Canada Loot Bags

I have acquired quite a bit of Canada, Ontario, and Toronto trinkets to give away to our international guests during Vancouver 2010. It started to be so much stuff I wondered about the logistics of handing it all out. I didn't want to have to fish through different bags for 3 different types of pins, stickers, and business cards. I needed to compile everything so it would be easy, fast and neat when it came time to disperse my goodies. That is when I came up with the idea to create "Canada Loot Bags", you know like the kind you got as a kid at a party. 

These would be loot bags for Vancouver's 2010 visitors given out by me, spreading Olympic and Canadian cheer everywhere I go.  Each Canada loot bag will consist of 1 Canada flag pin, 1 set of Canada stickers and 1 pin of either Toronto or Ontario (pictured at left).  I have also added in my blog business card so people are able to stay in touch.  On the weekend I went to every Dollar Store I could find but Canada stickers were in short supply. I will keep checking though. The loot bag isn't complete without them.

Do you have suggestions for anything else that can be included in the Canada Loot Bag? If you do, please leave a comment with your idea as well as where it can be purchased.
I'll be sure to keep you posted on people's reactions to the Canada loot bags when I am in Vancouver.

My Canada Loot Bag: Canada pin, Toronto or Ontario pin and Canada stickers. My biz card is in there too.

Guest Post by Andrea Kay - 2010VanFan

Last month I asked Andrea if she would write a guest post for my blog. She lives in Vancouver and is absorbing and blogging about everything to do with the Olympics. I love reading her blog because I get to find out how the city is getting ready to welcome the world. She is one of the many wonderful people I have met so far. I am especially happy to connect with someone who loves the Olympics as much as I do.  Here is her post.  Thank you Andrea.

Welcome World!
My name is Andrea, I live in Vancouver and write a daily blog about the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games called 2010vanfan.ca. Quite a while ago Christina asked me to write a guest post for her blog giving a Vancouver perspective to her eastern-based readers and I have been meaning to write this for a while. Why did it take me so long? Mostly because I wasn't entirely sure what to write about but I certainly am now. I'm going to tell you about some of the people that have made my Olympic experience really wonderful so far. Honestly, I haven't even met some of these people in person yet, including Christina. However I know that we will be good friends. That is what Vancouver 2010 is creating friendships between people that had no other reason to meet.
Out east there is Christina, working hard on her blog, sharing her excitement and experiences (I'm still very envious of her Torch Relay ride-along!). Hardeep from Cold-FX, who works tirelessly to create trivia questions and award prizes to fans across the nation. Michael in Ottawa is a keen fan and there are many more. There is Joyce from Scotland. She is a blogger as well and has actually taken time off of work to travel to Vancouver 2010 to volunteer in Whistler. Beau has come from Seattle to volunteer as well; Justin from Tacoma is up to work with the Olympic Family. Even within Greater Vancouver I have connected with and met so many people that I would never have had a reason to interact with before: Jenn, Rachael, Dave, Kelly, Matt, Jordan, Daryl, Catrina, Carlin, Nancy, James, Paul, Frank, Rob, Bob, Merritt, Andrew, Patti, Carol, George... oh my gosh this is reading like a poorly put together Oscar winner's thank you list (and it feels like the music is coming up)! I guess I'm trying to say that I've met many, many more wonderful people than I could ever hope to name, all in one list, with confidence that I haven't missed someone.
The Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games have transformed the host cities and resorts (province... nation...) not just physically, with new buildings, roads and trains, the change occurring is emotional and complex. People from the region, the country and the world are coming together to build, support and celebrate, not just the athletes and the athletic events that are the heart of the event, but also the cultural events, the friendships and hope. While Vancouver 2010 cannot solve all of the world’s problems it has had positive impacts on the cities and towns involved and I believe it will be a lasting and enduring positive impact. I know that when someone mentions 2010 a smile will come to my face and I will think about all of the people that came into my life because of it.

