The Organising Committee stated that "[t]his relay is distinct from typical relays as it will happen in and around the Celebration Communities".[1] A celebration ceremony will be organised at each stop of the relay, involving the community.
In Ottawa, the celebration was a Lighting Ceremony, during which "the local
First Nations communities of the
Algonquins of
Pikwàkanagàn and
Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg" would light the Flame. The Torch would then travel to
Parliament Hill. At the end of the day, it was to be extinguished, to be relit on March 4 by the local First Nations of its next stop.[3]
Rick Goodfellow, "executive director of the non-profit organization Challenge Community Vocational Alternatives; provider of employment support and training to people with disabilities in
Yukon"[5]
Jeff Adams, six-time Paralympian, "one of Canada's leading wheelchair athletes" in track and field[7]
Brian Gray, a local community coach in hockey and several other sports in Esquimalt; he has
cerebral palsy[8]
Peter Lawless, director of the Coaches Association of British Columbia and Coaches of Canada, founder of "the first wheelchair athletic training group on Vancouver Island"; he has trained several successful athletes with disabilities[8]
Heather Stewin, visually impaired founder of "Storytime in the Park", "a program dedicated to addressing literacy issues in the community" in Hope, British Columbia[10]
Bonita Sawatzky, associate professor in orthopaedics (in the spine division) at the University of British Columbia, competitive cyclist with a disability[12]
Eron Main, Secretary General of the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation, on the Board of the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association
Tracey Keith, wife of Steven Keith, Director, Olympic Activation at Suncor Energy
Michelle Stilwell, Canadian Paralympian, wheelchair racing and wheelchair basketball
Senator
Joyce Fairbairn, former Chair of "Friends of the Paralympics", chair of Canadian Paralympic Foundation
Ozzie Sawicki, founder and president of Pozitive Results Sport Strategies Inc. Head Coach and Program Director for the Canadian Disabled Alpine Ski Team from 2000 to 2004, Head Coach of the Canadian Para-Athletics (Track and Field) Program with Athletics Canada, sits on Boards for the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Coaches of Canada, the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation, and Coach Alberta
Lauren Barwick, Canadian Paralympian, para-dressage equestrian
Sonia Gaudet, Canadian Paralympian, wheelchair curling, ambassador for the Rick Hansen Foundation, CPC, VANOC
Cindy Crapper, record-setting track and field thrower, member of the International Day for People with Disabilities Celebration, BC Sport Group, BCRPA, City of Vancouver's Sport Strategy, Active Communities Initiatives, CAAWS; Women in Leadership and a member of the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association
Elisabeth Walker-Young, four-time Paralympian, member of the Athlete and Coach Selection Committee for
Para-swimming Swimming Canada, Classification Specialist for VANOC for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games