2007 Canada Winter Games - Opening Ceremonies
February 23, 2007 Filed in: 2007 CWG Torch Relay
LINKS:
2007 CWG Opening Ceremonies Slide Show (48 images)
CBC Coverage of Opening Ceremonies (YouTube)
APTN Coverage of Opening Ceremonies (YouTube)
2007 CWG Opening Ceremonies Video (YouTube)
(caribou antler carving, caribou antler sculpture)
CBC Newsworld and CBC Sports Weekend Coverage
(edited to show Torch Relay/Lighting of the Flame)
Text:
CBC Announcer 1
It is Canada's last, great frontier: unspoiled, unlimited potential, the North is brimming with hope. Across the land, from the eastern shore to the prairie heartland and the mighty metropolis, there is the warmth of a winter people to count on. And for the first time, the entire country will live at the frontier and know it beyond its frosty limits. In the Yukon, the youth of the nation is all fired up for the Canada Games.
Three Territories as host, these are a pan northern Canada Games and the torch has travelled a great distance, all the way from the Arctic Circle across the land and sea to get to Whitehorse. It arrives by bob sleigh, by runner, by cross country skier, to the shore of the Yukon River and these Canada Games. Now it will preside over the north for two wonderful weeks.
2007 CWG Opening Ceremonies Slide Show (48 images)
CBC Coverage of Opening Ceremonies (YouTube)
APTN Coverage of Opening Ceremonies (YouTube)
2007 CWG Opening Ceremonies Video (YouTube)
(caribou antler carving, caribou antler sculpture)
CBC Newsworld and CBC Sports Weekend Coverage
(edited to show Torch Relay/Lighting of the Flame)
Text:
CBC Announcer 1
It is Canada's last, great frontier: unspoiled, unlimited potential, the North is brimming with hope. Across the land, from the eastern shore to the prairie heartland and the mighty metropolis, there is the warmth of a winter people to count on. And for the first time, the entire country will live at the frontier and know it beyond its frosty limits. In the Yukon, the youth of the nation is all fired up for the Canada Games.
Three Territories as host, these are a pan northern Canada Games and the torch has travelled a great distance, all the way from the Arctic Circle across the land and sea to get to Whitehorse. It arrives by bob sleigh, by runner, by cross country skier, to the shore of the Yukon River and these Canada Games. Now it will preside over the north for two wonderful weeks.
Opening Ceremonies Announcer
Please welcome the President of the 2007 Canada Winter Games Host Society, Piers MacDonald.
Piers MacDonald, Pres. 2007 CWG Host Society
At this time of year in the North, we look forward to each day's increasing light.
Since last spring a special light has been traveling across the North. A light gathering force and strength as it moves from community to community.
Three torches, representing the three northern territories, were lit in Alert, at the tip of Elsmere Island on April 10, 2006 and traveled separate journeys over land, water and air, to be brought together tonight.
As the torches traveled through communities and unique places, carried in the spirit of celebration and unity, each torch bearer, each community, each region brought its own energy to add power to this special flame.
From torch light to celestial light, the light from the northern sky brings hope and promise, inspiring dreams and building champions. As we celebrate the Canada Games here in Canada's North, we celebrate the northern lights ...
("Celebration of Northern Lights" presented by Northern Lights Dancers)
Opening Ceremonies Announcer
And now, having brought the spirit of the Games to over 80 communities, 13 unique places throughout the North and having travelled over 100,000 kilometers, we welcome the three Northern Torches of the 2007 Canada Winter Games.
Carrying the first Torch, representing the Yukon, from Whitehorse, 12 year old, short track speed skater, Heather Clark.
CBC Announcer 1
And the torches carved by sculptor, Shane Wilson, all using caribou antler.
And Heather Clarke, the 12 year old short track speed skater, carries in "The Raven". The Raven oversees 13 mountain tips of the boreal forest. And this is the torch of the Yukon. Arriving by a traditional, northern mode of transportation, snowmobile. There's even a little blizzard under the big top!
Opening Ceremonies Announcer
And now, arriving by Yukon dog team, from Nunavut, 9 year old Simon Tapardjuk and from the Northwest Territories, 17 year old speed skater, Rebecca Nahler.
CBC Announcer 1
There are the huskies now. Simon Tapardjuk, what a moment for this 9 year old! He carries the torch know as "The Narwhal". The Narwhal swims among the ripples of 13 waves, representing the 13 provinces and territories that will compete at the Canada Games.
And the 17 year old speed skater, Rebecca Nahler, will carry in "The Polar Bear". The Polar Bear clambers onto secure footing from an ice pan that broke into 13 pieces, again, representing all of the provinces and territories gathered here under one roof in the Yukon.
Rassi, wouldn't that be a moment for Simon Tapardjuk?
CBC Announcer 2
He'll never forget this, I bet you, and I don't think he'd ever, ever dreamed of this when, a few days ago, he was quite cold and a little nervous and he was in tears.
Piers MacDonald, Pres. 2007 CWG Host Society
Now ladies and gentlemen, we would like to share this moment in tribute to a dear Yukoner and special friend of the Games. In honour of Peter Milner, whose dream was to bring the Canada Games to the North, the Roly McLenahan Torch will be carried in by Peter's young granddaughter, Ava Milner.
Peter, who died in February of 2005, believed that the Games would inspire people and help make our communities a better place to live. Today his dream is a reality. Peter's family is with us today at Atco Place and we share this special day with you. Peter's positive energy and enthusiasm will remain with all of us, as we light the cauldron celebrating the opening of the 2007 Canada Winter Games.
Ladies and Gentleman, the Roly McLenahan Torch and Ava Milner...
CBC Announcer 1
It takes thousands of volunteers to undertake the Canada Games. Peter Milner was a great friend of the Games and a visionary from these parts. He dreamed of having the Games in the North. More than three thousand volunteers from the Whitehorse area and across the Territories, in a small community to ensure that the Torch will last forever.
(The Three Northern Torches light the Roly McLenahan Torch)
Piers MacDonald, Pres. 2007 CWG Host Society
We now light the flame of the 2007 Canada Winter Games.
(All four torches light the Canada Winter Games Cauldron...)