If you are standing in line waiting to get into an event, start talking to the people around you. At that point you all have something in common and that is a rare enough thing in today's world. Heck, even just walking down the street you're likely to meet people that you can have fabulous conversations with. You do not even have to be in Vancouver or Whistler to experience the friendships that Vancouver 2010 can create. Send a comment or email to a blogger or a newspaper. Try to learn something about athletes that may be attending from the area where you live and send them your support. All you have to do is reach out a hand, there are lots of us that are happy to take hold and welcome you to the excitement that is building and share with you the events as they unfold!
Thank you to all of my new friends. Hello to those looking to be a part of this, I'm happy to have you along. And as a resident and fan of Vancouver - Welcome World! We're ready for you!

BC'ers Welcome Christina Wallaert From Ontario

Updated 10: 20 pm
When I got up this morning I saw messages from Facebook in my email. The messages were referencing comments that had been made about me and some video. Warning bells started to go off in my head. Trust me when I say that I am not in any videos that I don't know about, and there are very few, pretty much 0 videos of me.  Imagine my surprise when I logged into Facebook and saw that Robert Werner had posted a video that was titled "Welcome for Christina Wallaert". Yesterday while out on a walkabout in Vancouver, he had the group give me a special welcome. I loved it! I didn't care that the resolution of the video was off.  I watched it over and over, laughed and cried, and sent my thank you's.

Later in the day Robert sent me a link for the video below. He felt so bad about the intial video, he created this new one. All I can say is the people of BC, the people of Vancouver are absolutely amazing! I am in awe of people I've never even met in person taking the time to think of doing something like this for me. I have to say I feel pretty special. I don't think too many other visitors are having video greetings made for them by the people in BC. What a special group of people they are. Vancouver I love you. I have a feeling I won’t ever be scrambling for a place to stay in Vancouver ever again.

February 8, 2010
There is yet another video! Scroll down to see the new and improved version, although for the record I was quite happy with the original! Thank you so much everyone for your warm welcome. I will be there very soon.

Canada Trinkets and Treats

As a self proclaimed Ambassador of Canada for the Vancouver Olympic Games, I feel a special kind of duty to show people from other countries some Canadian hospitality. For those I meet at Vancouver 2010, I want to have something to give them to remember me by as well as Canada. People visiting from other countries are going to judge Canada on what they see as well as by those they interact with. I want everyone to see that we live up to our international reputation of nice, polite people and show them Canada is a great place to live.

So this poses the question, what to give people I meet as a token of Canadianism? And where am I to buy such items since I am funding a trip that is the most expensive I have ever been on and need to save money not spend it. I got the brilliant idea to check out my friendly neighbourhood dollar store. I knew they had Canada branded products and really, where was I going to find anything cheaper than a dollar store? I’ve found stickers, pens, pencils, key chains, hats and socks. Now I didn’t buy all of that but I did buy some stuff that I will be bringing to Vancouver with me. I also found a few of small Canada flag pins at a gift shop. I also wanted to bring Toronto pins, if I could find them.

I found out that Flag Walk buttons (not pins) are being sold and my contact has graciously allowed me to put an order in for these. They were reasonably priced and I’ve ordered a bunch of Canada ones, as well as a few other countries for my family. I actually like these better than pins because they are bigger and it is easier to see the Canadian flag. Hopefully my new international friends won’t mind that they are buttons and not pins.

I was started to get very frustrated over locating Canada flag lapel pins to buy. In a year where an event as huge as the Olympics is taking place in Canada, you wouldn’t think they would be so hard to find. I was about to give up when a very smart person, genius actually, left a comment on my blog. They told me they had emailed their City Hall and government officials and were getting pins from them. I looked up all the contact information for my area and sent off emails to see what would happen. I am happy to report that they have provided me with a small supply of Canada flag lapel pins that I can give away in Vancouver. The City of Toronto is also sending me pins so I have something to represent my hometown which makes me very happy. Today my MPP’s office confirmed they have Ontario pins they can give me so I’ll have those too! I’ll probably be heading back to the dollar stores to stock up on stickers. I wouldn’t think children from other countries would be too impressed with pins so I’m going to give them Canada stickers.

