Stittsville torchbearer brings the torch to the Valley
Posted Mar 12, 2010 By Theresa Fritz
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EMC News - Two days after the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games ended, the Olympic spirit was alive and well in Arnprior - thanks to William Watt.
EMC Associate Editor Theresa Fritz couldn't miss the opportunity to hold the Olympic torch and pose for a photo with William Watt.
Watt, a native of Arnprior and a resident of Stittsville, came to town with the Olympic torch he carried as an Olympic torchbearer. He was one of 12,000 people who had the honour of being torchbearer and carried the Olympic flame in Carleton Place Dec. 13 as it made its 45,000 kilometre cross country trek to Vancouver for the Winter Games.
Watt is the son of Norm and Elta Watt of Rhoddy's Bay and is a graduate of Arnprior District High School. Norm Watt told the EMC that after his son ran in Carleton Place, more than 100 people went back to his house in Stittsville for a celebration and for a chance to see and hold the torch as well as have their photo taken with it.
"He was invited by the mayor (Terry Gibeau) to come back to his hometown with the torch," his mother Elta said of last week's visit.
During his time in Arnprior, Watt and the torch visited both Tim Hortons stores, Jack and Faith's No Frills, the fire hall at the Stanley Tourangeau Fire/Police Services Centre and the Royal Bank. The point of Watt's visit was to allow local citizens to see the torch up close and get a photo if they wanted to, which is what most people chose to do.
"I'm just the messenger," Watt said, adding he was not doing this for any personal gain, only to make the torch and the Olympic moment accessible to everyone.
Watt was one of two RBC Travel Insurance employees in Canada chosen (he in the east and the other in the west) to carry the torch.
Unlike many other torchbearers, Watt did not apply to be part of the once-in-a-lifetime experience but rather he was nominated by his employer for the role without his knowledge and was selected by RBC as a reward for his work as a business development manager. His work sees him work with travel agents on behalf of RBC Travel Insurance across eastern Ontario.
Presenting partners Coca-Cola and RBC led the public torchbearer selection process.
"I have a lot of great memories," he said of his part in the historic torch run.
In fact, since that time, he has spoken to school children about the experience and is always happy to don the torchbearer gear and share the moment with members of the public.
"It's been quite an experience," Watt said. "It's a little piece of history."
The Olympic torch passed through Arnprior Dec. 13, the same day Watt ran in Carleton Place. Hundreds of people lined the streets to watch the flame winds its way downtown before a brief stop outside the town hall.
The torch then continued on its way to Vancouver where its journey culminated with retired NHL-superstar Wayne Gretzky's lighting of the Olympic cauldron along the Vancouver waterfront at the start of the Winter Olympic Games.
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