The 2013 Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games, which run July 25-28, will kick off with a pair of torch relays through Westlock and Barrhead.
The Barrhead four-kilometre relay starts at the Agrena at around 10:30 a.m. after opening remarks from Games chair Gerry St. Pierre, Barrhead County reeve Bill Lee, ATCO Gas rep Bruce Legault and Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation rep John Short.
“We are really hoping to promote this event as well as the routes,” said Games manager Marcie Mazurenko.
“We want people to feel encouraged to come out and watch.”
Following the relay, the torch will be packed up and moved to Westlock and will arrive at Keller Field around 2 p.m. There St. Pierre, Leagult and Westlock County reeve Charles Navatril will address the crowd.
“After the torch relay, there will be a barbecue for the wrap up for all of the runners and the runners will be involved in the opening ceremonies later that day,” she added, “But it’s a closed event so we’re not selling tickets because it’s not open to the public.”
Westlock’s relay will start at Mountie Park and move east on 107 Street, turn southeast on 102 Ave and loop around 106 Street.
Then, it moves southeast on 100 Ave, turns east beside Highway 18 before turning south on 102 Ave, west on 97 Street, then north on 100 Ave and west on 99 Street before returning to Mountie Park.
“The cauldron will be lit as a finale to the opening of the torch relay and to signify the start of the Games,” said Mazurenko.
The torch relay committee had suggested four people from each community light the cauldron and directors voted to select one from each community — Richard Rau from Barrhead and George Oko from Westlock.
“They were selected based on their involvement and medals in past Games, as well as their commitment to our Games,” Mazurenko said.