Pictured above are the Canada flag lapel pins, Toronto pins and Canada stickers I will be giving out in Vancouver.

Here is the inventory of what I have to give away to visitors or even my fellow Canadians: 60 Canada flag lapel pins, 50 City of Toronto pins, 20 Canada stickers, 30 Ontario pins, 22 Flag Walk buttons – Canada, and my business card with my blog addresses and email. Hey, I want people to be able to stay in touch! Do you think that is enough stuff? If there is anything you think I am missing, let me know.

Are you bringing anything to the Olympics to give out to people you meet, maybe to trade as you wait for your event to begin? If you do I would love to hear about it. Leave a comment to share with all of us.

"FlagWalk is the creation of a unique walking route connecting Yaletown and South Granville, two of Vancouver's truly unique neighbourhoods. The FlagWalk pathway spans a total distance of 3.74 kms and features the flags of countries participating in the 2010 Winter Games." Taken from flagwalk.ca. Please visit their site for more information on this unique tribute to the countries of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

A Mish Mash of Olympic Stuff

Get your GM “Go Canada” Flag
I was on the GM Canada website the other week. After entering a contest a message came up telling me to go visit a GM dealership to pick up my free Go Canada flag. I called my parents right away and sent them over to their GM dealership (I don’t know where there is one in my area). My mom picked up 3 and I saw them on the weekend. They are really nice. They are the kind that sit in your car window. I’m going to take mine to Vancouver with me and wave it around with the Canada flag.

All of you should go visit GM and get your flags. Put it in your car window or display it at work or home. Do something to show your Canadian spirit! You can visit the GM Canada website to locate a dealer near you.

Classified, Canadian Rapper has Spirit

I have to thank one my vendors, Jason R., for clueing me in to this one. At a meeting last week Jason started off by telling me about a video he had seen of a Canadian East Coast rapper named Classified and his version of O Canada. Of course I had to see it so we looked it up and watched it while we ate lunch. I have to say the name “Classified” sounds familiar but I’m not sure what other material of his I may have heard. However, this is a great song/rap and an amazing video. I especially like the crowd shots of everyone dressed in Canada gear. I expect this video to be getting a ton of hits in the coming months, especially during February. You can check it out below. I think it is brilliant! I would love to see him performing this song somewhere in Vancouver during the Olympics. As of this post, his video has just over 167K views on YouTube.




City of Toronto Pins

I am happy to report that I will be representing Toronto well at the Vancouver Olympics. I wanted Canada stuff to give out to people but I also wanted to have something from my hometown as well. I emailed City of Toronto last week and they have a program that provides pins to people who are attending international events. I asked them if they would be able to give me some for the Olympics, sent them the link to my blog and now they are mailing pins out to me! I know Toronto pins may not be as sought after as the Olympic pins. I personally would not even mind if I came home with a collection of international pins from other countries and cities. The whole pin trading thing scares me a bit and I don’t really know enough about them to know if I am getting a fair trade. This seems much safer and easier to me. Hopefully the international visitors will be bringing city pins with them as well. I’ll post a photo when I get them, should be this week.

Nikki Yanofsky - "I Believe" Theme Song for the Olympics

I think I wrote about this beautiful song in an earlier blog post. I only heard it the one time, the first time I heard it and not since then. I did find it online and will have a listen to it there once in awhile. If you have not heard it before, you can hear it below with visuals from the Torch Relay. I can’t wait to hear this song in Vancouver. I wonder how many memories will become tied to this song for all of us?

The Kindness of Strangers

Vancouver, you have some pretty amazing people in your city but you probably already knew that. I have been the recipient of your kindness, generosity and Olympic spirit the last few weeks and am very touched and grateful.

If you have been following my posts for awhile, you will remember a few months ago I wrote about coming up with this crazy idea to fly into Vancouver for the weekend of the Opening Ceremony, maybe even getting a ticket for the Opening Ceremony. Our original trip is planned for the second week of the Olympics. This Opening weekend trip would be in addition to that. The deal I made with myself was I would do it but only if someone let me stay at their place. I shouldn’t even be spending money to fly out there again, much less pay for a place to stay. If I could stay with someone I knew in Vancouver then I would spend the money on airfare to get there for opening weekend.

