Mayor presents Pan Am torchbearer with official torch

Bob Rogers, longtime healthy community advocate for Sudbury was presented with the 2015 Pan Am games torch on June 23.

Rogers was Sudbury's official torchbearer for the 2015 games and he now has a keepsake to last him a lifetime along with the memories he has stored.

Before business got underway at a regular meeting of council, Mayor Brian Bigger presented Rogers with the actual torch that he carried and lit the cauldron with on stage at the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre on June 2.

Rogers was emotional back on June 2, stating, “It was a huge privilege to be recognized as a person to represent your community,” Rogers said. “I'm blown away by it.”

His emotions came to the fore once more on June 23 before council and those in attendance.

“I was flattered when I was first asked to take on this responsibility and when I had that experience I was honoured, but most of all I was humbled,” said Rogers. “I was humbled to represent what I continue to say is a great city, so please accept my thanks for asking me to take on that responsibility.”

The 79-year-old, has been active in the local healthy community movement for more than 20 years,

This wasn't Rogers' first time being involved in such a grand celebration. He served as the assistant Chef de Mission for Canada’s Olympic Team at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.

The once in a lifetime keepsake will not gather dust in a recreation room says Rogers, who plans to have the torch shared with the community.

“This belongs to Sudbury, I've already begun discussions with people on how this can be shared and anybody who wants to hold the torch or have photos with themselves or a group can get in touch with me,” said Rogers.

“I was not alone in carrying Sudburys torches and I want to make it known that it was a group of us and all I can say is thank you for making me feel so humble and so proud.”