Olympic Torch takes historic train ride

On November 7, 1885, one Donald A. Smith drove the last spike into the great transcontinental railway that would link British Columbia with eastern Canada. This historic event signaled the end of one era and the beginning of the next for the Canadian Pacific Railway and also for Canada.

Today, January 27, 2010, another historic event took place as the Canadian Pacific train carrying the 2010 Winter Olympic Torch and its entourage stopped at Craigellachie, the site where that last spike was pounded into the track one hundred and twenty-five years before.

The train carrying the the Torch arrived from Revelstoke at 8:30 am. and was met by local MP Colin Mayes, MLA George Abbott and Salmon Arm mayor, Marty Bootsma. Torchbearer Fred Green, the 16th president of the CPR, lit the cauldron at the back of the train and passed the Torch to CPR employee Randy Duka who carried it to the stone monument marking the last spike, then on a short walk into the small crowd that had gathered at the station. The Torch was then carried back onto the train which resumed its journey to the next stop in Canoe, BC, before heading to Salmon Arm.