As time went by, it looked less and less likely that I was going to be able to go. No one had offered to let me stay with them and I didn’t feel I knew some well enough to ask them outright. In updated blog posts I made casual mention of this fact and was resigning myself that maybe this wasn’t meant to be. My Olympic karma had run out. Then an amazing and unexpected thing happened, the offers started rolling in. Vancouver people started emailing me, sending messages on Facebook and Twitter offering me their couches, second bedrooms and sofa beds. A fellow blogger from Inside Vancouver even offered up her mother’s place to me! Some of these people I knew through my blog and was corresponding with on a regular basis. Others were frequent readers of my blog but I had never heard from them before their offers of accommodation. In total, I had 6 people offering to let me stay with them or with people that they knew. At first it was pretty disconcerting to be getting invites from complete strangers but after awhile I wasn’t even surprised. I realized that these are Vancouver people, proud of their city, honoured to be hosting people from all over the world and wanting to share the experience with Olympic fans like me. These people are spreading Olympic spirit and Vancouver spirit all across their city and country.

Thank you for letting me be a part of it.

And in case you were wondering, I have found a place to stay with an acquaintance in Yaletown. I will be in Vancouver when the Olympics begin and couldn’t be happier. There is no other place I would rather be that weekend. See you in Vancouver on February 12, 2010.

Canadian Olympic Spirit Photo Album now online

I have finally manged to put together my Canadian Olympic Spirit photo album. It will be a work in progress that I will add to as I find images or others send to me displays of great Canadian Olympic Spirit from anywhere in Canada. I think I have a few photos on my parents computer that I will have to upload on the weekend.
Here is a preview of some of the images you'll find there.

I have my spies everywhere to capture photos for me! This one was taken in Toronto on Front Street in front of the Globe and Mail office. They are the official newspaper of Vancouver 2010 so I guess it is not surprising that they would decorate their newspaper boxes. A great display of Olympic Spirit. Thank you very much to Hardeep Gosal for submitting.

This one was posted on Twitter by my favourite GM guys GM_ArtAndSerge who I did my Torch Relay ride along with.  This is an image they captured in Moosomin, SK.

This is also an image I originally saw on Twitter that was posted by one of the cool Molson people I follow. I believe it was MolsonFerg who tweeted about this and MolsonTonia who sent me the link to the photo. Thank you so much both of you and to Molson. What great Canadian and Olympic spirit from Molson.





Thank you everyone for letting me use your photos. Keep checking for updates. As we get closer to Vancouver 2010, I have a feeling I'll be adding to this frequently.

Reaction from Friends and Family

A few weeks ago I asked some friends, co-workers and family if they would write a short paragraph on their reaction to all of my Vancouver 2010 Olympic hoopla. I was curious to see if my experiences and adventures were having any effect on their outlook of the Olympics and if it was getting them more excited about these Vancouver games.  I told them they could write anything they wanted, I would publish as is and only edit for spelling and grammar. It is probably no surprise to you that I got teary eyed reading every single one of these.  There are a few people who I am still waiting to get a paragraph from but I thought I would publish the ones that I have as of today and then add the others as I get them.
I would like to thank them very much for taking the time to do this. Some were hesitant about trying to write something and I appreciate the time and effort they took to do this.  I think they did a fantastic job!

Jennifer Pinheiro
Co - worker

As a new mom I take the time when I can to get things done. I often keep up on Christina's Vancouver 2010 blog and Twitter updates on my Blackberry late at night and I look forward to see her getting to experience something that she has always dreamed of doing.
I have missed the daily chats with Christina at work, getting to see and hear first hand all the updates leading up to the big event. Thankfully we get to email often to still be in the loop. Everyday there seems to be something new going on and she is becoming quite the celebrity. I can say I knew her when.
Christina has a passion for the Olympics and I have to say it has inspired me to watch and be much more informed, since sports has never been a huge interest for me. Her passion is contagious, I love it! I am getting excited!!!....to watch and for Christina :)
I think this is a life changing event and I tell her all the time, can't wait to be proved right lol. I can't wait to read the next blog but more so to hear all about her trip. She will be an inspiration to my new daughter that you always have to follow your heart and do what you want and be happy!
I can't wait to hear all about it Christina and will be watching the Olympics and hope to spot you!
Represent Canada, you do it so well!

