The 2019 Canada Winter Games Society revealed the names of more than 100 people who will participate in the torch relay, including those from six central Alberta communities.
At a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, Games officials said torchbearers from Red Deer will announced starting in January.
From Lacombe, 13-year-old Reid Wilson will be one of six who will be running when the relay comes to town on Feb. 2.
Wilson volunteers with bottle drives and the food bank. He also visits his 94-year-old great-grandmother.
“One day you’re just a normal kid and then you get asked to do this,” said Wilson, who was nominated by 12 different people.
“I thought it was just most of my friends but I didn’t know. It’s kind of amazing (I got nominated) by 12 people. Yeah, it’s crazy.”
Larry Michielsen, president and co-founder of the Bill Nielsen Trails Society, will be another torchbearer from Lacombe. He is also vice-president of the Cross-Country Ski Club, coaches soccer, baseball and was a Scout leader for a decade.
Michielsen was also a torchbearer for the 1995 Canada Winter Games in Grande Prairie.
“I think that’s quite an honour to do this, especially they actually pick people instead (draw) of out of a hat so I think I’m pretty lucky to be chosen,” Michielsen said.
The other four torchbearers from Lacombe include: Mayor Grant Creasey, Tyler Graham, Patricia Nelson and Mackenzie Van Damme.
The relay starts on Oct. 4 with the lighting of the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill and will pass through almost 50 communities, with relays held in 26. The torch arrives in Red Deer on Feb. 15.
According to Canada Winter Games board chair Lyn Radford, each torchbearer will run between 200 m and one kilometre. She added that the weight of the torch should be manageable for all those participating.
The Canada Winter Games received and reviewed more than 900 torchbearer nominations.
Having read them, Radford said they revealed that at the community level, Canada is united.
“We have a country at times that’s very (divided) politically but when you read what’s happening in these local communities, you recognize that we have a strong, sustainable country that’s going to get through all the bumps that we have together.”
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Myron Feser
Donna Hateley
Jason Nixon
Rick Pankiw
January 29 - Blackfalds
Heather Buelow
Byron Hackett
Chris Overacker
Robert Thompson
Rachel Weppler
January 31 - Olds
John Ahlgrim
Nathan Cooper
Danielle Lappage
Robert McBeath
Mark Mengersen
Jay Rosehill
Tom Thompson
February 5 - Sylvan Lake
Colin Fraser
Melissa Hollingsworth
Sean McIntyre
Tegen Readman
Vinnie Taylor
February 7 - Ponoka
Rick Bonnett
Jayden Crane
Calvin David
Chad Harden
Nolan Lee
Maddison Pearman
Shawna Pearman
Tegan Poitras