Former Olympian travels
across Canada to carry the flame
 JAIME Cruickshank holding the Olympic torch at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.
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“Being a torch bearer didn’t change my life
but it made me feel extremely proud.
I was happy to have been able to be
a part of that journey for my peers,
friends, teammates and fellow Olympians
as their dreams become reality this February.”
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
On my way through Pearson International Airport in Toronto recently, I stopped for a bite to eat prior to my flight to Vancouver.
While relaxing, I noticed a young woman come into the restaurant carrying a long thin box. She sat at the table in front of me and put the package against the wall. She seemed concerned about it and spent some time ensuring that it was secure.
Two men at the bar began talking to the woman and then I noticed her carefully opening the box and taking out an Olympic torch – it still had the smoke marks from where it had been lit.
Everyone in the restaurant was suddenly alert and having a look at the torch. Since I had my camera with me, I asked if I could take a picture for The Celtic Connection.
Jaime Cruickshank had been one of the Olympic torch relay runners just that morning in Summerside, PEI, and she was on her way back to Whistler.
She certainly had the attention of fellow travellers at the airport as she posed for the photo wearing her official Olympic jacket and holding the torch high.
I was curious why she had run the torch relay in PEI if she lived in Whistler.
She explained that she is a former Olympic competitor herself and it was her passion for the Games that spurred her to participate in the torch relay.
“It’s a rather long story,” she said, “but I’m from Saskatchewan and very proud of my roots. Originally, I applied to run in Saskatchewan but wasn’t chosen for whatever reason. Then I applied again to run in Whistler but didn’t respond fast enough, so again I was super disappointed.
“Then, I received a letter from Olympians Canada that listed spots for past Olympians – I am a bobsled Olympian. The only spot that I recognized on the list was PEI, so I signed up quick.
“I knew it was really over the top to fly all the way from the west coast to the east coast to run with the torch but this was a once in a lifetime experience, and I wasn’t about to pass it up.
“I used my Aeroplan miles to get to the east coast and my old friend and bobsleigh teammate Heather Moyse set me up with some friends.”
Cruickshank said that while she was excited to be running with the torch, she still felt a little sad because it would have been great to share the experience with her family and hometown community.
“But,” she said, “before I knew it, a mini community had formed around me in PEI and wonderful new friends were excitedly cheering me on. That is the magic of the Olympic flame.
“It has the power to bring people together to share in the excitement and the awe of this truly enchanting event. It has a bit of a fairytale magic to it that truly mesmerizes people.”
Jaime Cruickshank’s mother frames all her uniforms from the events that she has competed in. So far she has competed on the junior national team for gymnastics, track and field, the senior and Olympic team for bobsledding, and now she has carried the Olympic flame.
She said, “one of my favourite Olympic moments has been the opening ceremonies when the Olympic torch is ignited and bursts into flames. It is that moment when an Olympic hopeful becomes an Olympian.
“All the blood, sweat, tears, hard work, and sacrifices become worth it and you realize that you have just achieved one of the greatest feats in the sporting community and usually a lifelong goal.
“I will be working in Whistler for CTV during the Olympics on their research team as the sliding sport expert.
“Being a torch bearer didn’t change my life but it made me feel extremely proud. I was happy to have been able to be a part of that journey for my peers, friends, teammates and fellow Olympians as their dreams become reality this February.”
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