TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay Celebrates in Muskoka, Parry Sound and Nipissing Districts on June 3

Pan Am flame visits Canadian Forces Base North Bay, travels by water and train, with evening celebration in Huntsville's River Mill Park

TORONTO, June 3, 2015 /CNW/ - As the Pan Am flame journeys ever closer to Toronto, Day 5 of the Pan Am Games Torch Relay, presented by President's Choice® and OLG, saw the flame travel by land, rail and the hands of an Olympic medallist as it visited several Ontario communities, including Greater Sudbury, Sturgeon Falls, North Bay, Powassan, South River, Sundridge and Huntsville.

The day began in Greater Sudbury at Churchill Public School with a visit from PACHI, the official mascot of the Games, before Maheen Awadia, a student at the school, carried the flame on the first leg of the day's journey.

The Pan Am flame then visited Sturgeon Falls where it was carried by community torchbearer Richard Lachance before making its way to North Bay to be part of the Armed Forces Day celebrations along the city's waterfront. Sarah Gouthro, daughter of Sergeant Christopher Gouthro of the Algonquin Regiment, carried the flame into the community celebration.

In the afternoon, the Pan Am flame visited Powassan where community torchbearer Kevin Topham had the honour of carrying the flame into the celebration at the Powasson Sportsplex.

Later in South River, torchbearers, including community torchbearer Nathan Jeffery, carried the Pan Am flame through town. The flame also visited Sundridge where community torchbearer Connor Lawes delivered the flame to the local celebration.

The final leg of the relay day took place in Huntsville, where the Pan Am flame travelled by water and train. Jane Wolfe, selected by the Town of Huntsville, swam a segment of the Muskoka River with the flame before a number of other torchbearers carried it through the streets of town before it rode the historic Portage Flyer steam train in the hands of torchbearer Brandon Just. At Huntsville's Canada Summit Centre, Dara Howell, Olympic gold medallist, skiing, carried the flame past her alma mater, Huntsville High School.

The relay day concluded at Huntsville's River Mill Park with an evening celebration that featured live entertainment, including a performance by Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra. Community torchbearer Pierre Mikhail had the honour of lighting the community cauldron to begin the celebration.

The Pan Am flame will continue its journey tomorrow when it visits Algonquin Park, Minden Hills, Lindsay, Omemee and Peterborough.

Media Materials
The following torch relay items are available at TORONTO2015.org/torch-relay: relay route map, full list of communities and dates, daily highlight summaries and media vehicle registration information.

All torch relay media advisories and news releases are available on CNW. Day 5 highlight images and videos are available on Flickr by copying and pasting this URL into a web browser: https://www.flickr.com/gp/133157263@N06/71U728.

The torch relay can also be followed on Twitter.

About the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay  
The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay, presented by President's Choice® and OLG, is supported by community partner CIBC, signature supporters Star Media Group and Metroland Media, Ontario Trillium Foundation and Porter Airlines, and funding parties the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario. The torch relay will invite Canadians to celebrate and share the Pan Am spirit throughout its 41-day journey towards Toronto, the Host City of the Games.

The torch relay starts May 30, 2015, and concludes July 10, 2015, with the dramatic lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony in downtown Toronto.

The TORONTO 2015 Games are funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, as well as Lead Partner CIBC and other partners and sponsors.

To learn more about the torch relay and when the Pan Am flame will visit a community near you, visit TORONTO2015.org/torch-relay or download the official TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games app, presented by CIBC.

About the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games ticket program
Great tickets to the Pan Am Games are still available, but gold-medal sessions are selling quickly!

The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games ticket program is designed to be affordable and accessible for everyone by offering:

Integrated tickets: Every event ticket will allow the holder to access transit on the day of the event.

Affordable pricing: Tickets start at just $20, with 75 per cent of tickets priced $45 and under.

Half-price tickets for persons under 16 years of age, or 65 and over: Tickets will be offered at a 50 per cent discount — some will start at $10. The number of discounted tickets is limited, so buy early.

Tickets for Parapan Am sporting events will range from $20 to $35 for adults, with a youth (under 16) and senior (65+) discount from $10 to $12.50 available, depending on the event. The number of discounted tickets is limited, so don't delay.

Easy options for buying: Tickets can be purchased online at TORONTO2015.org/tickets or at 1.855.726.2015 and internationally at 1.949.333.4824.

SOURCE Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games

Lindsay Hamilton, Coordinator, marketing and communications, TO2015, 416.697.1318, [email protected]