Prince George's Bel Canto Youth Choir has been selected to perform at the Olympic Torch Relay celebration in the city.
Bel Canto is among 200 choirs across Canada selected by the 2010 Olympic Organizing Committee to perform the Olympic Torch Relay Anthem at celebrations across the nation.
About 50 Bel Canto members will sing There's A Light, a piece composed especially for the torch relay events by Canadian Gregory Charles.
"It is a tremendous honour and privilege for the youth of Prince George to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime event which will represent northern BC to the world", said Jaclyn Riemer, Belcanto Choir director.
Reimer said There's A Light speaks of the symbolic nature of fire and establishes the Olympic Flame as a light that comes from the North -- from Canada -- a country that has long maintained the need for peace and understanding. With its reputation as a mosaic of cultures and peoples, Canada is a perfect example of potential unity.
The song reminds us that the Olympic Flame calls all nations to send their best and brightest so that the Olympians may inspire us, not only as individual nations, but as one united world people, Reimer said of the song that features a mixture of styles from pop to gospel, and includes English, French and Huron languages.
The torch relay in Prince George Friday begins at 5:09 p.m. at Van Bien elementary school, proceeds along Ferry Avenue, Westwood Drive and Massey Drive to the Civic Centre Plaza and follows 15th Avenue to Exhibition Park.
Entertainment at 6 p.m. will be followed by the cauldron-lighting ceremony at 7 p.m., and fireworks about 8 p.m. will end the evening with a bang.
--btrick@pgcitizen.ca
