When the Olympic Flame arrives in Orangeville in just 93 days, it will be proudly carried by Bryon Mackie, chosen as the community torchbearer to light the celebration cauldron for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.

"We're pleased to announce Bryon Mackie as Orangeville's torchbearer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games," said Mayor Rob Adams.

"This is a once-in-alifetime opportunity for Mr. Mackie as one of 12,000 Canadians chosen to carry the Olympic Flame on the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history."

The mayor said he has forged "an outstanding career as a boxer, putting Orangeville on the map as a boxing community. He won one Canadian title as an amateur and three Canadian professional titles. He has continued to give back to his sport by turning to the coaching ranks."

He has worked to create a successful local boxing team, and he has coached and mentored many Canadian teams for international boxing tournaments.

From 2001, when he opened his gym (Big Tyme Fitness & Boxing), until his induction in Orangeville's Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, Bryon coached 12 boxers to Canadian titles. In 2003, he was named the youngest recipient of Boxing Ontario's Coach of the Year Award.

Born in Toronto, Bryon has lived in Orangeville most of his life. He attended Parkinson Centennial and Springbrook elementary schools and Orangeville District Secondary School.

He was inspired by the "Rocky" movies so he jumped right in to boxing.

To participate in the Olympics, he said, is every kid's dream. "I always wanted to go and I was close. I was in the top five in the country as an amateur."

Two current Canadian champions are on the Orangeville team.

Mr. Mackie is excited to be the community's torchbearer, to carry the Olympic Flame into the Orangeville celebration on December 28th.

"When I was notified the hair stood up on the back of my neck," he said. "It's such an honour. It's going to be awesome."

Bryon and his wife Jodi have two children, Brooklyn, 8, and Maycie, 4.

To celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Flame, the community is planning a spectacular celebration on an outdoor stage at the Tony Rose Memorial Sports Centre and the adjacent fields.