TRURO – A sea of white will land in Victoria Park tonight with the Olympic flame.
The sea of white will be comprised of the 28 people who will be running with the torch Tuesday in Bible Hill and Truro. Each torchbearer is receiving a white tracksuit they will wear while carrying the torch.
Judy Brown is one of those lucky people who will be carrying the torch today. She will be among the first torchbearers carrying the torch down Pictou Road from the fitness centre to the RCMP detachment.
“It’s pretty exciting. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said proudly.
Brown was a proud Canadian when she watched the torch come through Bible Hill more than 20 years ago for the 1988 Olympics. She won’t be on the sidelines this time, she’ll be in the centre of the action.
“I think it’s going to be pretty special,” she said noting she has friends and family from across the province coming to see her special day.
“It’s just phenomenal.”
She applied in the winter but did not tell anyone. She kept the secret until receiving the final verification in early October.
“Since I got my confirmation I have told everyone,” she said.
Today is Day 19 of the torch’s 106-day journey from one end of the country to the other.
Colchester County’s portion of the torch relay starts at Village Line in Bible Hill and continues into Truro. The torch is set to arrive in Victoria Park, carried by well-known athlete and coach Bob Piers, at 7 p.m. Piers will then light the Olympic cauldron for the community celebration.
Festivities at the park start around 5:15 p.m.
Traffic is expected to be busy throughout the Truro-Bible Hill area tonight. Truro Mayor Bill Mills has a suggestion for people coming to the celebration that may reduce congestion downtown.
“We would encourage people to walk to the park,” he said.
People could park at the Truro Centre, the former Colchester Regional Development Agency’s office on Prince Street or other downtown locations.
Officials and volunteers will start preparing the Victoria Park site at 2 p.m. Mills said it has volunteers, including some from the Cobequid Educational Centre leadership program, assisting in setting up and dismantling items for the festivities.
Anyone interested in assisting can contact the town’s recreation department.
“Obviously, the more hands we have, the lighter the work,” Mills said.
Due to confidential rules, a complete list of torchbearers is not available.

jmalloy@trurodaily.com