Olympic Torch Relay
Cheer on U of A stars who proudly carry the games flame
By Bev Betkowski
As the Olympic torch passes through Edmonton on its way to Vancouver, University of Alberta alum and grad student Danielle Peers will be one of the proud keepers of the flame.
Help spark Olympic fever by joining the U of A for a pep rally this Wednesday (Jan. 13) to welcome the torch as it comes by campus and to build excitement for the U of A torch-bearers.
The torch is expected to pass through campus along 87th Avenue at about 5:15 p.m. Several relay runners carrying the flame through Edmonton and area have U of A connections, including President Indira Samarasekera—who will carry the torch somewhere along the route past campus—Peers, a graduate student and Paralympic medalist; former Olympians and alumni Doreen Ryan and Tim Berrett; renowned Aboriginal athlete, politician, lawyer and alum Willie Littlechild; and Jim Hole, president of U of A’s Alumni Council.
The pep rally runs from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. along 87th Ave., where two stages will be set up to provide live entertainment throughout the event. The main stage will be located on the plaza in front of the Butterdome on the north side of 87th Ave., with a second stage on the south side of the street, at the entranceway to the Jubilee Auditorium and Lister Hall.
A lineup of performers, headlined by the band Christian Hansen and the Autistics, will help ward off winter’s chill with plenty of great music, and the U of A’s crowd-pleasing mascots GUBA and Patches will also be there to boost crowd spirit. Roving street performers will add to the fun.
While waiting for the torch, the crowd is invited to cheer on a varsity Golden Bears street hockey game, and they can don free U of A toques being handed out on a first-come, first-served basis.
“To have the Olympic torch passing by our door is a one-of-a-kind event, and we felt it should be celebrated by the university community,” said Michael Phair, director of community relations for the U of A. “The university’s ties to the Games are many, from our numerous alumni who are competing or volunteering in various capacities, to the torch-bearers themselves.”
Phair invites all members of the U of A and Edmonton communities to turn out for the event. “This is the U of A’s opportunity to show our support for the Olympics and to be a part of the excitement it brings to the world. The quest for excellence embodied in the Olympic ideal is one that the University of Alberta wholly embraces.”
The pep rally and relay will mean some road closures and traffic disruptions for drivers. A section of 87th Ave. between 114th and 116th streets will be completely closed to vehicular traffic from 4 to 5:30 p.m. As the torch convoy passes through, Edmonton Police Services will close the south lanes of 87th Ave., while the north lanes will remain open, one lane eastbound, one lane westbound—except for the stretch noted above that will remain completely closed for that hour and a half.
Between 4 and 6 p.m., access to and exit from the U of A’s Jubilee Car Park and surface lot, Education Car Park, Stadium Car Park and Varsity Lot, and Windsor Car Park may be significantly delayed.
Drivers wanting to leave campus during this event have the following options:
- North along 116 St. to Groat Road via Saskatchewan Drive
- South along 114 St. and 112 St., crossing 87 Ave.
- South along 117 St. to University Avenue
- North along 110 St. to Groat Road via Saskatchewan Drive
Limited visitor parking will be available, but the road closure may make access difficult. People coming to campus before or during this event are strongly encouraged to take public transit. Health Sciences-Jubilee is the LRT station closest to the Torch Relay and pep rally. Bus services will remain uninterrupted.