Olympic Torch Relay Entertainment Line Up

Olympic Torch Excitement Comes To Nanaimo

On October 31st Maffeo Sutton Park will be the site of a once in a lifetime celebration, and the community is invited to the party. The Olympic Torch Relay Community planning committee is putting the final touches on the Torch Relay Community Celebration. “We are anticipating that this family friendly event will draw a large crowd to Maffeo Sutton Park,” says Liz Williams, Celebration Event Manager, “Nanaimo‟s talent will be showcased on a local and international stage, which is very exciting thing for the community and our local performers.”

The celebration will start at 5:30pm with performances by Illusion Entertainment Group, VIBE Dance Group, Snuneymuxw Dancers and Drummers, and the SkyHigh Academy on the pavilion stage. At about 6:45pm the focus of the event will shift to the VANOC stage. This mobile stage is one of two that will be rolling across the country for the coming months. The stage itself measures over thirty feet and that is before the 6 meter video screen is taken into account. The stage and equipment has been likened to the stage used by U2 on their tour. The crew‟s resume includes shows for Britney Spears and other big name acts.

Local performers and officials will be featured on this stage as well. Hailing from Vancouver Island, the foursome known as Stereoplane will deliver a unique blend of pop/rock. Members Paul, Julian, Ian, and Aaron got together in 2005 to start writing and performing. They will perform twice throughout the evening and promise to be high energy featuring some popular covers and some of their own work from their album „Everything you don‟t have‟.

VIBE dance group will also take to the stage with. VIBE Dance Studio is a well respected local studio. These talented young dancers specialize in the popular street dance (hip hop) style. Many of who have gone on to be a part of major concert tours and performances.

Soloist Sarah Taylor entered a competition held earlier this past summer to audition to perform our national anthem at the event and blew the judges away. Sarah is new to the island and is thrilled to be a part of such a huge community event. Sarah will perform O Canada in both official languages unaccompanied.

Coco-cola and RBC are the title sponsors of the torch relay and are sponsoring main stage performances that will travel for the duration of the relay. At this point the details of the acts have not been released, other than we can expect to be dazzled by the artistic displays and will be energized.

The Olympic Torch Relay will begin its cross Canada journey on Friday, October 30th in Victoria and arrives in Nanaimo on the 31st. For more information about the event please visit www.nanaimo.ca or call 250 756 5200.

For More Information About The Torch Relay Route and Free Bus Service Use This Nanaimo INFO LINK.