Olympic torch leaves Toronto, heads north to Aurora
Posted December 18, 2009 9:16 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Olympic torch for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games has now left Toronto, but will return on Saturday for a brief visit.
But for now, it is en-route to Aurora and will be travelling by convoy.
On Saturday, the relay will begin at the Etobicoke Olympium and then travel west to Mississauga.
Earlier Friday morning, the flame made its way from the front of Queen’s Park, down University Avenue, Front Street and Blue Jays Way, passed by the CN Tower, and then headed east, passing through the Distillery District.
It then headed north on Parliament Street, up Bloor Street and to Danforth Avenue, over the Leaside Bridge, and then to the East York Town Centre and Thorncliffe Public School. The torch then travelled to Don Mills Road and finished at Concord Gate.
On Thursday, shortly before 8 p.m., the torch reached Nathan Phillips Square, to the delight of thousands of spectators.
The arrival of the flame was delayed by an hour after protestors attempted to block the torch route at Yonge and Wellesley streets.
When the flame arrived at Nathan Phillips Square, Olympic hockey star Vicky Sunohara lit a cauldron before thousands of cheering spectators.
The crowd then sang “O Canada” before the festivities began.
There are more than 50 days left until the Vancouver Winter Games
The flame made its way to Durham Region, then York Region, and eventually arrived in Toronto at 2 p.m. at Yonge and Steeles.
City officials suggested Toronto’s torch relay celebration will be the biggest in the country, outside of Vancouver.
The flame was first lit in Olympia, Greece back in October. The torch relay to Vancouver is being called the longest relay in a single country in Olympic history.
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NOTE: A series of rolling road closures will be in effect for the torch relay in Toronto.
Below is the route for the torch relay (courtesy of the City of Toronto, with reports from 680News): Note – all times are approximate.
-The torch will be travelling by convoy to Aurora at 8:48 a.m.
-The torch then heads to other areas, such as Keswick, Bradford, Nobleton and Bolton, before reaching Brampton later on Friday at around 6:55 p.m. On Saturday, Dec. 19, it leaves Brampton at around 6:15 a.m. and heads to Norval, Georgetown, Acton and Milton.
– On Saturday, the relay will begin at the Etobicoke Olympium at 10:19 a.m. and travel west on Rathburn Rd., south on Mill Rd. and then west onto Burnhamthorpe Rd. to the Mississauga City limits at 10:37 a.m.
**For areas after this, please consult the interactive map below**
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