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Olympic Torch Relay Community
Steinbach's Olympic Celebration truly was an incredible experience in the community. It is estimated that 4000 people came out on Tuesday, January 5th to partake in the celebration at Clearspring Centre, with roughly 3000 of them being school kids.
The weather was a balmy -14 degrees with no wind and a beautiful gentle snowfall. The local planning committee and VANOC could not have asked for anything more!
Photographs of the Celebration can be found in the City's Photo Gallery.
Click here to watch a short video of Steinbach's OTR Celebration.
The following people made Steinbach's Olympic Torch Relay Celebration successful:
Lennie Plett
Peter Dyck
Cheryl Main
Dave Blatz
Dwayne Doroshuk
Blaine Mclaren
Mariette Kirouac
Jason Peters
Amber Reitsma
Bob Frey
Patty Audette
Paul Friesen
Buffy Handel
Anne Funk
Stephanie Wiens
Arthur Rempel
Hildegarde Toews
Michael Audette
Eddie Miller & XCompany Dancers
Marisol Acacio & Fiebre Latina
Max Schalla
Mike Rogal
Mark Hiebert (Epic Videography)
Ray Fast
Jay Jay Turner
Sarom Curtis
Ian Ramsay
Michelle Murdoch
Marisol Jourdenais
Corissa Ducharme
Saits Serafin
Aglaé Boucher Telmosse
Andrew Guilbert
Le Michel Nguyen
Alex Sobering
Landon Robinson
Natalie Acheson
Jen Tran
Shannon Washburn-Hayden
Audrey Leduc
Austin Thompson
Kailey Quinn
Josh Romanelli
Antoine Goulet
Anja Isaac
Sarah Goertzen
Tabitha Morran
Megan Lewis
Laura Allison
Jayla MacIntyre
Chelsea Sullivan
Miho Okamura
Cherie Brisebois
Diana Kuchak
Tina Peters
Joyce Purchase
Russell Harder
Patrick Cox
Reynold J Peters
Dawn Prymych
Ron Friesen
Félixe Girard
Sarah Riley
Guillaume Rose |
Kara Reimer
Jared Morran
Tavia Funk
Caitlin Peters
Kim McConnell
Keisha Hildebrand
Pat Gerbrandt
Gerald Gerbrandt
Jamie Bilbey
Gilbert Fehr
Abigail Morran
Robyn Gerbrandt
Lauren Penner
Tina Van Aarsen
Paitton Greening
Sharmaine Domingo
Jovan Dukic
Natalia Stroh
Sarah Fehr
Marlene Gerbrandt
Jeff Loewen
Yvette Rodney-Kehler
Dr. David Horne
Dr. Christo Minnaar
Don Miller
Tim Shantz
Jared Hildebrand
Tracey Hird-Franklin
Renee Monin
Karen Labossiere
Dale Mead
Roy Enns
Bob Borsa
Cathy Wiese
Barb Ruttig
Susie Draho
Mona Elias
Joey Harms
Mark Odegard
Dana Spence
Lindsay Reimer
Government of Canada
Government of Manitoba
City of Steinbach
Steinbach Pistons
Clearspring Centre Businesses & Employees
City of Steinbach Public Works
City of Steinbach Parks & Recreation
City of Steinbach Waterworks
Steinbach RCMP & Sgt. Joanne Ryll
Ste. Anne Police Service
Steinbach Fire Department
Eastman Therapy Centre
Barkman Appliance & Repair
Eastman Immigration Services
The Carillon
SteinbachOnline & Goldenwest Broadcasting
Coca-Cola Ltd.
Royal Bank of Canada
McDonald’s
All the schools & students that participated |
The exciting news is out! Special Olympian, Lennie Plett of Blumenort is the Community  Torchbearer who will light the cauldron onstage at Steinbach’s Olympic Torch Relay Celebration on January 5, 2010!
Lennie is a highly decorated individual and has been extremely successful in all his athletic endeavours. A winter-sports competitor, Lennie has competed in both cross country skiing and track events. More importantly, Lennie knows what it means to have the heart of an Olympian, knows what it is like to compete in winter sports, and has a heart for the community and its sport teams. He is driven, hard working, and has enjoyed immense success as a result.
Three other chosen Torchbearers, selected by RBC, were also announced at the event.
• Morgan Glasgow is a 19-year-old second year engineering student at the University of Manitoba from Dugald, MB. He believes even small steps can help make the world a better place. He made a pledge for the RBC Carry the Torch contest to quit using disposable plastic bags whenever possible.
• Chris Goethals is a 42-year-old full time Firefighter/ Paramedic from Ile De Chenes (Richot), MB. He made a pledge for the RBC Carry the Torch contest to volunteer in sports and serve and protect his community. Chris has volunteered his time over the past 7 years as coach for various baseball, hockey and soccer teams. He has also volunteered as medical staff and trainer for the 98 Lightning Extreme hockey team. Chris helps to safeguard his community, protect and save lives as a full time Firefighter/Paramedic for the City of Winnipeg. He is also a volunteer for the Ile De Chenes Fire Department.
