Drawn by the lure of the flame thousands of Red Deer and Central Alberta people flocked to Westerner Park Friday to revel in the glory that is the spirit of the Olympics.
On a magical night when the last mystery runner Ron Woodward ignited the cauldron Red Deer could proudly say it’s now a part of the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
A crowd estimated by some to be around 15,000 cheered loudly when the flame was escorted to the stage by the recently retired Red Deer College president.
Many more thousands lined the flame’s route from the college to the park standing more than 10 deep at the intersections.
Red Deer Torch Relay committee chair Lynn Radford couldn’t hide her enthusiasm following the ceremony which lasted more than 3 1/2 hours.
“It’s just what we were hoping for. It’s just been amazing,” Radford said.
She said on a per capita basis Red Deer’s turnout was stupendous. Edmonton’s estimated crowd was around 20,000 people earlier this week.
“They (Vancouver Olympic officials) told me on a per capita basis no one could touch us in the county,” Radford said.
She praised the torch run committee.
“This is when all their hard work pays off. When you see all of this happening it’s such a thrill for everyone.”
Marianne Jablonski, MLA for Red Deer North, said everyone in Red Deer deserves a gold medal on the behalf of all Canadians for the strong support.
Mayor Morris Flewwelling said Red Deer has hosted numerous national and international events in the past but none could top the enthusiasm and turnout for this torch run.
Lydia White, who came to the ceremony pushing her young daughter in a carriage, said she wouldn’t have missed the event for anything.
“I guess you could say this is like being a part of history to see this flame which will shine at the Olympics in Vancouver next month,” she said.
“My daughter Tammy doesn’t realize it but when she’s older I’ll tell her she was there and a part of this wonderful event,” White said.
The warm weather was perfect for the occasion.
Thousands of children were joined by their parents and siblings.
Hundreds of people started their journey into the park at least two hours before the first performance on stage at 6 p.m.
Larry Vanocher and his family arrived a good 90 minutes before the first entertainment at 6 p.m.
“We wanted to make sure we were here just to say we were a part of it. This really shows that people care about their country and are proud of their young athletes.”
A 5 p.m. parade around the park by school children was a great touch, Vanocher said.
One of those students was Tianna Packard, a Grade 5 student representing Oriole Park School.
Only 40 hours before that 10-year-old Tianna had an emergency appendectomy but there was no holding her back, said Marty Packard.
Corb Lund, an award winning alternative country singer, got the crowd rolling on the main stage with several tunes.
Kayla Williams, a Red Deer College music graduate, sang her original contest-winning Olympic Torch Relay song, Light the Way while the Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School Jazz Choir led the singing of the national anthem.
A lengthy fireworks display helped usher the throng on their way home.
jwilson@www.reddeeradvocate.com