Olympic torch lights up Vancouver's North Shore
The Olympic torch relay spent Wednesday crisscrossing the North Shore of Metro Vancouver as it continues its 106-day journey toward the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Games at BC Place on Friday evening.
One of the highlights of the day was the torch's round trip by cable car to the popular local ski hill at Grouse Mountain. Kennedy Greene-Raine, daughter of former Olympic ski gold medallist Nancy Greene-Raine, brought the torch the 1,100 metres back down the mountainside while standing atop the cable car.
The relay route then continued through West Vancouver, ending the day at the Community Centre Spirit Square around 8 p.m. PT.
The torch relay began Wednesday morning on Bowen Island before crossing to Horseshoe Bay. It was then scheduled to make stops throughout North Vancouver, including the Squamish Nation reserve near the Lions Gate Bridge, Lonsdale Quay, Deep Cove, Lonsdale Avenue and Grouse Mountain.
Relay winds through Metro Vancouver
On Thursday, the torch will start in northeastern Metro Vancouver, travelling through Belcarra, Anmore and Coquitlam. It will then head west into Burnaby, the Musqueam Reserve and UBC before ending the day at Yaletown, where singer Michael Bublé will carry it toward the LiveCity site in downtown Vancouver for an evening celebration.
On the final day Friday, the torch will start on the North Shore and cross the Lions Gate Bridge into Stanley Park, where California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is scheduled to carry the flame, along with Wayne Gretzky's father, Walter, and Terry Fox's dad, Rolly.
The relay will then spend the morning weaving through downtown and East Vancouver before returning through the Olympic Village and Granville Island on its final leg to the opening ceremony.
Who will be the final torchbearer and light the Olympic cauldron inside BC Place is still a secret.
Speculation has revolved around the Great One himself, Wayne Gretzky, and Betty Fox — the mother of Terry Fox, the Marathon of Hope runner.