Paralympic Torch Relay in Squamish

Standing in Mountain Pose (tadasana) Zephyr Café, Squamish. The Paralympic Torch is set to arrive soon down Cleveland Street outside. The shop is full, a queue to get to the cashier, and it’s busy business again – about time for the middle child to get some attention again. Squamish, quiet during the Olympics, is catching a rejuvenating breath of attention heading back into competition.

The routine is standard with the $2.26 handed over for the Americano; tall and dark, the drink is embodied by the appearance of the hat-clad baristas and cooks who run drink orders and food out to patrons – but that is the extent of Squamish’s Sunday normalcy. When the music outside began blaring and the Torch relay crews poured inside, mingling with the locals, Canada’s red mitts hop back en vogue and no thank you, no need for a receipt.

The festivities and bumping music come from across the street in the RBC Plaza – one of the relay’s foremost sponsors. A procession of the youth of the Squamish First Nation walk north down Cleveland Avenue, slowly making their way to the stage, joining John Weston, Gibby Jacob, and Squamish Mayor Greg Gardner. It’s reminiscent of the much larger party of the Olympic Torch Relay in Brennan Park – but here in the rain, the cleansing, the opportunity for interaction with torch bearers is at every turn.

“Dude, this is radical,” Dylan Adams, my flatmate, begins.

Indeed.

Brad Zdanivsky was one person I indirectly caught a glimpse of inspiration from after wheeling the flame around a portion of downtown Squamish.

The quad who climbed the Chief in 2005? In fourteen hours? Yes – that Brad Zdanivsky. “It was an exhilarating feeling [carrying the torch] … It was pretty remarkable – feel the heat on your face and see the huge crowd.” Following the hype of the Olympics, the torch relay’s energy and attendance drew off the Olympics’ presence in the valley. “Everyone was so pumped,” Zdanivsky said, and I agree – the boost of energy feels great.

He hopes everyone who sees the remarkable feats come away a little inspired by it – and to “see the sledge hockey team kick some ass” against the competition. A true Canadian.

More stories from the Paralympics and torchbearers, who say in passing to one another when asked “How was it?”

“There are no words to describe it!”

The rain comes down on the streets and there are those who run along excitedly as the torch gets looped around for an hour. The grey torches and suits may match the physical appearance of the rainy day – but not the energy.

Margo Dent, of the Squamish Chamber of Commerce, has a vision after seeing how close the Paralympics are going towards being “in” with the Olympics.

“The way the Winter Olympics were advertised this time – as the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games – that’s a milestone that we are celebrating. My hope is that eventually they will be one Games running at the same time … athletes competing against athletes.”

And if Bruce Gilmour, the visually-impaired and final torchbearer before the lighting of the cauldron, can make the crowd glow, guide-dog golden retriever on point, surely the athletes will too. The flame of the athletes – the glow of focus during competition – means I’m in for another great seven days as a volunteer.