It looks like Mount Forest will have its own piece of Olympic history next year.
Last week, when the list of communities involved in the 106-day Olympic torch relay was announced, Mount Forest was included on day 60, with other nearby stops in Kitchener, Guelph, Erin, Alton, Orangeville, and Shelburne.
The relay is part of the lead in to the opening ceremony in Vancouver on Feb. 12, 2010.
In a letter addressed to Mayor Mike Broomhead, Jim Richards, director of the relay, stated, “The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games are less than 15 months away. That might seem like a long time, but for those of us working on the Olympic Torch Relay, it’s just around the corner.”
Richards wrote to each community, asking for support. The torch relay route is online at vancouver2010.com and those interested in becoming torchbearers can find information online at icoke.ca or rbc.com/carry the torch.
As councillors discussed the item, Broomhead called it “pretty big News” for Wellington North. He said having Mount Forest chosen as one of 1,000 communities in Canada gives the area a “jump” on preparations and time to think about potential torchbearers.
The mayor was not certain how everything would work, “but hopefully we will have people in our community who will be able to carry the torch.” He recommended the formation of a committee for the event.
“We’ll make it a big event for our community at the same time,” Broomhead said, adding members will meet directly with council at a later time.
