John Kurucz, Coquitlam NOW

The Tri-Cities Olympic torch relay route began to take shape Tuesday, exactly one month before the official kickoff of the Games.

Coquitlam's recreation, sports and culture committee received an updated route plan Monday, and while some details remain under wraps, a city staff report suggests the torch will begin in either Anmore or Belcarra at around 5 or 6 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11.

From there, it will pass through Port Moody at about 6 a.m., before moving past Coquitlam City Hall and into Port Coquitlam. After a loop through PoCo, the torch will return to Coquitlam for a community celebration at Mackin Park, dubbed Celebrate Coquitlam.
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The exact route, along with torchbearers, is being kept under wraps by VANOC until the last week of January, though plans for Coquitlam's celebration include musical performances by Les Jammers, Bobs and Lolo and Time Benders, among others.

Tentatively set to start at 11:50 a.m., the celebration will take place in the area near Mackin Park's tennis courts under an umbrella that can accommodate 800 people.

"People can expect an enormous crowd and enormous celebration," Mayor Richard Stewart said Tuesday. "I think it will be the largest crowd we'll have seen in Coquitlam."

Both Port Coquitlam and Port Moody are planning two separate celebrations on Feb. 11, with morning and evening events scheduled in both cities.

Area recreation manager Jill Lawlor said PoCo's first event of the day is scheduled between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. to coincide with the torch's arrival. Events planned for the Leigh Square party include a pancake breakfast, presentations by school groups and a performance by members of the Theatrix Youtheatre Society

PoCo's secondary party is slated to run from 6 to 8 p.m. at Leigh Square and will include a winter night market, local artists and vendors and a series of performers. The evening will close with a performance courtesy of the Public Dreams Fire Dancers.

Melissa Evanson, Port Moody's recreation, marketing and planning co-ordinator, said the city's plans for the morning of Feb. 11 are still being determined, though a free public skate at the recreation centre kicks off the evening's portion of celebrations from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., the Port Moody junior B Black Panthers will play an exhibition game against the Northern Lights, a junior team from Minnesota, and Global TV host Steve Darling will serve as the event's emcee.

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