The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay made Cranbrook a resting area following Day 237, which saw a host of medal bearers, among the 7,000 taking part in the cross-Canada relay, moving from Marysville to the Key City.

With RCMP cruisers’ warning lights flashing, music playing from accompanying vehicles in the cross-country caravan and medal bearers, wearing bright yellow windbreakers, walking, rolling and running, the relay procession made for a curious and interesting sight for folks in Cranbrook circa 3 p.m., April 16.

The relay moved into the city down the famous strip and turned at the Cranbrook Arch to make its way to Rotary Park, where an end of day celebration took place.

As with each end-of-day stop on this epic re-tracing of a legendary moment in Canadian history, when Rick Hansen showed to all human-kind that a disability does not have to disable, a warm, festive mood prevailed among the roughly 140 people on hand. (Click on images to enlarge and to engage slide show)

VIPS such as Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks, City of Cranbrook Mayor Wayne Stetski and others addressed the crowd. After the singing of the National Anthem, the traditional end-of-day stretch/dance was held, with the group of yellow-clad Kimberley-to-Cranbrook medal bearers leading the way.

The relay took a day off, of sorts , today (April 18), only making stops at city schools. It heads west again tomorrow, after stops at Laurie Middle School and Mount Baker Secondary School.

The relay is scheduled to arrive in Moyie at about 10:58 a.m., before it continues its final month heading toward the Lower Mainland.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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