Winnipeg, MB – Former Olympian and Associate Vice-President (Research) and Dean of Graduate Studies, Sandra Kirby carried the Olympic torch on Monday, November 30, 2009 through Pointe-au-Père, Quebec, day 32 of the relay that is crossing the country in anticipation of the upcoming Winter Games in Vancouver.
Kirby (left in photo) is a former Olympic rower who participated in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. (on right hand side is Guylaine Bernier, Olympian 1976 Rowing, part of Kirby’s medal winning crew. She is a torch bearer in Montréal.)
Support for Canada
“It is such a moment – and so difficult to describe” explained Kirby. “I felt connected with history in the making – and right at that moment, I was keeper of the Olympic flame. I have the Olympic experience written all over my biography and this is one more way to demonstrate my support for Canada, for the promise of sport, and for athletes all over the world who are training hard for these Games.”
Two other members of The University of Winnipeg community have been selected to carry the Olympic torch.
Lloyd Axworthy, President and Vice-Chancellor, UWinnipeg will carry the torch on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 along Main Street from City Hall to McDermot Avenue at approximately 6:15 PM. Axworthy was nominated for the honour by RBC’s Torch Committee.
And UWinnipeg 3rd year Kinesiology student, Alexandre Ross-Gautron, also selected through RBC, will be carrying the Olympic Torch down Portage Avenue in January.
Approximately 12,000 people have been selected as Olympic Torchbearers, a majority through public programs. The Torch Relay is more than 100 days in length and over 45,000 kilometres will be travelled.
The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay began in Canada on October 30, 2009 and concludes at the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games on February 12, 2010.