Amy Samad
Co - Worker

Olympic fever is in the air and Christina is chiefly responsible for infecting the locals! Working daily with Christina has given me a front row view of all the happenings around the Vancouver 2010 Games. Following her blog posts, scrolling through event pictures, and getting the direct behind-the-scenes inside scoop has been a thrilling experience. I'm 4,000 km's away from the Olympics, but following along as Christina is interviewed by The Washington Post, blogging for Inside Vancouver, and riding with the GM envoy allows me to feel directly involved as my country proudly shows off it's natural beauty, outstanding hospitality, and best of all our world class athletes. Christina's enthusiasm is entirely contagious - I hope other Canadians get the chance to have the games be made as personally relevant to them as I have - I'm bursting with Canadian Olympic pride! Thanks Christina for continuing to share your adventure with us here.
GO TEAM CANADA GO!!

My Mom on some of her Olympic Preparations:

In 4 weeks we leave for Vancouver 2010. After months of reading info and studying maps I hope I am ready. Trying to stay dry in steady rain will be a challenge.
Almost finished packing but will have to take some stuff out. Too heavy! Hope I haven’t forgotten anything but I probably have. Looking forward to our trip. Hope Canada wins a lot of medals. Hope USA wins some too.
Go get those medals Canada!
(Mom is American and will be cheering for both Canada and USA)

Jen Finnigan
Friend

Christina has been talking about the Olympics since they announced the Vancouver games, to be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone to be so enthusiastic about the Olympics. It seemed only natural that she would extend her “Not A Shopaholic” blog into the 2010 games. Well, little did we know how far her enthusiasm would take her! From blogging, to being quoted in the newspaper (The Washington Post) to getting to ride a long in part of the Torch Relay in Southern Ontario; it seems every time I talk to or get an email from her she’s got a new “in”. I’m constantly amazed at how far she’s gone with it I can hardly keep up! I’m sure Christina feels like she’s living in a dream most days, I hope her “Road to the Olympics” is the ride of a lifetime – who knows where else it will lead?
Awesome job Christina!!

Canadian Tire Has Olympic Spirit

I just got back from running some errands that happened to include going to Canadian Tire. As I drove into the parking lot, I saw a huge GO CANADA GO banner hanging on the outside of the store. I actually gasped out loud and was very thankful that I have decided to carry my camera with me at all times. I don't have one of those fancy phones or blackberry's that do a million things. I use my trusty Canon Powershot to take all my photos. 

It was a good thing this banner was outside the store.  I would have tried to take a photo if it was inside the store but I worked in retail for a number of years and that is really not allowed. Can you imaging me getting thrown out of Canadian Tire for taking a photo of something I needed to include in my Canadian Olympic Spirit photo album? That would have been really embarassing. 
I'm really glad I got to see this. I go to Canadian Tire a couple of times a year so it was really lucky I had to go today so I could see their huge display of Olympic Spirit. For the record there was a GO CANADA GO sign inside the store.
On my way out I also noticed a display of some Canada apparel. I'm not sure if this was for sale in the store? Does anyone know if they sell stuff like that?  I'm very happy and proud to start to see some displays like this.  Thanks Canadian Tire.  It's great to see Canadian companies showing support.

