Chief of the Defence Staff, General Walt Natynczyk running the Olympic Torch at CFB Esquimalt/More

Via Duncan Ayre:

More:

Government of Canada Supports National Defence and Canadian Forces Participation in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay [odd title that, they would, wouldn't they?]

Olympic flame arrives in Victoria

The famed Olympic torch relay for the 2010 Winter Olympics got off to a celebratory start here this morning, as first torchbearers Catriona Le May Doan and Simon Whitfield, both Olympic gold medallists, raised together the sleek white torch to the sky in front of large crowds at the provincial legislature, before heading off on the flame's 106-day, cross-country odyssey...

During the long homeward journey aboard a Canadian Forces airbus, the fire had been kept burning inside a small miner's lantern, entrusted for safekeeping to aboriginal flame attendants, Dina Ouelette and Aronhiaies Herne.

Four CF-18 jets [from 409 Squadron, Cold Lake] roared overhead as the flame - still in its lantern -- made its way by convoy to Victoria's scenic inner harbour, where three native canoes carried it across the water in spectacular fashion to the front of the stately legislature. The songs of the paddlers sounded clearly across the harbour, as they propelled their canoes forward...

CF-18s flying over our skies for Games security training

If you had to cover your ears as fighter jets roared overhead during yesterday's Olympic torch-lighting ceremony, you might have to get used to it -- a training exercise will see similar CF-18s flying over the Island next week.

NORAD is conducting training over Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland from Monday to Friday to prepare for RCMP-led security operations for the 2010 Winter Olympics [NORAD news release here]...