Long-time city employee and Quesnel icon Dennis Baptiste will light the cauldron when the community holds its Olympic torch celebration on Friday afternoon.
Baptiste, who has been a city employee since 1974 and was named employee of the year at last weekend's chamber of commerce business excellence awards, will run the leg of the relay up Reid Street before it reaches the celebration stage just after 1 p.m.
The torch route through Quesnel begins in South Quesnel at 11:24 a.m., where it runs north on Highway 97. It makes its way to Alex Fraser Park by 11:55 a.m. and then travels through Johnston Subdivision before crossing over the Moffat Bridge into West Quesnel.
The torch visits several areas of West Quesnel before crossing the Fraser River Footbridge. It is then carried up Reid Street to the Spirit Square at 1:05 p.m.
The torch then travels through the downtown core and North Quesnel, before making its way north on Highway 97, wrapping up the run at 2:43 p.m.
Residents should stand on the right side of the road in the direction of the torch's travel for best viewing. A link to an interactive route map is available on the city's website, .
