Spirits were ablaze yesterday as preparation for the 2011 Canada Winter Games entered its final stage.
Yesterday marked the 100-day countdown to the Games, and students from Armbrae Academy played a memorable role in the celebrations. One hundred students took turns carrying the 2011 torch from the top of Citadel Hill to the Metro Centre where it was skated to centre ice by Grade 9 student Jessie Dawe.
Mattea Cacchione was lucky enough to lend a hand. The Grade 11 student joined her classmates in the torch rally.
“My heart was beating! It was just so exciting to see the people running behind you and when you finally get the chance to hold the torch … it’s just great,” she said.
The flame will visit 120 schools across the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Tickets to individual events became available to the public yesterday.
Chris Morrissey, CEO of the 2011 Halifax Canada Winter Games, is confident in ticket sales as the event draws nearer and anticipation builds.
“It’s a really exciting time, the spirit’s really starting to come alive. You’ll see a lot of Halifax and Nova Scotia spirit in the next few months.”
Three years of planning have led to this final phase of Winter Games ramp-up. The next three months will see the opening of the volunteer centre and training of volunteers, completion of major venues like the Canada Games Centre and Canada Games Oval, and finishing touches to the festival ceremonies.
