The journey — to stir up enthusiasm for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver — started in Port Moody, B.C. on Sept. 21.
It is making its eighth stop at the Cooksville GO Station on Monday, Oct. 13 from 1-8 p.m. Olympic mascots Sumi, Quatchi and Miga will be on board the Canadian Pacific train.
The 10-stop, six-province tour is showcasing the Olympic experience with winter sport simulation activities and a wall-of-fame highlighting the journey of some great Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
There will be a kids zone and live boxcar entertainment by The Canadian Tenors, Juno award-winning blues artist Colin James, Kaylen and Kelly Prescott, and aboriginal celebrations featuring Sierra Noble and Dallas Arcand.
The event also features local talent and Olympic athletes including two-time ice hockey gold medalist Vicky Sunohara, boxer Mark Simmons and sledge hockey Paralympian Paul Rosen.
While the event is designed to stir up excitement for the Winter Games it also has been stirring up national protests.
The send-off in Port Moody was marred by about three dozen protesters shouting slogans about stolen native land and lack of housing.
The activists, who strongly oppose the staging of the games, have pledged to meet the train at every stop.
The Spirit Train is scheduled to stop in Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Mississauga and Smith Falls before ending its journey in Montreal Oct. 18.
jle@mississauga.net
