The Olympic Torch relay arrived in Westmount shortly before 6 p.m., providing a climax to months of anticipation and careful planning.

Residents of all ages crowded the grounds of city hall, shuffling impatiently in the cold while a greeting party of local dignitaries — including Mayor Peter Trent, Olympic rower Adriéanne Morin, International Olympic Committee member Richard Pound and Director General Duncan Campbell — stood waiting on the front steps of city hall.

When the big moment finally arrived, signalled by a motorcade of flashing police car lights, event organizer David Lapointe of the Sports & Recreation Department urged everyone to back up and clear the path to the building.

A choir from ECS School sang O Canada as the torch bearer made his through the cheering crowd and up the steps of city hall. He paused for a few seconds in front of the dignitaries, then turned and headed back to the street to resume the torch's nation-wide trek to the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

In all, the torch was at city hall for about one minute.

Some were shocked by how quickly the event took place. "We waited for over an hour in the cold, and it was over just like that," one woman complained as the crowd dispersed.

"It was a thrilling moment, though."