A face, and voice, made familiar by the 2010 Olympic Winter Games is coming back to Richmond to celebrate another international sporting event.
Acclaimed Canadian jazz/pop singer Nikki Yanofsky will headline a fun-filled community event for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay Celebration June 14 at the Richmond Oval.
Richmond is one of five national cities outside of Ontario that the torch relay will visit.
Earlier on June 14, the Pan Am flame will visit historic Steveston Village, including the Steveston Community Centre. The flame will then be carried to the Richmond Olympic Oval for a fun-filled evening of entertainment and a special ceremony, including the lighting of the community cauldron.
Yanofsky, a multi-platinum Canadian recording artist, was the voice of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, performing the Canadian National Anthem and the 2010 Games anthem I Believe in front of 3.2 billion people.
The song had the highest first week sales of any Canadian artist in SoundScan history, and was certified five times platinum.
A sun-splashed line-up of performers will join Yanofsky on the Oval stage, including the Phase III Steel Drummers, Tropicana, Mariachi del Sol and the Top Line Vocal Collective. A visit by Pan Am mascot PACHI the Porcupine, food trucks, interactive sports and games and the Oval’s new urban beach playground will add to the fun.
Festivities run from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Oval with the flame scheduled to arrive at 7 p.m.
The Steveston Community Centre will host activities from 4 to 7 p.m. with a performance by marimba percussion band Kutapira, free barbecue, face painting and more.
The torch relay began on May 30 in Toronto and concludes on July 10 at the Opening Ceremony of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games. The games take place from July 10 to 26 and the Parapan Am Games from Aug. 7 to 15.
“The Pan Am and Parapan Games are among the largest sporting events in the world,” said Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “We look forward to sharing in the Pan Am spirit and providing a warm west coast welcome for the torch relay as we look forward to cheering on Canada and many of the world’s best athletes this summer.”
For more information, visit TORONTO2015.org/torch-relay