• Tiffany Froese is a 16-year-old student from Landmark, MB. She made a pledge for the RBC Carry the Torch contest to volunteer her time with seniors because she believes they are an incredible and wise part of our population. She has enjoyed having a few of her senior neighbours over for supper and visiting time. This time spent with them, and serving them
is a blessing to me as well. She has also decided to expand her service into the wider community by volunteering for Operation Christmas Child. She hopes to go to Calgary, Alberta to work there at the shoebox warehouse coming up in December.
The excitement was evident on the faces of all the torchbearers, their families, and the attendees.
Along with the exciting torchbearer announcements, other highlights included a mini-concert by country singer, Julian Austin; a chance to score on a Pistons goalie and win tickets to a Pistons game; photo opportunities with a replica of the 2010 Olympic torch; and photo opportunities with and autographs by Jared Funk, a local Rugby Paralympian; and an Olympic coin exchange.
The City of Steinbach wishes to thank the RBC, especially Branch Manager Dwayne Doroshuk, Julian Austin, Jared Funk, Michelle Sawatzky, Cheryl Main, and the Steinbach Pistons for making last night a success.
Congratulations to Lennie Plett, Morgan Glasgow, Chris Goethals, and Tiffany Froese for being part of the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay as Torchbearers!
 Steinbach is gearing up for the arrival of the Olympic Torch on January 5, 2010. On that day, the eyes of the world will turn to our city as the Olympic Flame arrives in Steinbach as part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay (OTR).
The OTR Community Task Force for Steinbach, comprised of eight people, has been working together since March 2009 to plan an event that promotes Steinbach’s heritage, culture, and community spirit. Members of the OTR Community Task Force include Jason Peters, Amber Reitsma, Mariette Kirouac, Dwayne Doroshuk, Blaine Mclaren, Dave Blatz, Cheryl Main, and Paul Friesen.
“Our committee is made up of a diverse group of people that bring creativity, positivity, cultural respect, and community pride to each meeting,” said Task Force co-chair Jason Peters. “Our group has been working really well together, brainstorming and planning a celebration of which our community can be proud.”
“Excitement is building in our community for the arrival of the Olympic Flame and everyone is invited to come out and cheer it on its journey through Steinbach and on to Vancouver,” said Mayor Chris Goertzen. “On January 5th, we’re expecting thousands to turn out for this emotional once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Olympic Flame in person right here in our city and feel inspired by its universal message of peace and friendship.”
Five local performers have been lined up to help celebrate the arrival of the flame. Performers and other celebration details, including the route the Olympic Torch will follow though Steinbach, will be announced in the coming months.
Steinbach’s OTR Community Task Force was pleased to receive notice of a grant for $12,000 from the Government of Canada’s Department of Canadian Heritage.
“This grant, together with funds provided by the City of Steinbach, will allow our Task Force to put on a high-calibre celebration,” said Peters.
The 106-day Olympic Torch Relay will visit more than 1,030 communities and places of interest in every province and territory. Steinbach is one of eight communities in Manitoba that will be hosting an OTR Celebration.
The OTR begins October 30, 2009 and ends February 12, 2010, when the Olympic Flame will make its way to downtown Vancouver to light the Olympic Cauldron in a magical and awe-inspiring moment, signalling the kick off to the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
“Our goal with these celebrations has always been to bring the magic and excitement of the Olympic Spirit home to millions of Canadians no matter where they live and truly make these Canada’s Games,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).
Something to note, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay route will be the longest domestic Torch Relay in Olympic history, stretching over 45,000 kilometres throughout Canada. Upon its conclusion, the Olympic Flame will have been welcomed in over 1,000 communities and passed within a one-hour of more than 90 per cent of the entire Canadian population.
Two official celebrations will be held almost every day of the Olympic Torch Relay in communities along the route, the first at midday and the second in the evening in the City where the Olympic flame and the Torch Relay crew will stay overnight. Steinbach will be one of the midday celebration communities on January 5, 2010. Close to 200 community celebrations are planned over the duration of the relay. These celebrations are meant to engage the local and regional population and showcase the unique culture and geographic diversity of Canada. This relates specifically to the Olympic Flame which symbolizes the Olympic values of peace and friendship.
For more information on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay visit www.vancouver2010.com/torchrelay. Detailed street-level route details will be available on the website approximately two weeks before the Olympic Flame arrives in the community.
To view a copy of the Olympic Torch Relay Route in Manitoba, click here.
The Paralympic Torch Relay will operate between the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The route and dates for this relay will be announced in 2009.
The Government of Canada is a proud supporter of the Olympic Torch Relay helping to bring the Olympic Flame to as many Canadians as possible.
Click here to view Olympic Torch Relay videos.
17 days of Olympic Games events: February 12-28, 2010
10 days of Paralympic Games events: March 12-21, 2010
86 Olympic Winter Games medal events
64 Paralympic Winter Games medal events
5,500 Olympic Games athletes and team officials*
1,350 Paralympic Games athletes and team officials*
80+ countries participating in Olympic Winter Games
40+ countries participating in Paralympic Winter Games
10,000 media representatives
3 billion worldwide television viewers
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