Cochrane High School will be welcoming the Alberta Law Enforcement Torch Run (ALETR) on Feb. 8 as it hits the final leg of delivering the Special Olympics Flame of Hope before the opening ceremonies of the 2019 Special Olympics Alberta Winter Games later that evening at Winsport.
Over 900 athletes, coaches and mission staff from communities across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Northwest Territories will compete in the 2019 Special Olympics Alberta Winter Games in Calgary from Feb. 8 to 10.
The Torch Run is not only a salute to the athletes from around the province who will compete in the Special Olympics Winter Games, but also an honour for the participating law enforcement officers who comprise the Torch Run Final Leg team.
"Several law enforcement officers throughout the province are arriving tomorrow to deliver the Flame of Hope to various schools throughout Calgary, Airdrie and Cochrane in advance to the Special Olympics Alberta Winter Games that are taking place in Calgary this weekend," said lead organizer and seargent with the Calgary Police Katrina O'Reilly. "We're looking to kick off the event by lighting the cauldron in advance of the Winter Games."
"We have thousands of special Olympic athletes all over the province that participate in sports all year round. They're individuals with intellectual disabilities of all different ages and abilities and really the law enforcement connection is we help encourage the celebrate the diversity in our community. All the schools we're attending have programs of unified sports where everyone is included regardless of their abilities which is amazing and very special for us and for them."
While only members of the high school can attend the actual 11 a.m. event, O'Reilly encourages the community of Cochrane to meet outside the school doors in order to welcome the torch into the school.
