Orangeville's Torch Relay celebration will feature a special tribute to area Olympians on December 28. Eleven area Olympians who have confirmed that they will be present for the ceremony represent a wide range of ages and sports. Roland Kirouac, who is producing and choreographing the celebration show, says it's the Canadian character not to make a big deal of our Olympians. "In the U.S. the athletes come home to a parade, to television appearances, and to their photos on cereal boxes. In Canada, the athletes come home and go back to their jobs." Local Olympians who will be centre stage at Orangeville's celebration are Keith Beavers, Brad Bowden, Bernadette Bowyer, Jim Hayes, Al Pilcher, Allan Reddon, Ken Stittle, Virginia Ridpath, Gary Vipond, Chris Walker and Jim Worrall. Mr. Worrall, now of Toronto, was the Canadian flagbearer and competed in the 150 Orangeville 519-EYE 110- and 400-metre hurdles in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. Today, at 95, he is one of our oldest living Olympians. He continued to serve the country's Olympic team from 1948 through to 1960 as either an assistant chef de mission or chef de mission.

Mr. Worrall served as the president of the Canadian Olympic Association from 1961 to 1968 and was a member of the International Olympic Committee from 1967-89. He was the executive member of the Organizing Committee for the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. For Keith Beavers, being inducted into the Orangeville Sports Hall of Fame is a special memory for the Olympic swimmer. 'From my days as a novice swimmer, to my high school years, and even after I left in 2001 to swim in 2 FOR 1 Orangeville Opticians SALE! EXAMS ARRANGED First Street Mall 941-0602 Waterloo, the town and area have always shown interest and pride in my accomplishments, which I sincerely appreciate." He placed 16th in the 400 individual medley and 12th in the 200 backstroke in Athens in 2004; and seventh in the 200 individual medley, ninth in the

400 individual medley, and 12th in the 200 backstroke in Beijing in 2008. Orton's Brad Bowden was a member of the gold medalwinning wheelchair basketball team in 2004 and, in 2006, he was the Gold medalist with the sledge hockey team. He will compete in sledge hockey in Vancouver in 2010. He scored the game-winning sledge hockey goal at the 2006 Paralympics in Torino and was named the most valuable player at the 2008 World Championships in Boston, after helping Canada to victory against Norway by setting up the game-winning goal. Bernadette (Casey) Bowyer of Mono competed in the 1992 Barcelona Games in field hockey. Her team placed seventh. She competed in the Canada Summer Games in 1985 for Ontario Women's Field Hockey, achieving a bronze medal. She started playing for the Canadian National Team in 1983 and in 1986 was on the first reserve Canadian World Cup team. In 1986 she became a nationally carded athlete. In 1987 her team placed fourth in the Four Nations Tournament in Colchester, England. In 1988, she was on the first reserve Olympic team in Seoul, Korea, and placed fourth in Mees and Hope International in Holland.

In 1989, Ms. Bowler was named the University of Toronto's Female Athlete of the Year and she competed in the 1991 Pan American Games in Cuba, winning a silver medal; and sixth place in the 1991 World University Games in Sheffield, England. Jay Hayes has been member of the Canadian Equestrian Team since 1985 and has represented Canada at every major event, including the 1992 and 2000 Olympic Games.

He has also competed in six World Cup finals, 30 Nations Cups, two World Championships, and is the 2008 Kubota Cup Champion. He trained for the Olympics throughout Canada.

He lists his hometown as Orangeville, having moved to Mono in 2005. He was born and raised on a dairy farm near Hartford, Connecticut, and began riding at age 12. He competed in the highly competitive junior jumper division and went on to play intercollegiate polo.

Al Pilcher made a name for himself in cross-country skiing. A two-time winter Olympian, Al competed in cross-country skiing in Calgary in 1988 and Albertville in 1992.

His feats include a seventh place finish in the 50km, 1989 Nordic World Championships, Finland (best ever Canadian male result), the best ever Canadian relay result, Calgary 1988 Olympics (9th place), two-time Canadian and two-time North American Nordic champion.

He has won over 40 races in Nordic skiing, cycling, triathlons and duathlons.

Allan Reddon of Orangeville was a World Championship team member from 1981 to 1987 and competed in the Olympics in 1984 and 1988. He placed seventh in vaulting and the team placed seventh in the 1984 Olympics, and he was the national champion in 1985.

Virginia (Grant) Ridpath of Mono was a member of Canada's swim team in the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. She placed fifth in the 100 metres freestyle and was the first woman swimmer to earn points for Canada in an individual swimming event.

She set a world record for 100 yards freestyle at the 1956 Olympic trials held in Toronto.

Ms. Ridpath also competed in the 1954 British Empire Games, in Vancouver, placing second in the 100 metres freestyle. In the 1955 Pan American Games in Mexico City, She placed third in the 100 metres freestyle and the 400 metre relay, and the 400 metre medley relay.

Kevin Stittle of Collingwood competed in sailing in the 2008 Olympics. He was the 2008 Vice World Champion, ranked fifth in the world. Orangeville is his hometown and has trained throughout the world for the Olympics.

He is now training to compete in the 2012 summer Games, with qualifications to be decided in 2011.

Gary Vipond, of Orangeville, competed in the 1960 Olympics in Rome, on the Canadian Basketball Team.

He graduated from Toronto's Runnymede Collegiate Institute and has a Bachelor of Physical Education, a Master of Education and a Master Special Education from the University of Toronto. Chris Walker was member of the 1992 Paralympic team in Barcelona, competing in swimming (50 metres and 100 metres freestyle) Class B3 (blind). His first major competition was the 1989 U.S. Blind Sports Summer Games in Missouri where he won four medals.

This led to other swimming competitions across Canada including the 1989 Nationals in Richmond, B.C., 1990 Nationals in Etobicoke, and the 1991 Nationals in Brantford. He was also a member of the Ontario Goalball team and competed at the National level in this specialized sport developed for the blind and visually impaired.

Chris was raised in Orangeville, where his parents still reside. He attended Princess Margaret Public School.