Civic Appreciation Award winner to represent City as Official Olympic Torchbearer

An award-winning University of Ottawa student has been chosen to be the City of Ottawa’s official Olympic torchbearer. Ottawa resident Mélissa Brunet will represent the City when the Olympic Torch Relay comes to Ottawa next month.

This is the second honour this year for 19 year-old Brunet. In May she was presented the City’s Citizen of the Year Award for Youth in recognition of her extensive volunteer work and contributions to the community at large. The fluently bilingual science student has dedicated many volunteer hours to a number of causes including Ottawa Public Health’s Exposé smoke-free youth initiative, the Special Olympics, Roger's House and the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. She also volunteers many hours at libraries, blood donor clinics and as a Jiu-Jitsu instructor.

“I am honoured to be chosen by the City and I look forward to running in the Olympic Torch Relay,” said Brunet. Her selection was announced at today’s City Council meeting.

The Olympic Torch Relay is scheduled to come to Ottawa from Saturday, December 12 until Monday, December 14, 2009. The visit is being held as part of the Olympic torch’s 45,000-kilometre journey across Canada that will culminate with the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron next February during the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

“Mélissa Brunet is an outstanding young person who contributes extensively to our community,” said Mayor Larry O’Brien. “We are very proud that she will be representing Ottawa in the Olympic Torch Relay.”

As official torchbearer, Mélissa Brunet will kick off the City’s welcoming ceremony on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 2:16 p.m. Brunet will run the torch to Marion Dewar Plaza in front of City Hall at 110 Laurier Avenue West where she will be greeted by Mayor Larry O’Brien and local dignitaries. Residents are invited to attend this free event.

More details on the exact route that the Olympic Torch Relay will take through Ottawa will be announced in the coming weeks.

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