Orillia announces Community Torchbearer for Pan Am Games Torch Relay

For immediate release (April 28, 2015) - Orillia is proud to announce Walter Henry as the community torchbearer for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay, presented by President’s Choice® and OLG.   

“Walter Henry is a former Olympic boxer, whose boxing career spanned three decades,” said Mayor Steve Clarke. “As a long-time Orillian, we’re proud to announce that he’ll be carrying the Pan Am flame as Orillia’s community torchbearer.” 

The torch relay will visit Orillia on June 8 and 9, 2015 and will feature Walter Henry as the community torchbearer. A community planning team, represented by several members of the community, put Walter Henry’s name forth to represent Orillia. Henry was the first Canadian boxer to ever medal at the Pan American Games, which were held in Winnipeg in 1967. Henry has represented Orillia, Ontario and Canada as a whole at the British Empire Games, as well as at the Olympics. During his career Henry won 20 Ontario championships, nine Canadian Flyweight championships and served as a boxing judge in the 1976 Olympics.

The 41-day torch relay will involve 3,000 torchbearers and over 60 modes of alternative transportation. The relay will travel an excess of 5,000 kilometres on the road and 15,000 kilometres by air. 

“The torch is a unique symbol of the Pan Am Games and carries a powerful energy that will unite Canadians,” said Saäd Rafi, chief executive officer, TO2015. “The torchbearers will proudly carry the flame through more than 130 communities, igniting the Pan Am spirit as they go.” 

Featured on the torch are the United We Play! pictograms — colourful depictions of people in motion —symbolizing the assembly of athletes through the celebration of sport and culture. The aluminum torch stands 65 centimetres high and weighs 1.2 kilograms (or roughly the same weight as a baseball bat). With a burn time of 10 to 12 minutes, the flame can withstand winds of up to 70 kilometres per hour and is visible in all kinds of weather conditions. 

Additional details related to the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay and the City of Orillia’s community celebration, are now available through the event webpage at www.orillia.ca/torchrelay. 

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Michael Ladouceur
Sport Program Supervisor
City of Orillia
705-325-2050
mladouceur@orillia.ca

Laura Thompson
Manager of Communications
705-325-8929
705-826-4399 (cell)
lthompson@orillia.ca
 
Jill MacCannell
Coordinator, Marketing Communications, TO2015
416-996-4076
relaymedia@toronto2015.org