Poverty Olympics Torch Relay: Shining a spotlight on BC
The first ever Poverty Olympics Torch Relay will be held in January and February 2010 in the lead-up to the official Vancouver Winter Olympics. It will end at the Poverty Olympics, the highly successful community event that has been staged in Vancouver for the last 2 years.
So often the face of poverty is the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver but we know people are struggling all over the province. The Torch Relay will highlight these stories, the stories of your local community, in calling on the government to make some very necessary changes.
Report from Torch Relay Launch.
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List of events:
January 17 – Golden.
January 21 – Vernon. Torchbearers: Sherry-Lynn Morrical and staff and friends of House of Dwarfs Daycare. Vernon poverty rate: 18.3%.
January 23 – Kamloops. Torchbearers: Thompson Rivers University Humanitarians. Kamloops Poverty Rate: 13.8%.
January 23 – Nelson. Torchbearers: Council of Canadians. 5:30 PM at Nelson City Hall Plaza. Nelson Poverty Rate: 18.3%.
January 25 – Quesnel. Educational event at 11:30 AM. Quesnel Poverty Rate: 16.8%.
January 28 – Greenville.
January 30 – Sechelt. Torchbearers: Sunshine Coasters and the Troubled Times Troubadours. Musicians and walkers will walk and perform through downtown Sechelt. Sechelt Poverty Rate: 13.6%.
January 30 – 100 Mile House. Torchbearers: C.E.E.D.S. farm. Event will feature making and serving soup, a fire in the barrel (the olympic torch), music, costumes and more! 100 Mile House Poverty Rate: 25.3%.
January 31 – Whistler. Poverty Rate: 14.4%. Join us at the base of Whistler Blackcomb at 2pm. Watch the Poverty Olympic mascots – Itchy the Bedbug, Creepy the Cockroach, and Chewy the Rat – ski and snowboard in the Torch Relay down the slopes of Whistler Mountain… see local residents try and beat Gordon Campbell blocking every effort to end poverty in BC in the “Slapshots to End Poverty” hockey game… and find out about the impacts of the Olympics on the community of Whistler and its residents.
February 1 – Chilliwack. Poverty Rate: 13.7%. Torch parade starts at 12 noon near clock tower at Five Corners.
February 1 – Abbotsford. Poverty Rate: 13.9%. Torch celebration at University of Fraser Valley, parade starts at 3pm, followed by celebration at 3:30pm in the greens space at the centre of the campus.
Poverty Olympics Torch Walk from Langley to Vancouver:
February 2 – Langley. Poverty Rate: 21.5%.
7:45-8:30am – Langley Torch Celebration at corner of Fraser Highway and 206 Street.
February 3 – Surrey. Poverty Rate: 18%.
11am-12pm – Surrey Torch Celebration at Holland Park (corner of King George Highway and 100th Ave.)
February 3 – New Westminster. Poverty Rate: 20.3%.
4:45-5:30pm – New West Torch Celebration at corner of 6th Street and 6th Ave.
February 4 – Burnaby. Torchbearers: Burnaby Teachers’ Association. Poverty Rate: 25.5%.
11am-12pm – Burnaby Torch Celebration at Metrotown
February 5 – Coquitlam. Poverty Rate: 20.2%.
Kayak to Deep Cove. 4:15pm-5pm – Deep Cove Torch Celebration
February 6 – North Vancouver. Poverty Rate: 20.3%.
2pm-2:45pm – North Vancouver Torch Celebration at Lonsdale Quay
February 6 – West Vancouver. Poverty Rate: 16.2%.
5:15pm-6pm – West Vancouver Torch Celebration at Park Royal Shopping Centre
February 7 – Vancouver. Torchbearers: Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users. Vancouver Poverty Rate: 26.6%.
Last leg of province-wide torch relay will depart 380 E. Hastings St. at 12:30 PM and arrive at the Poverty Olympics (487 Alexander St.) at 1 PM.
