TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay Celebrates in Thunder Bay and Algoma Districts on May 31

Pan Am flame visits Fort William First Nation, Thunder Bay City Hall and Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre

TORONTO, May 31, 2015 /CNW/ - The Pan Am flame rose with the sun on Day 2 of the Pan Am Games Torch Relay presented by President's Choice® and OLG for a breathtaking visit in northern Ontario that included stops to honour a stuffed literary legend and one of Canada's most inspirational athletes.  The flame's route included Fort William First Nation, Thunder Bay, Nipigon, Terrace Bay, Marathon, White River and Wawa.

The relay day began at sunrise at Fort William First Nation where an indigenous welcome ceremony was held in front of the panoramic view of Thunder Bay at the top of Mount McKay.

The Pan Am flame then travelled to Thunder Bay City Hall where community torchbearer Curt Harnett, three-time Olympic medallist in cycling and Chef de Mission for Team Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games, arrived with the Pan Am flame and lit the community cauldron.

Andrea Cole, a Paralympic and Parapan Am multi-medallist in swimming, carried the flame to the Terry Fox Monument, to pay tribute to a truly great Canadian and one of Canada's greatest athletes.

The flame visited Nipigon in the early afternoon where the torchbearers included Jory Zechner, a 16-year-old singer-songwriter and winner of YTV's The Next Star competition in 2014.

The Pan Am flame then stopped at the Terrace Bay Lighthouse where it was carried by community torchbearer Stacey Wallwin. Next, in Marathon, community torchbearer Kayla Rutenberg had the honour of carrying the flame into the community celebration.

Before making its way to Wawa, the final destination of the day, community torchbearer Tina Forsyth carried the Pan Am flame during a special stop in White River at the Winnie the Pooh Statue, honouring the famous World War One black bear who inspired one of the most beloved bears in the world: A.A. Milne's "Pooh Bear".

Day 2 of the torch relay concluded with an evening celebration at Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre when community torchbearer Diane Spencer arrived with the Pan Am flame and lit the community cauldron for a celebration that included a live performance by Francesco Yates.

The Pan Am flame will continue its journey tomorrow in Wawa and Sault Ste. Marie.

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 2 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/TyM6Xo.

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]