Typical Squamish rains could not douse the Paralympic flame or the enthusiasm displayed by the 500 people filling downtown streets to cheer on 28 torchbearers Sunday (March 7).

Squamish was one of 13 communities to host Canada’s first winter Paralympic Torch Relay, which started in Ottawa March 3 and finishes today (March 12) at Vancouver’s BC Place.

The Squamish Nation ignited the flame during a traditional fire ceremony at Totem Hall before paddling a small lantern by canoe across the Mamquam Blind Channel.

“One of the things I’m most proud of is that we are collected here today in this wonderful liquid sunshine to bring home the flame, to light the cauldron,” said Chief Gibby Jacob.

“The flame, whether it be for the Olympics or for this Paralympic event, has united this great country of ours like no other event in the history of this great country.”

Local 70-year-old marathon runner Mae Palm lit her torch from the lantern at the main stage of RBC plaza and took off from one of the most exciting start lines of her career.

Swept up in the moment, Palm passed the pace vehicle carrying VANOC cameramen.

“It was amazing. I felt like an Olympian, it was just so exciting,” said Palm after her relay leg. “The whole thing is very emotional, just meeting all the people that are involved in it today. I could cry a river.”

The team of torchbearers exchanged the flame at four points along a looped course on Winnipeg Street, Second Avenue, Victoria Street and Cleveland Avenue.

Chief publisher Tim Shoults passed the flame to fellow Squamish resident Bruce Lebans, a volunteer ski instructor for persons with disabilities for the last 14 years. Although he fills the role as teacher, the 75-year-old said he has learned a tremendous amount from his students as he’s witnessed athletics help them transcend their disabilities in a life-altering way.

“It’s very interesting the change in people once they get out there. Some of them may have had an accident and thought they’d never ski again and others never have skied and never thought they could ski, and they come out and find out that they can ski,” said Lebans.

“I’ve noticed a considerable difference in their approach from when they first come until they actually get to that step. It’s almost a change in personality.”

Grade 12 Howe Sound Secondary student and Squamish Nation member Thomas Harry passed the flame to Sarah Tipler who represented the Sea to Sky Corridor as a torchbearer at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Tipler, the driving force behind establishing the District of Squamish’s Accessibility Committee, said carrying the torch at home is extra special and allowed her to reunite with friend and fellow Beijing torchbearer Bruce Gilmour, a blind former summer Paralympic athlete who lit the local cauldron.

“When you actually hear all the inspirational stories and what it means to everyone, it’s really touching. Similar to the Paralympic movement, it’s really here to inspire. And you’d be hard pressed to not be inspired today,” said Tipler.

Other local torchbearers included Relay for Life co-ordinator Tamsyn Morote and Squamish Nation member Eileen Jacobs. Local torch relay organizing committee members Margo Dent and Dave Thomson got the call at the last minute to fill in for two absent bearers.

Brad Zdanivsky, known for becoming the only quadriplegic to climb the Stawamus Chief, wheeled the flame with the monolith as his background.

“We’re trying to get a sport like rock climbing accessible for people, which is really an event where there’s not someone at the top with champagne bottles or anything. There’s no competition except for do you get to the top or not,” said Zdanivsky, who reached the Chief’s summit in 2005 after 10 years of testing and improving climbing devices.

“But I know three or four people that have gold medals in basketball and rugby and stuff, and those guys work just as hard as any of the other athletes. They deserve just as big of a party.”

The Paralympic torch celebration featured live music, an impressive balancing act by trials rider Ryan Leech and speeches from MP John Weston, MLA Joan McIntyre and Mayor Greg Gardner.