Special Olympics Flame of Hope to tour Nova Scotia enroute to Canadian Special Olympic Summer Games in Antigonish
Deputy Chief Robin McNeil, Acting President of the Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association, is pleased to announce that the Nova Scotia Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) team will be leading a contingent of Law Enforcement Torch Runners from across Canada to bring the Special Olympic Torch known as the “Flame of Hope” to the opening ceremonies of the 2018 Canadian Special Olympic Summer Games being hosted by the Town of Antigonish and St. FX University from July 31 to August 4, 2018.
Beginning with a kick off celebration on Friday July 27, 9 a.m. at Grand Parade Halifax, the Law Enforcement Torch Runners along with Special Olympic Athlete Erin Magee will be taking the Special Olympic “Flame of Hope” around our province, stopping in at selected
communities and historic places (see list below of location, dates and times). The purpose is to raise community awareness of the Special Olympics program and the upcoming National Games. The run will culminate in the lighting of the Special Olympic Cauldron at the opening ceremonies the evening of July 31 at the Keating Millennium Centre, St. FX University.
For these National games, the Province of Nova Scotia will host over 1400 athletes and coaches from all ten provinces and two territories to compete in nine Olympic sports (swimming, soccer, softball, athletics, basketball, bocce, power Lifting, rhythmic gymnastics and golf). We expect over 5000 spectators and over 1500 family members to travel to Antigonish to take part in the competition. This national competition is held every four years in which Special Olympics Athletes not only compete against other Canadian Athletes, but may also qualify for the Special Olympics World Games.
More about the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) and Special Olympics
The Law Enforcement Torch Run supports Special Olympics athletes in their journey for excellence. Our mandate is to raise money and awareness for athletes locally, nationally, and internationally.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) is the largest public awareness and grassroots fundraising organization for Special Olympics globally. The LETR hold a number of year-round fundraising and awareness events in communities across Canada. The LETR are supported by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP), and have been an active partner of Special Olympics Canada since 1981.
The Torch Run™ is the most well-known event that the LETR host. The Torch Run is an event in which officers run the Flame of Hope™ into an Opening Ceremony at local, regional and national competitions. Grown to include a wide range of regional and national events, the LETR have raised more than $63 million in Canada, since its inception.
As retired Chief Richard LaMunyon once said, “What started in 1981…as a flicker of hope for Special Olympics… has now become a roaring flame of stability for Special Olympics athletes worldwide.”
Special Olympics is dedicated to enriching the lives of Canadians with an intellectual disability through sport. It is a national not-for-profit grassroots organization that provides sport training and competition opportunities athletes of all ages and abilities. More than 9,900 certified volunteer coaches and 15,000 volunteers are currently involved with Special Olympics programs every day in virtually every community nationwide and over 45,000 athletes. Special Olympics Canada National Games are held every two years, alternating between summer and winter Games with World Games being held in the year following National Games. Special Olympics programs are supported by corporate sponsorship, fundraising activities, government funding, individual donors and the involvement of volunteers in communities across the country.
As a chapter of Special Olympics Canada, Special Olympics Nova Scotia is dedicated to enriching the lives of Nova Scotians with an intellectual disability, through sport. It is a not-for-profit organization that provides sport training and competition opportunities for 1700 local athletes of all ages and abilities. Special Olympics Nova Scotia is structured into regional, provincial and national programs and competitions with over athletes also having the opportunity to participate along with more than 150 other countries in Special Olympics World Summer and Winter Games alternating every two years.
Contact:
Chief Mark Mander, MBA, O.O.M (Rt’d)
Provincial Director LETR Nova Scotia
Email: mmander@ns.sympatico.ca
Cell: 1-902-698-2511
Sergeant Kim Robinson, Halifax Regional Police
LETR Representative Zone 1
Email: robinsk1971@gmail.com
Cell: 1-902-222-4668
Torch Run Locations/Dates and Times:
July 27th
9:00AM to 10:00AM Halifax (Grand Parade)
11:15AM Eastern Passage (Fisherman’s Cove)
11:55AM Cole Harbour (Sidney Crosby sign)
12:30PM Cherry Brook (Black Cultural Centre)
2:15 PM Windsor (Waterfront Park)
3:00PM Wolfville (Atlantic Theatre Festival Bldg)
4:00PM Kentville (Miners Marsh)
4:35PM Waterville (Michelin)
7:00PM Annapolis Royal (Fort Anne)
8:00PM Digby (Wharf)
July 28th
9:00AM Meteghan (Wharf)
10:15AM Yarmouth (Ferry)
12:30PM Liverpool (Tourist Bureau)
1:35PM Bridgewater (Pijinuiskaq Park)
2:00PM Bridgewater (Michelin)
3:00PM Lunenburg (Maritime Museum)
4:30 PM Peggy Cove
July 29th
9:30AM Truro (Civic Centre)
12:00PM Port Hawkesbury (Sobeys)
3:30PM Cheticamp (Grand Flaise- Cabot Trail)
July 30th
9:30AM Sydney (City Hall)
11:00AM Membertou
2:00PM Fortress Louisburg
4:00PM Port Hawkesbury (Gaelic College)
July 31st
9:30AM Pictou (RCMP Detachment)
10:30AM Granton (Michelin)
11:30AM Westville (Police Service)
11:55AM Stellarton (Police Service)
2:20PM Trenton (Town Hall)
2:45PM New Glasgow (Legion)
4:20PM New Glasgow (Police Station)
7:00PM Antigonish
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Source : Media Release
