan416]

@turtlewantsmuffin Agreed 100%.

[wl03bu]

great post! thanks very much!