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(Updated 9:30
a.m., Dec. 13)
Olympic torch
experience 'out of this world', says Orléans student
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
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 Nineteen-year-old
Orléans resident Melissa Brunet smiles through the Olympic flame after lighting
a ceremonial cauldron during a welcoming ceremony at Ottawa City Hall on
Saturday. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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For 19-year-old
Orléans resident Melissa Brunet, having the opportunity to light the ceremonial
Olympic cauldron during a ceremony welcoming the Olympic torch to Ottawa
City Hall on Saturday was an Olympic experience she will never forget.
"It was
so amazing.So special. It was out of this world," said Brunet who is
a biology student at the University of Ottawa. "To hear everyone cheering
and encouraging you and coming together for the Olympics. It was something
I will never forget. It's
a once in a lifetime experience."
As Brunet arrived
on the red carpet outside City Hall just after 2 p.m. she was met by several
hundred flag waving supporters. As she proceeded along the red carpet to
the main stage where a number of local politicians and diginitaries were
waiting including 1988 silver medalist Elizabeth Manley, she high-fived
several friends who she recognized in the crowd along the way, jumped and
cheered.
Once on the main
stage she paused for a moment before lighting the ceremonial Olympic cauldron.
After waving to the crowd and soaking in the moment, she took her seat beside
Olympic legend Barbara Ann Scott.
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Olympic
torch bearer Melissa Brunet from orleans stands beside Olympic legend Barbara
Ann Scott during a welcoming ceremony at Ottawa City Hall. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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Brunet admitted
she didn't get a lot of sleep on Friday night. Her biggest fear was tripping
on the red carpet. She needn't have worried because her feet barely touched
the ground.
"It was
so exhilirating. To be part of this is really something special," said
Brunet who was awarded the honour of carrying the torch to City Hall largely
based on her receiving the Citizen of the Year Award for youth in 2009.
She has volunteered
for number of activities including Exposé, a smoke-free youth project,
and the Special Olympics. She has also worked with autistic children as
a camp monitor and has volunteered many hours at libraries, blood donor
clinics, and as a jiu-jitsu instructor.
On Sunday the
torch will travel up the Ottawa Valley to Carleton Place, Arnprior. Renfrew,
Petawawa and Pembroke. It will pass through Orleans early Monday morning
staring at the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Centre at 7:30 p.m. The torch relay
will pass along St. Joseph Blvd. to the East Division Police Station where
it is scheduled to arrive at 8:01 a.m. It will also make a brief appearance
in Rockland between 8:24 a.m. and 8:34 a.m.
(This story
was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local
business partners.)
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