From Sechelt to Lang-dale, almost every passing of the Olympic torch was sealed with a hug as the torchbearers seemed to pass on not only the flame, but the emotional and exuberant experience of carrying it.
That was the scene on Thursday, Feb. 4, during the Torch Relay as the torch and its convoy made its way to each of the communities on the Coast, each with its own unique take on the torch celebrations.
The first stop for the torch after the celebration in Spirit Square in Sechelt last Thursday morning came on Sechelt Indian Band lands, in front of the Band offices. In one of the most rousing moments of the day, 13-year-old Lakota Joe held the torch high as he ran through the dense and adoring crowd of Sechelt Nation membership.
Elders welcomed the torch with songs, dance and a blessing of the torch before Chief Garry Feschuk offered a short speech praising Lakota and the Sechelt Nation's inclusion in the event.
"It's been an honour to have this torch come through our territory - to have our young warrior run it. And as it moves on, we wish it safe journeys," Feschuk said. "I was told today that our elder who did the blessing is the 109th elder to put a blessing on that torch, so when it arrives at the opening ceremonies, you're going to be able to see the blessing of our elder in the flame as it burns while the Olympic Games are being held."
Feschuk acknowledged Lakota for following in the footsteps of his late uncle, Mike Sutherland, who was a torchbearer for the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.
From there, the relay continued down Highway 101 through Davis Bay and Wilson Creek.
Around 1 p.m., the torch made a brief trip out of the nation of Canada and into the Gumboot Nation. The convoy came to a stop near Roberts Creek Hall before heading down Roberts Creek Road where it was met by hundreds of cheering onlookers to welcome the flame, including all the students of Roberts Creek Elementary School. Also on hand was a band formed just for the occasion that played a rendition of Jimi Hendrix' Fire as Creekers swarmed around.
Roberts Creek local and Capilano University instructor Caroline Depatie captured the spirit of the Roberts Creek event, running the torch from the school to Lower Road in her yellow gumboots.
After passing Stephens Road, the relay went back to convoy mode until it reached Upper Gibsons, where Gibsons Way was lined with enthusiastic, flag-waving crowds.
The celebration in Gib-sons was no less emphatic, though things didn't go quite as planned, according to Michelle Jansson, corporate officer for the Town. Jansson and the record-setting crowds in Wine-garden Park were expecting the torch to come down into the park, where Mayor Barry Janyk had a short speech prepared, though the flame never left Gower Point Road.
"It had appeared from the town hall that the torch had stopped at the path to go down into Winegarden Park, and people were crowding up towards the torch," Jansson said. "There was no way they could get it down and we only had a three-minute scheduled stop. There was no way we could get it down and back up in three minutes with that many people."
Jansson said despite the hiccup in plans and timing, the event was still a success with about 2,000 people in attendance to enjoy the music, food and festivities.
From Gibsons, the relay continued along Marine Drive and was greeted by another celebration, mostly Langdale Elementary School students, at the overflow parking lot at Langdale terminal. The students were clad in yellow ponchos and waved hand-coloured flags of every participant nation in the 2010 Games.
The students then escorted the final torchbearer, B.C. Ferries employee Bill McCormick, in his wheelchair, down the exit lane where B.C. Ferries held a private party and sailing for the torch on the Coastal Renaissance. The flame finally had its hard-earned rest Thursday night in Squamish at their community celebration, bringing an end to day 98 of the relay.
