Pan Am Torch comes to Caledon Day

June 19, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte
With the Pan Am Games just a few weeks away, the celebratory Torch has been making its way across Canada on an epic 41-day journey.
Day 15 (Saturday), notably Caledon Day, the Town of Caledon had the honour.
Leaving Orangeville early Saturday morning, the torch was carried through Palgrave, Bolton, Inglewood, Belfountain and Alton before ultimately ending up at the annual Caledon Day celebration.
Susan Harris, a celebrated gymnastics judge who has worked two previous Pan Am Games, as well as the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, was the first to receive the flame upon its arrival in Caledon East.
“It’s so exciting,” said Harris. “It’s an honour.”
From there, the flame wound through the streets of Caledon East, the 20 or so bearers each carrying the flame a few blocks closer to its final destination. It was a day they will surely never forget, seeing the streets lined with supporters cheering and waving the Canadian flag.
Just before 6 p.m., the parade of media buses, police officers, and Pan Am officials arrived at the festivities on Old Church Road, where Toronto Maple Leaf centre and Caledon-grown Peter Holland waited to finish the leg by taking the flame to the main stage.
“It was amazing,” Holland told the Citizen. “I never thought it would be something I would get the chance to do. When I got asked, I was really excited . . . to have everyone chanting your name, it was pretty cool.”
Holland spent a few years in the Caledon Hawks hockey system as a young player, trying out a few other sports along the way.
“It was a great stepping stone, I’ve got good memories of playing sports in Caledon. There are a lot of quality sports organizations in this area.”
Mayor Allan Thompson called the moment “a very proud day for Caledon”, flanked by his smiling council on stage. “Caledon Day is a special day each year, but having the torch here today and Peter lighting the flame is just such a wonderful thing for the community.”
The lighting of the flame in Caledon was celebrated with “raising a little hell” afterwards with Caledon Day headliner Trooper.
The torch continues to wind its way through southern Ontario.

The Torch for the upcoming Pan Am Games got a grand tour of Caledon Saturday. The tour started in the morning at Caledon Pan Am Equestrian Park in Palgrave, where the show jumping and dressage events will be held at the Games. Olympic Dressage rider Jacqueline Brooks handed off the flame to Olympic show jumper Beth Underhill of Schomberg.
Photo by Bill Rea

The high point of Caledon Day came when Toronto Maple Leaf forward Peter Holland used the Pan Am Torch to light this cauldron on the stage in Caledon East.
Photo by Jake Courtepatte

Craig Collins, managing partner of Equestrian Management Group, got his chance to run with the Torch.

Palgrave area resident Sam Walker carried the Torch out of the equestrian facility in Palgrave.

The Torch stopped at the Caledon Centre of Recreation and Wellness Saturday. Torch bearer Heather Whittier of Caledon East (right) was there with Councillor Rob Mezzapelli, Mayor Allan Thompson, Councillor Annette Groves and volunteer Lorraine Bayliss.
Photo by Bill Rea

Alyssa Hoar handed off the flame to Graham Allen at Bolton’s Farmers’ Market.

Inglewood resident Stacey Arthur accepted the Pan Am Flame from Ethan Mumford, 13, of Bolton, as part of the Inglewood Day observances “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Ethan said.