More than 1,000 Canadian towns in 106 days: that’s the epic scale of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. In this continuing series, we’ll keep pace with the run and introduce you to some of Canada’s lesser-known “torch towns.” In the home stretch, the Olympic Flame travels through Canada’s own Wild West, the province of Alberta, home to five of Canada’s 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Day 79, Jan 16: Drumheller, AB
Day 83, Jan 20: Canmore, AB
The buffalo really do roam in Alberta. In fact, the world’s largest herd of wild bison run free in Wood Buffalo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage natural attraction. Alberta is all about spectacular extremes. The 230-km (142 mi) Icefields Parkway, connecting Banff/Lake Louise and Jasper runs through massive Rocky Mountain peaks, eye-popping glaciers, emerald lakes and the castle-like luxury of historic mountain ski resorts. The gold and rust lunarscape of the Canadian Badlands is famous for 75-million year old dinosaur fossil discoveries and the tall, spiralling rock chimneys known as hoodoos. The West Edmonton Mall, North America’s largest shopping mall, attracts more than 28 million visitors a year to Alberta’s northern capital city, while up-market Calgary brings the Old West to life at the world famous annual Calgary Stampede.
Torch Town claims to fame:
Worth a side-trip to:
Torch festivities:
Drumheller, a two-hour drive northeast of Calgary, AB expects a big turnout for the Jan. 16 celebration at the site of the Canadian Badlands Passion Play—the “Best Cultural Attraction in Alberta” held annually each summer at a natural outdoor 2,500-seat amphitheatre. The ceremonies open with a welcome by an Aboriginal hoop dancer, followed by headlining Canadian cowboy singer Corb Lund. Canadian Idol finalist and Drumheller native, Jenn Beaupré will perform, followed by a massed choir singing the official Olympic Torch Song.
On the afternoon of Jan. 20, the mountain town of Canmore—just 23 km (14 mi) east of Banff—welcomes the Flame with a mix of home-grown talent at the Canmore Golf & Curling Club with acts ranging from the women’s a capella group, In the Pink!, to Sully’s Garage, a local folk-and-fiddling band, to folk-country recording artist Cori Brewster.
www.travelalberta.com
http://tpr.alberta.ca/
www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-torch-relay/
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