Jeff Hayes taking part in Olympic torch relay

http://www.oshawa.ca/torch.asp

Olympic Torch Relay

The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola and RBC, will be in downtown Oshawa on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, just north of the General Motors Centre – between Mary Street and Charles Street.

Beginning at 5:45 pm until 8:00 pm, this free outdoor community celebration will showcase local talents and feature special Olympic themed entertainment. Durham Region residents will witness the lighting of the Olympic Torch cauldron and experience fan interactive displays from Coca-Cola and RBC.

Event parking will be available in the downtown area. In addition, the City of Oshawa is offering free parking and shuttle bus service from the Civic Auditorium Complex to the event beginning at 4:00 pm with the last shuttle bus leaving the Albert Street drop off at 9:00 pm. Also, accessible parking will be available on Charles Street (between King and Albert Streets) for people who have accessible parking permits. In addition, an accessible viewing area off the stage has been reserved for people with accessibility accommodations and ASL-English interpreters will be on-site.

The following event road closures will be in effect on December 16 from 1 pm to 9 pm: Athol Street East, from Albert Street to Drew Street; Charles Street from King Street East to Bruce Street; and Mary Street, from King Street East to Athol Street East. For more information, click here.

In anticipation of the Oshawa Torch Relay event, the Oshawa Generals will host a special ceremony on Thursday, December 10 (RBC Game Night). The Generals will host a puck-dropping ceremony before their game against the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors in celebration of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. For tickets, visit the General Motors Centre website.

The event will feature a number of guests including several torchbearers selected by Coca-Cola and RBC who will carry the Olympic Flame as it passes through our community.

Oshawa Generals captain, Jeff Hayes is also taking part in the relay, so be sure and stay tuned for more details as Oshawa gets its chance to show its Olympic spirit in the coming weeks!

Community partners that have been working together to coordinate the community celebration include: Canadian Heritage, Channel 12, Coca-Cola, Le Conseil des Organismes Francophones de la Région de Durham, Downtown Board of Management, Durham Catholic District School Board, Durham District School Board, Durham Radio (CKDO, KX 96, The Rock), Durham Tourism, General Motors Centre, OCCNA (Oshawa Central Council of Neighbourhood Associations), Ontario Ministry of Health Promotions – Sports and Recreation Branch, Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee, Oshawa Express, Oshawa Folk Arts Council, Oshawa Girl Guides, Oshawa Métis Council, Oshawa Public Libraries, Oshawa Senior Citizens Centres, Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame, Oshawa This Week, RBC and Rogers TV.

We invite you to join us and be a part of history.