The Olympic Spirit is coming to Saugeen Shores.
On December 28th, the Olympic Torch will be passing through Port Elgin and Southampton on its way to the games in Vancouver-Whistler.
Recreation Manager Jayne Jagelewski says it’s a real privelege to be a torch relay community and it will be day 60 of the 106-day relay.
She says the eyes of the world will be on Saugeen Shores when it enters Port Elgin at 5:01 PM and Southampton at 5:44 PM.
A committee has been established to help organize festivities for the day. Jagelewski says they have 10 members who are keen and enthusiastic for activities leading up to and on the day of December 28th.
She says it’s surprising how many residents have past experience working with Olympic events in the past.
One of them is Brian Wakelin, a member of the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame for his work in building the Canadian Olympic Hockey program, and currently the Chair of the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation.
The town is contributing six thousand dollars towards purchasing promotional material for the event.
Other local communities the torch will be passing through are sharing the costs.
Mayor Mike Smith is excited about the torch coming to Saugeen Shores and says it’s great advertising for the price.
A short-list of potential local torch barers has been created but Smith doesn’t want to mention names just yet and says it’s going to be a great day.