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.” Next, the Olympic torch goes to the central Prairie provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Day 71, Jan. 8: Neepawa, MB
Day 74, Jan. 11: Prince Albert, SK
Think of Canada’s Prairie provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan as the quiet ones at the party. Sandwiched between sophisticated Ontario and gregarious Alberta, they wait patiently to be noticed. And indeed, their subtle charms should not be ignored: tall-grass prairie, sand dunes, boreal forests, thousands of beautiful lakes and a lively multicultural mix in towns large and small, along the lines of Churchill, MB—the polar bear and beluga whale “capitals of the world”—and Regina, SK, home of Canada’s legendary “mounties,” otherwise known as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The “torch town” of Neepawa, immortalized in the writings of celebrated Canadian author Margaret Laurence, is located between two of Manitoba’s most populated cities, Winnipeg (the provincial capital) and Brandon.
Prince Albert, known as the “City Gateway to Northern Saskatchewan,” is that province’s third-largest city, about 380 km (236 mi) north of Regina, the capital.
Torch Town Claims to fame:
Worth a side-trip to:
Torch festivities:
On Jan. 8, folks will gather at the Yellowhead Centre in Neepawa, MB to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Flame with an afternoon of song and dance that shows off the area’s cultural heritage.
On Jan. 11, Prince Albert extends the welcome mat at Memorial Square with “Firewalker”—a piece incorporating Aboriginal hoop dancers—and a song-and-dance medley featuring local talent Sheldon and Dawn Bergstrom with Michelle McKeavney.
www.travelmanitoba.com
www.sasktourism.com
www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-torch-relay/
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