Niagara, ON — Today, while standing in front of the Trillium Class bulk carrier CSL Welland at Lock 3, the Niagara 2022 Host Society, Canada Games Council, and proudly unveiled their exciting plan for the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games Torch Relay. With CSL acting as the program’s presenting sponsor, Niagara 2022’s Torch Relay will take a unique path from previous Games by travelling on the water — paying tribute to the historical significance of water as a means of transportation across Canada and through Niagara.
In keeping true with a time-honoured Canada Games tradition, the Roly McLenahan Torch’s journey will begin in late spring 2022 with a lighting ceremony in Ottawa, before heading to Montreal, where it will embark on the CSL Welland at St. Lambert Lock and make its way to the Niagara Region via the St. Lawrence Seaway. Following its trek on water, the torch will then disembark from the ship at one of the world’s greatest engineering marvels, the Welland Canal, prior to visiting each of Niagara’s twelve municipalities (see below schedule) in the lead up to the 2022 Canada Games.
After its final leg of the land program is complete, the Roly McLenahan Torch will finally make its way to the Meridian Centre on August 6, 2022 for the Opening Ceremony, where it will ignite the Canada Games cauldron and officially commence the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games.
“We can’t wait to bring to life our Niagara 2022 Torch Relay program and this unique vision that was only made possible thanks to CSL,” said Doug Hamilton, Board Chair of the Niagara 2022 Host Society. “Next summer’s Niagara 2022 Torch Relay will represent an invitation to our country and local Niagara community to join in the journey of the Games as we prepare for the arrival of the next generation of Canadian athletes to the Niagara Region for Canada’s largest multi-sport event.”
“CSL has been navigating the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes for over 100 years and this is truly a first for us. We are honoured that one of our ships will be the first torch bearing vessel in the history of the Canada Games, bringing energy and excitement along our waterways,” added Louis Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer of The CSL Group. “We look forward to carrying this iconic symbol that brings hope, unity and determination to our young athletes and communities.”
“The Canada Games spark greatness across Canada by showcasing the best of our next generation of athletes and leaders,” said Dan Wilcock, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Games Council. “The Torch Relay provides that initial spark, which will inspire the nation en route to the 2022 Canada Summer Games, while paying homage to the historic waterways of Ontario and the Niagara Region.”
(Photo credit: Niagara 2022 Summer Games)