Brampton, ON Has Olympic Spirit

I'm not about to give all of you an assignment and then sit back and wait for all the photos to roll in.  I've also got my eyes out there to help spot displays of Olympic Spirit across Canada.  This is a photo I took on the weekend in Brampton, ON at Chinguacousy Park.  It was at the top of the mountain they use for skiing and tubing.  I spotted it when we were on our way home from my Torch Relay ride along (blog post coming soon).  I figured out what this was as we passed it so I turned the car around and went back to take a photo.  I ended up hiking half way up the mountain to get the best photo I could.  Thank goodness this side of the mountain didn't have a lot of snow.
So Canada, in case you were wondering what kind of stuff I'm looking for, this is perfect.  If you spot anything, take a photo and send it to me.  My email address is notashopaholic at gmail.com or you can send me a link to the image if it is already online.  I'll compile them in a future blog post and create an online photo album for them. 
If you want to see the photo that started all of this, see my previous post on the subject.  I heard a rumor that someone in Keswick, ON has built a replica of the Olympic Torch and I am trying to track it down for a photo.  If you know anything about this or know someone in Keswick please let me know.
Happy New Year.

Brampton, ON showing their Olympic Spirit at Chinguacousy Park

Did I mention that I grew up in Brampton?  So proud of my hometown.

Olympic Torch Relay Georgetown, ON - December 19, 2009

My Mom had always wanted us to go to the Olympic Torch Relay when it passed through Georgetown, ON, a community about an hour north and a bit west of Toronto. I hesitated agreeing to go but then finally decided to do it after a portion of the Toronto relay was diverted. Now, having been to Georgetown I’m happy that my Mom pushed so hard for us to go. It was an amazing place to see the torch for the first time and I was touched to see the amount of community spirit Georgetown has for Canada and for these Olympic Winter Games.

Georgetown was an early stop on the route on Saturday, December 19th. I met my parents in Brampton at 6am and we left for Georgetown right away. Driving through the city to get to the Torch route, quite a few store signs announced the arrival of the Torch and invited everyone to attend. Bleachers had even been put up in front of the local arena for relay spectators. As we drove by there, some people were tying a Canadian flag to the top of the bleachers.

My Mom and I settled ourselves on the route at Guelph Street and Queen Street. As we were waiting we got to talking to some of the people around us. Ken Sproule, owner of Ken’s Auto Service and his wife were out earlier than we were and struck up a conversation with us right away. Telling them we were going to Vancouver to see the Olympics, they were very excited for us. My Dad was further up the route and positioned to take video of the relay.

Coca Cola always livens things up, no matter what time it is.

We also met the family of one of the days Torchbearers, Justin Schlupp. Some of Justin’s family had travelled from Kitchener to watch him run his leg of the relay. They parked themselves in front of his post and anxiously waited for him to arrive. There were as happy and as proud as can be to have a family member participating in the Torch relay. My new friend Ken offered to get us pen and paper from his store so I could take down the info of Justin’s family member. Then Ken asked if I would send him copies of my pictures which of course I agreed to.

Justin Schlupp's family waits at his exchange point.

Adding to the community spirit was a lovely woman from the church across the street from where we were. She came around with hot chocolate twice for those of us who had chosen to stand out in the cold to watch this great event happen. I couldn’t help but think this would never happen in Toronto. Everyone was very cheery for an early, cold Saturday morning.

You know the Torch is close when you see this.

The first signs of the convoy arrived around 7:30am with the Coca Cola and RBC trucks getting everyone more worked up. It was a great site to see after being disappointed at the Toronto relay. Soon after, we could see the Torchbearer coming over the hill and running towards us. Carrying the torch proudly and running at a good speed, she stopped as she got to Justin. They posed for pictures and I believe a photo was taken of Justin and his family before Justin was off and running, his family yelling support and running after him. Once Justin turned the corner at Mill Street, my Mom and I took off running. Spotting my Dad running up Guelph Street we followed him and got to the top of the street in time to see the convoy and Torchbearer again. This was the end of the route and from here the Torchbearers were shuttled back to wherever they had started. It was a great morning made all the better by the community spirit of the people from Georgetown. I’m so happy that I was a part of it. Thank you very much Georgetown. What a great event you hosted for the Olympics’ and for us.
For additional photos from the Georgetown, ON relay, click here.

The Torch handoff to Justin.

One of many signs announcing the arrival of the Torch.

