(Please note all photos can be clicked on and enlarged for more detail)
Before sunrise this morning we drove down the coast from Tlell to the beach at Kaay'llnaagy.
The day was promising to be beautiful.
By sunrise a few people had gathered to witness a once in a lifetime experience.
As the sun dawned
the Olympic Flame arrived on Haida Gwaii in its miners lantern.
Haida Elder, Percy Williams, 79 waited for his torch to be lit.
His torch is lit by the Olympic flame and by the sunrise under the glare of cameras.
Proudly this remarkable Haida Elder takes possession of his torch
in Bill Reid's "Loota"(Wave Eater) canoe under the watchful eyes of the Canadian Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Parks Canada and BC Ferries.
But no boat is more at home in these waters than the Loota and her crew.
The Loota, with escorts rounds the point at Kaay'llnaagy.
Kim is a Torch bearer who came here at her own expense from Vancouver so that she could have her once in a lifetime experience carrying the torch. When I asked to take her photo she said "yes....
and do you want me to take a picture of you holding the torch"!!
The Torch arrives on the ancient shores of Haida Gwaii in the way it should.
The Torch Relay "rules" say that you must wear white unmarked running shoes...Percy is wearing gumboots!
As Percy walks up the beach with the Torch Haida dancers and singers surround him with their button blankets 
and "voila" Percy has white running shoes!!!
Percy surrounded by his family while the Flame is blessed.
Tyler Brown lights his torch from Percy...symbolizing passing the torch from the old to the young.
Tyler takes his moment before heading into Queen Charlotte
in the traditional Haida way.
On this stunning day seven runners carried the Torch on Haida Gwaii, you have met three!
Do you clean it or leave it with the essences of the Olympic flame?
On this stunning day seven runners carried the Torch on Haida Gwaii, you have met three!
Do you clean it or leave it with the essences of the Olympic flame?For other great experiences and places from around the world join us at
17 comments:
Oh my, what a wonderful event to which you were witness. Indeed a once in a lifetime experience and I thank you for sharing it.
Oh my goodness Mom...that is SOOOOOO cool!
I can't wait until it gets to Ottawa!!!
What a great ceremony. Cool photo of you with the torch!
What an interesting event! Great account of it as well. Thanks for sharing.
Carolyn: What a neat story of a special happening in your world. Thanks so much for sharing this trip of the Olympic torch.
Beautiful pictures. I love the sunrise. But the rest is a memory documented. Fantastic.
EXCELLENT PHOTOS!!
I saw most on this on the evening news but not with the clarity of your pictures.
What and amazing event you've captured.
One of the best posts I have read and looked at for some time.... really did enjoy this...
Thanks also for stopping by as you do... it is always nice to see your name pop up in my comments... until our next visits .. keep well
Tom
Wow - what a wonderful, uplifting event - truly once in a lifetime. I love the way the Haida traditions have been kept.
wow! what a wonderful experience and so well documented! great!
What a great piece of history you just shared. Thanks.
DF
Carolyn,
WOW! You took wonderful photos of the event. I can hardly wait for the torch to come my way but I'm quite sure I won't be able to get as close. Imagine holding the torch! I'm very excited for you! ;-)
How exciting!
I googled photos of the torch relay on Haida Gwaii and stumbled across your blog.
Enjoyed all your photos. It must have been an exciting day. The torch is coming through my town late January.
Do you know my daughter-in-law Erica Ryan Gagne?
Regards,
Karin Gagne
What an excellent, excellent post. You are a witness to a 'once in a lifetime' event and you took us along with you. thank you. MB
That was a beautiful ceremony. I don't think it will be quite as exciting when it comes to Powell River in February. I saw the torch relay once in Los Angeles. It was exciting but nothing like what happened on Haida Gwaii. - Margy
What a fantastic post, Carolyn! This is by far the best coverage of the torch relay I've seen yet!
Haida Gwaii and your reporting kicks ass!
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