Community Celebration News
December 18, 2009
Flame Route Through Winkler Announced
It was one of the last mysteries surrounding Winkler's Olympic Flame Torch Relay celebration, but everything is a lot clearer today.
The route the flame will take January 7th has been announced, and local organizing committee Chair Henry Siemens is excited.
He notes the flame will begin its journey to the Winkler Arena parking lot at the corner of Main Street and Highway 14.
It will then travel south on Main Street all the way to Southview Drive.
Then it will turn west until 8th Street where it will travel north until South Railway Avenue.
The flame will make a quick turn to the west then turn north onto Park Street where it will make its final trek to the celebration stage.
Siemens believes this is an excellent route because it will see the flame go by three schools, a number of senior's complexes, and through the heart of Winkler's business area.
Siemens adds the flame will be in Winkler for approximately 3 hours.
The Olympic Flame Torch Relay celebration will feature local entertainment, lighting of a ceremonial cauldron, and a performance by Marianas Trench.
December 8, 2009
The Olympic Torch Relay committee and Winkler Coop will be a part of the Winkler Flyers game on Friday, Dec 18 at the Winkler Arena. Make sure to attend the game for your chance to win some of the hard-to-find RED MITTENS, a Team Canada hockey jersey, tickets to the Marianas Trench concert and more!
December 4, 2009
Karen Doell named Winkler Torch Bearer
Winkler, MB – When the Olympic Flame arrives in Winkler in just 34 days time, it will be proudly carried by Karen Doell, nominated as our community torchbearer to light the celebration cauldron for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.
Karen Doell is a physiotherapist for Pembina Valley Physiotherapy and is also Winkler’s only Olympian. As second baseman for Canada’s National Women’s Fast Pitch Team, in 1996 Karen competed at the Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta. She is also a member of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame.
“We’re pleased to announce Karen Doell as Winkler’s torchbearer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games,” said Mayor Martin Harder. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Karen who is one of 12,000 Canadians chosen to carry the Olympic Flame on the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history!
On January 7, we want everyone in our community to join together with other Canadians and show the world how inspired we feel by the Olympic Flame and its message of peace, brotherhood and friendship.”
To celebrate the arrival of the flame, the community is planning a celebration between Noon and 3pm in front of the Winkler Arena. The event will include a performance from Vancouver band Marianas Trench, plus choirs, dance, and much more. Midway through the celebration program, Doell will carry the Olympic Torch on its final 300 metres to the stage where she will light the 1.3-metre high celebration cauldron, in a move similar to the dramatic highlight of what will occur during the Opening Ceremony for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
The 106-day Olympic Torch Relay, which is presented by Coca-Cola and RBC and supported by the Government of Canada, will visit more than 1,030 communities and places of interest in every province and territory. On February 12, 2010, the Olympic Flame will make its way to downtown Vancouver to light the Olympic Cauldron in a magical and awe-inspiring moment before a television audience of three billion people worldwide, signaling the kick off to the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
For more information on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, visit www.vancouver2010.com/torchrelay or www.cityofwinkler.ca/torch
November 20, 2009
Marianas Trench To Be Part of Winkler's Olympic Flame Community Celebration
Canadian rock band Marianas Trench has been announced as special guest performers for Winkler's Community Celebration when the Olympic flame makes a stop in the city. The band will perform at the celebration site on January 7, 2010 at the parking lot in front of the Winkler Arena for a free mini-concert, then again at the PW Enns Centennial Concert Hall for a full show. Henry Siemens is the Chair of the Community Task Force which is organizing the celebration events. “When we started talking about what to do on this day, our main goal was always to do something that would get us noticed across the country. This band is already well-known among youth and are well on their way to becoming superstars and will be a great addition to a very special day.” Marianas Trench consists of Josh Ramsay, Matt Webb, Mike Ayley, and Ian Casselman. Based in Vancouver, these four young men released their first album “Fix Me” in 2006 which featured the hit “Shake Tramp”, and their second “Masterpiece Theatre” in the spring of 2009. That cd has already garnered the hits “Cross My Heart” and “All To Myself” . What sets Marianas Trench apart is the amazing vocal skills not just of lead singer Josh Ramsay but in fact the entire band. Their new album has some people comparing them with “the vocal theatrics of Queen and the more hymnal qualities of the Beach Boys.” Marianas Trench will perform January 7 as part of the free Olympic Flame Community Celebration, then again at the PW Enns Centennial Concert Hall at 7:30pm. Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door and will be available beginning Monday, November 23 at 10am at the Centennial Ticket Office at Winkler’s City Hall or online at www.winklerconcerthall.ca.
November 1, 2009
Winkler Announces Tentative Schedule for Olympic Flame Celebration
The City of Winkler has announced preliminary plans for the day when the Olympic flame comes to the community. Part of the Torch Relay happening across the country, the flame will be in Winkler on January 7, 2010 for about two hours for a community celebration. The events will happen from Noon to 3pm at the Winkler Arena parking lot and tentatively include special activities from relay sponsors Coke and RBC, local entertainment, videos, special music and more.
Darren Crane, a teacher at Emerado Centennial School is a member of the committee and his plans also include plenty of participation from students. “We’re holding a coloring contest to pick individuals who will be part of the March of Flags. We’re also planning a short essay contest based on three topics related to the Olympics. The winners of that will read their essay on the celebration stage.” City Event Coordinator says some other aspects of the celebration are also coming together. “ As a celebration community we were given the task of choosing an individual who will bring the flame up to the celebration stage. That’s a great honour for someone within our community and we’ll announce our Torch Bearer on Friday, December 4.”
Residents and visitors may also notice some banners that have appeared at the Winkler arena. “We have made two banners to promote the coming of the Olympic flame; there’s one extra large banner hanging outside the main entrance of the arena and another smaller one inside.” And, the organizing committee has also received a list of volunteers they’ll be required to provide on January 7. “We’ll need about 25 people to help the Torch Relay crew with set up and logistics”, says Penner. “The list includes people for security, parking, staging, hospitality, and mascots.” If anyone is willing to help, please contact Deb Penner at City Hall in Winkler or email her at cec@cityofwinkler.ca. (DP)
August 9,2009
On Sunday, Aug 9, 2009 Mayor Martin Harder will launch a special countdown from the Harvest Festival stage to count down the arrival of the Olympic flame in Winkler.
The flame will be here Thursday, January 7, 2010 in the early afternoon.
Make plans to be there that day, and to check the calendar of events on this website regularly as we anticipate the arrival of this symbol of peace and friendship around the world.