HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-12-24, Page 32The media these days are keeping
all of Canada informed of where the
Olympic Torch is every day. The
Canadian Olympic Committee is to
be congratulated for bringing the
Olympic torch so close to all
ordinary Canadians in a run across
Canada to end, of course, in
Vancouver, the site of the games.And also for allowing so manyCanadians a chance to carry theflame. There are 12,000 torchbearersto travel 45,000 kilometres in 106days. Many well-known Canadianshave been invited to take part and a
number of contests, etc. have
allowed ordinary folk to carry the
flame. Last week we heard about
Barbara Ann Scott and Brian Orser
and Christine Carter.
Christine is a daughter of Jim and
Dorothy Carter. She carried the
flame through Stouffville having
won the honour through an RBC
contest pledging to do her part to end
global warming. She states that, “I
don’t think it really hit me how
special it was until I was dropped off
at my starting point to be greeted by
family, friends and strangers. I was a
little overwhelmed at how many
spectators there were and how many
people wanted their picture taken
with me, a stranger.”
She says the 300 metres she
carried the flame went past quickly.
Torchbearers were told to go at a
slow jog or brisk walk and the
RCMP runners on either side of the
runners controlled the pace of the
run to some extent.
At the orientation session
organizers told the runners that the
two most important things were to
smile and hold the torch high.
Although the torch only weighs 3.5
lbs., Christine noted that by 200
metres, it was heavy when held so
high.
She remarked that, “The smiling
and waving was easy for the first
section because I was so happy and
there is so much energy from the
crowd and volunteers. The couple
hundred school kids on my route
made my relay run so very special.
Many of them were waving flags or
signs that they had constructed in
class for the occasion, I almost
started to cry. All in all it was a
fantastic experience that I will
treasure forever!”
So if you don’t get to see the torch
in person, you can be proud of the
fact that a Londesborough area
native carried the torch for the 2010
Olympics.
The closest the torch run comes to
us is Christmas Eve afternoon when
it will be carried through London.
PAGE 32. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2009.
Carry on
Former Londesborough resident, Christine Carter, right,
carried the Olympic torch through Stouffville, having won
the honour through an RBC contest pledging her part to
end global warming. (Photo submitted)
On behalf of John and myself, I’d
like to wish all of you a Merry
Christmas and all the best the new
year has to offer. I thank all of you
for your continuing support for this
column as well.
Here are the answers to last
week’s trivia questions.
#1. Handel wrote the Hallelujah
Chorus. The word ‘hallelujah’ is
repeated 10 times at the opening of
the chorus and five times at the end
and countless times throughout the
number. And we think some of
today’s music has repetitive
phrasing!
The Hallelujah Chorus is
undoubtedly the most famous
chorus from Handel’s first oratorio,
Messiah. Written originally as an
Easter work in 1741-1742, choirs
around the world perform all or
some of the chorus’ parts one and
two of this masterful work during
the Christmas season.
Part two ends with the Hallelujah
Chorus.
Part three of the oratorio deals
with Christ’s death. The Messiah
was written originally to benefit
various charities and was first
performed in Dublin, Ireland in
1742.
Handel was born in Germany but
moved to England in 1712 and is
buried in Westminster Abbey. The
Messiah was performed for King
George II in 1744 who was so
moved by the magnitude of this
religious composition that he stood
up for the entire presentation of the
Hallelujah Chorus, a tradition which
audiences today continue.
#2. In 1843. Charles Dickens set
the price of his new novel, A
Christmas Carol, at five shillings, a
price which he felt would make it
affordable for everyone. However it
would still have been a steep price
for the common person in those
days. There was then a five shilling
coin which exists no longer
Former Londesborough resident carries torch
May you and your loved ones enjoy the many
blessings this special time of year brings.
We thank you for your patronage and look
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Wishing all our customers and friends a very Merry Christmas and a wonderfulNew Year!Wishing all our customers and friends a very Merry Christmas and a wonderfulNew Year!
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Continued on page 33