Text by Marilyn Anderson, Photos by Toby Snelgrove
It was dark, crisp, and crowded when I got off the bus at the corner of Georgia and Denman Streets this morning. People were moving toward their "best guess" vantage points, many heading towards Stanley Park past the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club looking for the waterfront stretch where California’s adopted son – Governor Arnie – was soon going to run.
RVYC Commodore Sarah Howard was also taking a turn, originally mapped to be in front of the Club. She is a Woman of Distinction at RVYC, being the First Woman Commodore in the club’s history. Not bad – they’ve been in the water as a club since 1903!
- Denman morning, photo by Toby Snelgrove
On to Denman, and my planned Blenz rendezvous with fellow MBNS’ers Bonnie Sainsbury and Toby Snelgrove, for a team blog/photog Torch experience. What a great idea this was – and the most fun ever!
We got to talk to everyone! Toby’s camera was never out of focus unless he had his tape recorder in his hand. Bonnie’s watchful eyes were trained through her viewfinder….and I – well, as usual – I was listening to the stories unfolding around me, asking the occasional question and urging conversations along.
- we are Canadians #1, Toby Snelgrove photo
The most fun of all was simply watching the people: they came from every direction, in just about every way. There were seniors and strollers (the two-legged kind and the four-wheeled variety), people who "don’t do mornings" and numerous sponsor employees handing out ‘swag’. The overwhelming thing I noticed was the color! We have evidently discovered that "We are Canadian!" (to paraphrase a MacKenzie brother) and the street was awash in red – red hats, red shirts, red bags, red flags, maple-leaf logos on much of it – and in smiles and nods.
- Horse detachment, Toby Snelgrove photo
I have not seen so many mounted police in a long time; our Vancouver horses make an outstanding statement from street level – no wonder they are so good for crowd control. Then came trucks with lights and bells and whistles, and more police to back people off the street.
A "hand-off" point just down the block was a popular vantage point.
- Torch bearer, live; Toby Snelgrove photo
Finally, it came! just a few feet away was ‘our torch bearer’, smiling broadly….torch aloft……..and just as quickly down the block to hand his flame off……and the parade rolled along.
I have actually been to Olympia in Greece; it was remarkable to stand in that stadium’s ruins and imagine the parade of athletes there. To see ‘our flame’ today, and connect those dots, was a memory moment to share.
Marilyn Anderson is a Communications specialist with Vancouver social media firm, Duet Media.
Toby Snelgrove is a freelance photography based on Mayne Island and in Vancouver