The 2015 Pan American Games is an international sporting event that is scheduled to be held from July 10th – 26th, 2015, in Toronto, ON., with some events held right here in Niagara, as well as a few other cities. Approximately 6,000 athletes from 41 nations are expected to participate in 36 sports.
In the Niagara Region, the City of St.Catharines will host some of the best rowers in the world in the home of North America’s largest rowing regatta. Rated as a world-class rowing course by the International Rowing Federation, the Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course will host 14 men’s and women’s competitions.
Also, Welland’s Pan Am Flatwater Centre is an ideal spot for hosting fast-paced paddling sports. In preparation for the 2015 Pan American Games, there is a widened a section of the canal, two new buildings (including a timing tower and the athlete centre), a plaza, start towers and permanent seating for 500 spectators.
The Toronto 2015 Pan American Games Torch Relay will be a 41-day journey that will share the Pan Am spirit in more than 130 communities. Deeply rooted in history and tradition, the Pan Am flame will be lit in May 2015 during a traditional ceremony in Teotihuacan, Mexico, before it travels to Canada. The torch relay will start in Canada on May 30, 2015, and will make its final stop on July 10, 2015, at the Opening Ceremony of the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.
Here’s a map of all the communities that the torch will be passed through:
The Niagara Parks Commission and the City of Niagara Falls are very pleased to be a celebration Host of the 2015 Pan American Games Torch relay event, and they are inviting the public to participate in choosing the city’s torch bearer. Below are the Niagara Falls local candidates who have previously participated in past Pan American Games.
The Torch Relay in Niagara Falls will start from Queen Street and Victoria Avenue and head west to the Niagara Parkway. From there, the torch will travel to Queen Victoria Park to kick start the evening festivities.
Voting will conclude Monday, December 15th, 2014 at 4:00pm. Results will be announced late March, 2015. Please vote for one candidate only.
Richard Deschatelets
As a wrestler, he spent 12 years as a member of Canada’s wrestling team. He captured two golds at the Commonwealth Games (1978, 1982) and two silver and a bronze medals at the Pan-Am Games. In 2000, he was the Canadian Olympic Wrestling Head Coach in Sydney, Australia. Richard recently retired rom Brock University. A stint that lasted 28 years as assistant Athletic Director and the most successful wrestling coach in Canadian Inter-university sport history.
Larry Downes
Larry was an outstanding local baseball player, who excelled at all levels from the Greater Niagara Baseball Association as a youth to the Olympics as a young man. In 1973, Larry was the M.V.P. in the Canadian Baseball Championships. In 1982, He was the all-star catcher on the National Amateur Team playing in Seoul, Korea. Larry was a seven-year member of the Canadian National Team, playing in the Pan-Am Games from 1983-1987 and in the Olympics at Los Angeles in 1984.
Nancy Gee
Nancy represented Canada at the World Championships in Crans -Montana, Switzerland in 1987 and again at the 1988 Calgary Olympics, where she placed 13th in the Combined. In 1990, Nancy won the Canadian National Ski Championships at Lake Louise, Alberta. That summer, she also won a silver medal in the giant slalom at the first ever Winter Pan-American Games in Las Lenas, Argentina.
Kathleen Hunt
Kathleen won the 1987 Provincial Badminton Doubles for girls under 16 and in 1989 also won the Ontario under 19 Mixed Doubles. In addition, she participated in the 1989 Ontario Winter Games Badminton Tournament winning her division. In 1988 Kathleen competed in the Pan-American Games and won the Ladies Doubles in the under 16 category. Also in 1988, she won the under 16 Mixed Doubles Canadian Badminton Championship.
Bill Irwin Jr.
Already a 5 time Provincial Champion, Bill captured the Canadian Lightweight title in 1989. Further, he won a bronze medal at Pan American Games in 1991 and competed in the 1992 Olympic Games. A 2 time Canadian Professional Lightweight Champion, I.B.O World Lightweight Champion, W.B.C Continental of Americas Lightweight Champion and Commonwealth Lightweight Champion. Bill was previously rated number 1 in the world by the I.B.F. And has fought for 3 world titles.
Charmaine Reid
Charmaine has won 5 Canadian National Badminton Championships between 2005 and 2007, two of them in women’s singles, and three in women’s doubles. In the 2007 Pan American Games, she won 2 silver medals. She also won a gold medal at the 2003 Pan American Games. Throughout her career, Charmaine has won numerous international championship events in singles and in doubles play.
Gord Singleton
Gord began his amateur cycling career in 1975. In 1978 he participated in the Commonwealth games and returned home with a gold and bronze medal. In 1979, he won 2 gold medals at the Pan-Am Games and participated in the 1975 Pan-Am Games. In 1980, Gord broke and set 3 new world records for the 200 meter, 500 meter and 1,000 meter. In 1982, he captured the World Cycling Championship. In 1986, Gord was presented with the Order of Canada.
Jay Triano
Jay was an 11 year member of the Canadian Olympic team and the captain and leading scorer for 8 years. He was the all-time leading scorer at Simon Fraser University. In 1981, Jay represented Canada at the World University Games in 1979-81-83-85. In 1979, he participated in the Pan American Games. He was drafted in 2 leagues by the NBA LA Lakers and the CFL Calgary Stampeders. Jay was head coach of the Canadian Olympic team and the NBA Toronto Raptors.
Click here to cast your vote for the 2015 Pan American Games Niagara Falls Torch bearer. Thank-you!
For more information on the Niagara Falls Torch Relay, please visit www.niagarafalls.ca, call Recreation & Culture at 905 356 7521 extension 3330, or email rc@niagarafalls.ca.
Christine Lynn
clynn@cliftonhill.com
www.cliftonhill.com
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