National Post (National Edition)
Notable names launch the Games
It was an incredible crowd of boldface names who came together for a special and intimate celebration to launch the opening ceremonies of the Pan Am games in Toronto. The vibe was lively and fun — people had a chance to embrace the beginning of the Games and get some pictures with the Pan Am torch.
This kicked off a spectacular opening ceremony, produced by Cirque du Soleil, that brought the crowd to its feet. In front of a sold-out audience of 45,000, with hundreds of millions of international households watching the broadcast, a breathtaking performance ranged from the roots of Canada’s history, to the streets of modern-day Toronto to the pinnacle of the CN Tower.
Celebrating Canada’s diversity and rich history, 21 dance groups comprising 185 dancers, including 20 First Nations dancers from the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, Métis Nation of Ontario, the Six Nations of the Grand River and the Huron-Wendat Nation, all danced in unison to the aboriginalinspired electronic rhythms of DJ Shub.
Some notable attendees included Dan Aykroyd, Jason Priestley, Don McKellar, Kim Cattrall, Michael Budman, David Peterson, Saad Rafi Michael, Krystal Cooper and John Bitove as well as the Governor General David Johnston, former Ontario lieutenant-governor David Onley, Ontario Premier and Toronto Mayor John Tory.
“It was a spectacular launch to a great Games,” said Pan Am chairman “We brought together a number of wonderful people who have worked hard to make these Games happen. We had aboriginal Leaders, regional mayors, the Governor General, members of the corporate community and all levels of government for a beer and a hotdog on their way to watch an amazing show by Cirque du Soleil.”