Downtown Owen Sound welcomed the Olympic Torch last night in a tremendous spectacle of community spirit.  The official VANOC Olympic Torch Run Celebration kicked off at 6pm with a packed City Hall square.

The Owen Sound Sun Times said “Thousands of people jammed city hall square in Owen Sound last night in a raucous display of national pride. The guest of honour may have been the Olympic flame, on its way to Vancouver, but people in the throng said the point of the gathering was pride in their country. “

The event which was organized by the Owen Sound Olympic Torch Committee under the direction of the Vancouver Olympic Committee was a huge success.

With Paralympian, Jason Crone as the Owen Sound Community Torch Bearer, the estimated 3000 in attendance enjoyed an evening of great entertainment featuring local and regional song, dance and spoken word.  No doubt though, the highlight of the evening was left to Jason as the crowd cheered him along as he brought the flame to the stage and ignited the Olympic cauldron.

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The local/regional entertainment portion of the event featured:

• Ann Milne School of Dance
• Kristan Anderson
• Dave Carr
• Georgian Bay Children’s Choir
• Larry Jensen
• Ross Kentner
• Richard Kenchtel
• Diane Marie
• Owen Sound Little Theatre’s Sound Troupe
• Rain Richardson
• Steve Ritchie
• The Sapsuckers
• Hayden Stewart

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