Canada Day in Gillam was about more than just celebrating the country's birthday, as that was also the date when the Canada Games torch relay passed through the most northerly city on its route to Winnipeg for the official opening of the game on July 26.
Thirteen people carried the Roly McLenahan Torch through the streets of Gillam, beginning at the Gillam ball diamond, where Fox Lake Cree Nation elders led the event off with a prayer before local coach and volunteer Dawn Tulk, who has represented Canada on numerous occasions with the Canadian national ball hockey team, carried it on the first leg. The torch was also carried by Sheila Dick, Winston Beardy, Betty Anne Wilkinson, former Fox Lake Cree Nation chief Michael Lawrenchuk, Raymond Gwsnoski, Adam Glover, Janet Gauthier, Chris Steeves and Andrew Greaves, with carriers representing a variety of local organizations, including the Brownies and Girl Guides, the Gillam RCMP detachment, Gillam's mayor and council, the Fox Lake Cree Nation chief and council and the Fox Lake Cree Nation elders.
The Gillam leg of the torch relay concluded with a community barbecue attended by Gillam deputy mayor John McDonald, Fox Lake Cree Nation Chief Walter Spence and councillors Sophie Lockhart and Shawna Henderson. Canada Games 2017 president and CEO Jeff Hnatiuk represented the host society and co-hosts at the barbecue.
The torch continued its journey in Thompson July 6, with torchbearers taking turns carrying it along a route from the Manitoba Hydro office to MacLean Park by City Hall.
The torch's trip to Winnipeg began with the official lighting ceremony in Ottawa June 6. Indigenous elders and grandmothers infused the relay with the spirit of the Sacred Fire June 21 during National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration in Winnipeg. The torch relay had already been through Steinbach, Kenora, Ontario and Morden before reaching Gillam. After the Thompson leg, it will continue on to The Pas and OCN July 10 and then through Dauphin, Gimil, Brandon, Sagkeeng First Nation and Great Falls. The last leg of the relay will be a journey through central Winnipeg to Manitoba Hydro Place on July 26 before the lighting of the cauldron at Bell MTS Place.
The 2017 Canada Summer Games, held in the 50th anniversary year of the first Canada Games, will be held July 28 to Aug. 13 and include 16 sports, 250 events, more than 4,000 athletes and coaches as well as 20,000 visitors.
