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’re keeping pace with the run and introducing you to some of Canada’s most intriguing “Torch Towns.” The Olympic Flame heads next to the seafaring Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia (NS), Prince Edward Island (PEI) and New Brunswick (NB).
Day 22, Nov. 20: Wolfville, NS
Day 24: Nov. 22: Summerside, PEI
Day 29, Nov. 27: Bathurst, NB
When you think about Canada’s multicultural Maritime provinces, conjure Celtic fiddling, Gaelic storytelling and French Acadian food. This is where the world’s highest tides rise four storeys in the Bay of Fundy, where British colonial history comes alive in Old Town Lunenberg, and where Canadian Confederation was born in 1864. In the Maritimes, you can sail aboard a replica of Bluenose II, dine on fresh giant Digby scallops, take a whiskey tasting Master Class, meet star of the beloved novel Anne of Green Gables in Avonlea Village and stroll along Prince Edward Island’s famous “singing sands.”
Torch Town claims to fame:
Torch festivities:
On Nov. 20, the Flame arrives in Wolfville,NS for a heritage-themed celebration at Acadia University. After a Glooscap First Nations presentation, historic Acadian figures will join a parade of children, Olympians and local musicians. There’ll be a Mi’kmaq First Nations blessing with drum-dancing, Acadian folklore dancers, and Royal pipes and drums.
Two days later, Summerside, PEI hosts an evening celebration on the grounds of Credit Union Place. The College of Piping performs with local musician Nathan Wiley, who will also represent PEI at a performance series organized by the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad. Expect sea shanties by Summerside band JackTar and an appearance by hometown Olympic bobsleigher and Canadian rugby athlete, Heather Moyse.
On Nov. 27, bilingual Bathurst, NB takes a turn: a pep rally will greet the Flame at the Bathurst Youth Centre leading to an artisan’s display at the K.C. Irving Regional Centre. The program includes Francophone singer Danny Boudreau, a Papineau First Nations performance of the “Honour Song,” Scottish and Latino dancing, and an Anglophone choir singing “Hallelujah.”
Worth a side-trip to:
Getting here:
The Maritime provinces lie northeast of the state of Maine (USA) and southeast of the Canadian province of Quebec. Wolfville is just under 100 km (62 mi) northwest of Nova Scotia’s capital city Halifax. The closest airport is Halifax Robert L. Stanfield International Airport. Halifax itself represents the half-way point between Europe and the West Coast of Canada. (In fact, Dublin, Ireland is closer to Halifax than Vancouver, BC.)
The Confederation Bridge, the world’s longest bridge over ice-covered waters, connects Prince Edward Island to neighbouring New Brunswick. Summerside is located on the western side of the island on the Northumberland Strait.
The most westerly of the three Maritime provinces, New Brunswick borders Quebec to the west and Nova Scotia to the east. Bathurst is located in Chaleur Bay, 2.5 hours from Moncton, NB, and about five hours from Halifax, NS. There are scheduled flights daily between Bathurst Airport and Quebec’s Montréal–Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport.
http://novascotia.com
www.tourismpei.com
www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca/
www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-torch-relay/
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