Kitchener to host
Olympic Torch Relay

Kitchener has been selected as a celebration community that will host the Olympic Torch Relay, en route to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C.
The flame will arrive in Kitchener by 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009; and depart early the next morning, Monday Dec. 28.

• Follow the journey of the Olympic Torch
• See the details of torch celebrations in other Ontario host cities
• Relay Map

An event committee, made up of community volunteers and city staff, are in the process of organizing a variety of activities that will make up the two-day celebration.
So far, activities that have been planned include:

Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009

Beginning at 1 pm,
The Children's Museum
10 King St. W., downtown Kitchener

• Olympic Games - make your very own Olympic torch and gold medal to take home

4 to 8 p.m.
Kitchener City Hall
200 King St.W., downtown Kitchener

• Family entertainment featuring children’s singer Erick Traplin, Ty Schwende, Alisha Nauth and Alex Tintinalli , Alysha Brillinger, Grand Harmony Chorus and much more!
• Group dance performances
• Ontario Chinese Association, and the Davenport Dance Project
• Face-painting, crafts and interactive school displays
• Skating on Civic Square
• Appearances by local Olympic athletes
• Food and beverages by local groups
• Skating demos and minor hockey games. Minor hockey players -- be sure to wear your jerseys!

7 p.m.
The arrival of the Olympic Torch!

8 p.m.

• After-party at Bobby O’Brien’s pub, 125 King St.W.
• Music by Schwebbs

*Donations gratefully accepted for Olympic Dreams Athlete Program.

Monday, Dec.28, 2009

6 a.m.
Kitchener City Hall

• An Aboriginal sunrise celebration marking the departure of the Olympic Torch Relay team.
• Red-mitten giveaway from the Kitchener Rangers (while quantities last)

Event accessibility

The Olympic Torch Relay celebration will be an inclusive event, with measures in place to ensure everyone in the community will be able to enjoy this momentous occasion. Measures include:

• The site of the Olympic Torch Relay celebration will be fully accessible;
• Designated parking for people with disabilities will be available in the Forsyth lot (Young Street) and the Kitchener City Hall parking garage -- parking level 1 and 2. Please note that over-height vehicles can use the Forsyth lot;
• Accessible drop-off and pick-up on young street;
• Accessible washrooms inside city hall on the main level and on the 2nd level (elevator available)
• Water station for assistance dogs on the main level, inside city hall;
• An accessible connecting route from the bus terminal to the event. Follow Gaukel street;
• A designated area including seating space for wheelchair users with space for companions;
• ASL interpreter on site
• FM system available on site for people who are hard of hearing (please go to the information table on the main floor of city hall to sign out a receiver, the day of the event). You will be required to leave a piece of identification to sign out a receiver.
• One-to-one support volunteers are available for persons with disabilities at the event. Please call Lolita in advance at 519-741-2229 to request a support volunteer. Support volunteers do not provide personal care, lifts and transfers or transportation. Thanks!

Printed material on the event, which follow the CNIB's clear-print guidelines, are available. Please call 519-741-2229 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 if you would like a copy mailed to you.

New Year’s Eve programming

Given a grand celebration will take place around the arrival of the Olympic Torch Relay, the city has decided to blend its annual New Year’s Eve family event -- for this year only -- with the Olympic festivities.

That means all of the funding resources that have already been allocated for the New Year’s Eve event will be put toward the Olympic Torch celebration instead -- with no additional funding required.

While there will be no formal program at city hall on New Year’s Eve, the public is still welcome to skate on the rink at Civic Square.

Background

The 2010 Olympic torch relay -- presented by Coca-Cola and RBC -- will begin its 106-day Canadian journey on Oct. 30, 2009.

The flame's pan-Canadian journey will culminate on Feb. 12, 2010 when it arrives in Vancouver, B.C. for the opening ceremony before a global viewing audience of billions.

The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from Feb. 12-28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will then host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12-21, 2010. 

The Olympic torch relay route will be the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history, stretching over 45,000 kilometres throughout Canada. The torch relay route is available at vancouver2010.com 

Upon its conclusion, the Olympic flame will have been welcomed in more than 1,000 communities and passed within a one-hour of more than 90 per cent of the entire Canadian population.