Torch Relays Today

I plan to do more detailed posts on this in a day or two so this is to give you a quick summary of the days events.  I attended the Torch Relay in Georgetown, ON this morning.  My Mom and Dad came with me.  We were all up very early to see the Torch run through Georgetown between 7-8 am.  Here are a few photos:

Lovely woman handing out hot chocolate. 

Gotta love smaller cities and their hospitality.

Waiting for the Torch to arrive.  Look at the crowds behind us.

It was around 7:15 am.

The Olympic Flame arrives and is ready to be handed off to the next Torchbearer.

Later on in the morning we attended the Torch Relay in Mississauga, ON.  The Torch arrived at the intersection of Hurontario Street and Burnhamthorpe Road around 11am.  It circled around Square One Shopping Mall and then headed into the Torch Celebration.  Cheryl Pounder, Women's Hockey Gold Medallist lit the cauldron and Mayor Hazel McCallion, gave a very inspiring and rousing speech.

Torchbearer exchange on Burnhamthorpe Road, just west of Hurontario Street.

Met my Twitter friend Art from GM.  I think he thinks I'm a little nuts.

Follow him @GM_Artand Serge.

Torch Celebration on Living Arts Drive.

Olympic Torch Relay Toronto, ON - December 17, 2009

It is very late and I am very tired so I think I'm going to write little and put in lots of pictures.  The Torch Relay route did get diverted right as it got to us at Yonge and Wellesley but you cannot dampen Olympic Spirit.  As we walked south on Yonge Street and got to Yonge-Dundas Square, I couldn't believe the amount of people out there!  So many Torontoians waiting out in the cold to cheer on the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.  It was great!
We continued on to Nathan Phillips Square where the Torch Celebration was taking place.  We arrived just in time to see Women's Hocky superstar, Vicki Sunahara, carry the Torch down Queen St. into the Celebration.  We got to see the rest of the festivities as well as the fireworks that ended the night.  Overall, it was great.  I still want to see the Olympic Flame run through the street.  Hopefully I'll get to see that on Saturday in Mississauga.  I'm also try to plan at least one more outing to see the Torch before it leaves the Greater Toronto Area.
For additional photos click here.

This nice young man let me take a photo with him and his Torch.  A Torchbearer from earlier in the day.

The convoy at Yonge and Wellesley St. in Toronto.

Celebrating the Torch and Vancouver 2010 at Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, ON. December 17, 2009

Toronto Torch Celebration ends with fireworks at Nathan Phillips Square.

Waiting for the Olympic Torch to arrive in Toronto! It was a long, cold wait.

Is Olympic Fever Spreading?

The other week I was in my friendly neighbourhood grocery store.  As I approached the dairy section to get sour cream for the fajitas I was going to make that night, I looked up and saw this massive GO CANADA GO sign!  I literally stopped dead in my tracks and laughed out loud.  I loved it!  This is the kind of stuff I want to see all over Toronto as well as Vancouver when I get there.  I didn't have my camera on me so I had to go back to the store and discreetly take a photo of it. I know retailers frown upon people taking pictures in their stores but this had to be done.

I'm so excited to see signs of the Olympics around town.  Its probably only going to increase as we get closer and closer to the Olympic Games in Vancouver.  I am going to keep an eye out for anything Olympic/Canadian related.  If you see a sign of Olympic spirit in your city I would love to see it.  Send me a photo with a brief description, your name and city where you took the photo and I'll put together a collage of all them for a later post.

The Olympic Torch Relay will be here next week and I saw a sign advertising this as well.  I wandered out into the freezing cold earlier this evening because I had to get a picture of it for my blog.  I managed to take a few pictures before my battery went dead.  If this one doesn't show up well in the blog I'll be going back out there.  The only thing that sucks about that is a) it is frigging cold outside b) it is one of those digital marquees so I have to wait for 10 different things to come up before it gets back to the 2010 Olympics.  If my camera battery hadn't died when it did, I might have lost a finger.  I could barely feel them when I got back in my car.  Ah, whatever it takes for an effective blog post right?

Go Canada Go!  Looking forward to seeing your images from around Canada showing your city's Olympic Canadian spirit.  Email is notashopaholic at gmail.com.