All set for today's torch arrival

The City of Westmount has announced that two special guests will take part in the local celebrations — International Olympic Committee member and former president of the World Anti-Doping Agency Dick Pound, and Olympic rower Andréanne Morin. They will be joined by Mayor Peter Trent and Recreation commissioner Kathleen Warner Duncan.

The local celebration will take place in front of City Hall on Sherbrooke Street beginning at 4 p.m. And although there was heavy snow in the forecast, the events will go on regardless of the weather.

Scheduled activities include crafts for children at the lawn bowling clubhouse, outdoor Olympic-themed games for all ages, a free hot dog barbecue with hot chocolate, judging and announcement of the winners of the banner creation contest (with participants from local schools), and a bonfire and marshmallow roast.

The torch relay will arrive at approximately 5:47 p.m. as part of a convoy of vehicles, which will include torchbearer shuttles, media vehicles, relay support vehicles and police cruisers. Temporary road closures will ensure the safety of the torchbearers and spectators lining the relay route. The crowd will see a new torchbearer carry the flame every 300 metres through Westmount as it travels on its 45,000-kilometre-long journey across Canada — the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history.

Much of the planning for this event was coordinated by David Lapointe, administrator with the City's Sports & Recreation Department, along with the help of a volunteer committee of Westmount residents.

The City will be establishing special viewing areas along the route for those people who cannot attend the activities at City Hall. Viewing locations will be found on the south side of Sherbrooke Street between Kitchener and Clarke avenues, and between Wood Avenue and Westmount’s eastern border near Dawson College.

City officials have also pointed out that parking will be limited around the City Hall area, so residents are encouraged to use public transit (the 24, 104 and 138 bus routes have stops in front of City Hall) or walk to the site.