The Pan Am Games torch relay made its way through downtown Sarnia Tuesday morning.
Celebrations began outside City Hall at 9am with musical performances from a First Nations group. Mascot Pachi the porcupine made an appearance and was taking pictures with the public to gather excitement leading up to the games.
City councillor Cindy Scholten spoke to the public about her son, Boady Santavy who is representing Canada for weightlifting at the Pan Am Games.
She says it really hits close to home as to how hard these athletes work.
"It's a different life for them. You have to have that passion and that dedication to your sport," says Scholten. "When their friends are out partying or going to the movies, my kids are training everyday and sometimes twice a day. It takes a lot to get to the top."
Marathoner and Ironman, Wes Harding kicked off the torch relay from the steps of City Hall through to Front St..
He says it was a life-changing experience.
"As I looked back and saw the smiling faces and the cheering fans," says Harding. "You want to talk about goosebumps! I don't have any hair, but I can tell you, they were standing up the ones I do have!"
Harding says the Pan Am games is all about dreaming big.
"It was a wonderful opportunity to aim for the moon and pick up a few stars. Let me tell you, this is one of the stars that I'll never ever forget."
A total of 24 torchbearers took part in Sarnia's leg of the 41-day Canadian journey that ends in Toronto July 10.
Wes Harding, Joel Skinner, and John DeGroot were selected from eight community nominees. The rest of the torchbearers were selected by Toronto-based torch relay organizers.
Meanwhile, as torchbearers continued the run, the community gathered outside the ASW track at the former St. Pats high school to continue celebrations.
Over 600 elementary school kids stood on the outline the track, handing out high-fives to the last two runners.
Elementary student Nathan Oliphant fractured his tibia in a trampoline accident, but it didn't stop him from walking the track and high-fiving some of his closest friends.
"As I started coming along I saw everyone was really supportive and I knew a bunch of people here so I wasn't as nervous after I started going," says Oliphant.
"Being able to say that you held the torch for pretty much a world-wide event, well, that's something."
The torch relay for the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games is bringing the flame to more than 130 communities across Canada over its 41-day, 5,000 km journey.
The Pan Am Games opening ceremony gets underway on July 10.
Mascot Pachi the porcupine outside City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie).
First Nations performers at Pan Am Torch Relay, City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Torchbearers at Pan Am Games celebration, City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Torchbearers at Pan Am Games celebration, City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Crowd gathered for Pan Am Games celebration outside Sarnia City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Pan Am representative kicking off celebrations outside City Hall, June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Pan Am representative kicking off celebrations outside City Hall, June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
MP Pat Davidson outside Sarnia City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Pan Am Games celebration outside Sarnia City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
City councilor Cindy Scholten speaks at Pan Am Games celebration outside Sarnia City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
City councilor Cindy Scholten recognizes her son Boady Santavy representing Canada in weightlifting at the Pan Am Games. June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Sarnia Pan Am Games celebration outside City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Lighting the first torch at Sarnia's Pan Am Games celebration. Wes Harding began torch run at City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Wes Harding holds the first torch high at Sarnia Pan Am Games celebration outside City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Wes Harding holds the first torch high at Sarnia Pan Am Games celebration outside City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Wes Harding holds the first torch high at Sarnia Pan Am Games celebration outside City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Mascot Pachi the porcupine outside City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie).
Wes Harding holds the first torch high at Sarnia Pan Am Games celebration outside City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Wes Harding holds the first torch high at Sarnia Pan Am Games celebration outside City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Wes Harding kicks off the torch run at Sarnia Pan Am Games celebration outside City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Wes Harding kicks off the torch run at Sarnia Pan Am Games celebration outside City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Wes Harding kicks off the torch run at Sarnia Pan Am Games celebration outside City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Mascot Pachi the porcupine cheers on torchbearers with elementary students at ASW track. June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
600 elementary students line the ASW track to hand out high-fives to the last two torch runners in Sarnia's Pan Am Games celebration June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
600 elementary students line the ASW track to hand out high-fives to the last two torch runners in Sarnia's Pan Am Games celebration June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Torchbearer Wes Harding poses with elementary students at Pan Am Games celebration at ASW track June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Torchbearer Robert Hughes passes on the flame to student Nathan Oliphant at the ASW track for Sarnia's Pan Am Games celebration June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Nathan Oliphant prepares for his leg of the Sarnia Pan Am torch run June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Torchbearer Nathan Oliphant high-fives former friends at Sarnia Pan Am torch run June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Torchbearer Nathan Oliphant high-fives former friends at Sarnia Pan Am torch run June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Torchbearer Nathan Oliphant passes on the flame to last runner, Joel Skinner for the Sarnia Pan Am torch run June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Torchbearer Joel Skinner finishes up the Sarnia Pan Am Games torch run June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Mascot Pachi the porcupine poses with torchbearer Nathan Oliphant and elementary students at ASW track. June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Mascot Pachi the porcupine poses with torchbearer Nathan Oliphant and elementary students at ASW track. June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
