Ten people were thrilled to carry the MNP Canada Winter Games torch through Olds last Thursday.
The Games take place Feb. 15 - March 3 in Red Deer.
The torch relay route ran east from the Sportsplex toward Uptowne Olds, north on 50th Avenue to Shannon Drive, along Shannon Drive to 57th Avenue, then along 57th Avenue to 52nd Street and east on 52nd Street back to the Sportsplex.
Torchbearers were well-known local bottle collector Jon Ahlgrim; Olympic wrestler Danielle Lappage; Robert McBeath, brother of the late local hockey and lacrosse player Ryan McBeath; Special Olympics athlete Mark Mengersen; former NHL player Jay Rosehill; Mayor Mike Muzychka; former Olds College president Tom Thompson; curling champion Jocelyn Peterman; Red Deer-Mountain View MP Earl Dreeshen; and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper.
Lappage was honoured to have the opportunity to carry the torch.
“I met great people from our community so it was awesome to walk alongside them and see the town excited for this event,” she said.
Lappage said the relay was a "fun and exciting experience."
“It just made me proud to be a part of this town and community,” she said.
Mengersen was happy to be representing his hometown and said he felt a sense of community while carrying the torch.
Rosehill also enjoyed the experience.
“I thought it was a lot of fun. It’s always nice when something special like that happens in our community,” he said.
“I think the Games and sports in general are a great way to bring people together and we saw that for sure.”
Rosehill said he was happy to have been thought of as a relay runner and had fun running the route with his family.
