Hundreds of cheers from the mouths of Kitimat’s youngest welcomed the Olympic torch to the district on Monday, Feb. 1.
Many gathered at Riverlodge for the celebration, and many more lined the streets along the route to take in the rare moment in history.
The countdown to the Vancouver Winter Games is officially on, said area MP Nathan Cullen, making the last days of the relay even more exciting. “For all you little guys, this is all about you,” he told the assembled crowd.
“You, too, can be an Olympian one day.”
Provincial forest minister Pat Bell was also in Kitimat to give his regards to the community, just one day after the Eurocan pulp and paper mill closed its doors for good.
“The Olympics is about taking adversity and turning it into a championship,” he said. “Really great athletes are best when times are toughest.”
“And that’s what Kitimat is about right now.”