Olympic Torch Relay visits Leamington!

So today the Olympic Torch made it's way to Leamington, as part of a long swing into southwestern Ontario before looping back and heading north. For those of you who are not Canadian, or who have simply not been paying attention....the Olympic Torch has been travelling across Canada on a long journey from the Atlantic Ocean on Newfoundland eastern shores, to its final destination at the Pacific Ocean and the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Oh sure, there are more extravagant Torch festivities in Windsor tonight, but there was something more satisfying about watching it make its way down Erie Street right here. The Torch also made a stop at nearby Point Pelee National Park, to touch the waters of Lake Erie at the southern-most point in mainland Canada.

They ran the Torch on foot along the top end of Leamington, on its way to a community gathering at the Sherk Centre. A large and raucous crowd greeted the Torch, including local alt-rocker Jody Raffoul delighting all in attendance with a unique cover of Stompin' Tom's "The Ketchup Song".

They saved the best for last, however. After leaving the Sherk, the Mayor of Leamington drove the Torch-bearer down the main drag, as she stood atop a tomato harvester pulled behind a tractor. What better way to pass by all the many windows at the huge Heinz plant???

Hey, they don't call us the Tomato Capital of Canada for nothing!!!!

The flame enters town at the top end of Erie Street

Erie Street South welcomes the Torch

The Torch-bearer atop a tomato harvester