Celebrate the Olympic Torch Relay with The Salvation Army

The Olympic Torch Relay will be travelling through over 1000 communities during its 106-day journey across Canada twice.

That journey begins this Friday, October 30^th in Victoria, BC and ends on February 12^th, 2010 in Vancouver, BC.  Over 200 community celebrations are being planned from coast-to-coast-to-coast.  The Salvation Army sees this as an incredible opportunity to connect with and serve our communities.  We want to be at the heart of the celebration.

Already, plans are underway for our mobile canteens to be active in serving food and beverages at twelve community celebrations extending from Victoria, British Columbia, to London, Ontario. In some communities, brass ensembles will be lending their support to the Community Celebration as well.

Some Salvation Army ministry units (Corps) are planning special events and activities to coincide with the coming of the Torch.

• Burin Arm, NF and Spryfield Corps in Halifax, NS will be holding ‘mock’ torch relays and mini-Olympic events. Charlottetown, NF is not on the Relay Route, but the Corps plans to transport community members to see the Torch in neighbouring Glovertown and then hold a Celebration Party back at the Corps afterwards.
• In Moncton, NB the Correctional and Justice Services Kid’s Club will be holding a special Olympics Day and will be helping with clean-up before and after the community’s Torch Relay.
• The Toronto Harbour Light Moss Park program plans to hold their own Peace Games while the Torch is in the area.
• In Winnipeg, MB the Heritage Park Corps will be organizing a community hockey tournament with a barbecue and bonfire and Southlands Corps will be creating a community ice rink that will be open from November 2009 to April 2010. (Even the -40 degree temperatures won’t keep Winnipeggers from celebrating!)
• Drumheller Corps, AB will be kicking off a community floor hockey league with a tournament to be held when the Torch comes through town and the Corps in High River, AB is planning a Torch Relay party for their community.
• Many other Salvation Army ministry units are still exploring opportunities for outreach during the Torch’s visit. And, everything will be supported by the prayers of Salvationists from across Canada who will be participating in the Canada Ablaze prayer initiative.

Contact your local Salvation Army to find out how you can participate with the Army in celebrating the Torch Relay, and reaching out to your community with The Salvation Army in a special way!

Visit www.vancouver2010.com to learn about the Torch Relay route and schedule and download and print the Torch Relay Opportunities list available on this website.