Torch greeted with excitment and protest in Nelson

NELSON, B.C. – Called community celebrations, they often resemble a cross between a religious revival meeting and a pep rally.

They are held nightly as the Olympic torch wends its way across the country. The one here in this Kootenays city was no different. The stage was alight with performers and faces glowed in the crowd as a star attraction came running in with the flame.

Saturday night, it was former NHLer and Nelson resident Bill McDonnell who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Philadelphia Flyers.

The words spoken on stage are mostly the same. They are all about welcoming the torch to the local community, about the spirit of the Olympics, about the Olympic flame being a beacon of hope.

Mostly, they are just one big street party and a place for families to go with kids. They are a lot of fun if nothing else.

The final torch bearer who lights the cauldron on stage, in this case McDonnell, is usually a local who is greeted like a rock star. The local MP and other dignitaries are dutifully called up on stage to do their part.

Some people in the crowd are alive with the fervour of the Olympics. Others are a little ambivalent. It's such a glitzy show, they aren't sure what to make of it.

Bonnie Bullen, who was there with her eight-year-old son Matthew, seemed to have mixed feelings. She felt it was quite neat how the celebrations are drawing people together but she felt that a lot of money is being spent for the occasion. She enjoyed the fact that all the local schools marched down to the local civic centre to celebrate and that the kids had made their own torches.

But still . . . what to make of such a glitzy celebration?

Blaine Beranek of Elkford, B.C., had no such ambivalence. He had been chosen to run the torch here because of his work with Tech Resources and his work in the community as a volunteer. He coaches both of his boys' hockey teams.

He loved running the torch in Nelson. His three kids ran alongside him.

Vanoc staff, along with those of the two key sponsors – Coca Cola and RBC – do everything they can to hype the Olympic fervour. “Let's make some noise,” they shout. “Let's wave your flags in the air,” they shout.

And people dutifully shout and wave their flags in the air.

Still, the ambivalence lingers.

With her one-year-old child on her back, Jennifer St. Denis admitted the whole thing was “pretty cool, awesome,” then quickly added, “I'm not sure of it yet.” She did enjoy seeing so many people having a lot of fun, however.

Her partner, Marc Savard, with five-year-old Kian on his back, was also measured in his response. He wasn't sure they would attend the celebration. But “it's a once in a lifetime thing to see the torch,” said the French teacher.

RCB is quick to tout their sponsorship and their good works. And why not? On Friday, they announced they were donating $1 million to relief efforts in Haiti. Hard to argue with that.

Yet a crowd of about 30 protesters felt that the whole thing was a waste of money at a time of cutbacks. They felt it was an extravaganza that ill befits the humble, hardworking, honest, but intelligent, idealistic people of the region.

Said Sandra Nelken, a protest organizer, “We're paying for a party we can't afford to attend.”

Public education could use the money, she added.

Echoing that view, protester Anthony Hill said the money could be better spent. He felt corporations had taken over what should be a community event.

“It seems like it's the Coca Cola show,” he lamented.

And, indeed, there are Coca Cola signs everywhere – the flags, the lit-up Coca Cola bottles and the young enthusiastic Coca Cola and RBC public relations people who keep calling. They say they have stories to tell.