VICTORIA — The plane carrying the flame for the 2010 Olympic Games has landed in Victoria.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson carried the flame burning in a miners’ lantern out of the aircraft and placed it on the tarmac, a brief contact with Canadian soil.
The flame was then carried by aboriginal firekeepers who had been travelling with it from Greece.
An elaborate ceremony is planned for today, with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and others kicking off the 106-day torch relay leading up to the February Games.
From the airport, the flame will travel to downtown Victoria, where a day of celebrations are planned, including the announcement of the first torchbearer.
Protesters have said they’ll use the occasion to highlight their opposition to the Games, complaining of a number of issues from aboriginal and animal rights to environmental concerns.