Olympic flame heading into Sackville on Monday

Local residents are invited to catch the Olympic spirit next week as the much-anticipated torch relay rolls through town.

The Olympic flame will make its way through Sackville on Monday, Nov. 23.

"This is an exciting event for our community. To be able to participate in the most ambitious torch relay in the history of the Olympics, it's really cool to be a part of that," said Rebecca Leaman, Sackville's manager of programs and special events

The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola and RBC, began its 106-day Canadian journey on Oct. 30. The relay route will be the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history, stretching over 45,000 kilometres throughout Canada and being welcomed in over 1,000 communities.

"To have Sackville as a stop is pretty exciting," said Leaman.

The torch relay is expected to arrive in town at about 3:15 p.m. on Monday and will make its way to the civic centre, where the convoy and crew will be stopping for a brief rest and refreshments.

At 3:50 p.m., the torch will wind its way through the streets of Sackville - heading out on Main Street, to York Street and across Lansdowne Avenue, across Union Street back over to Main and then to Bridge Street, where it will head back onto the highway.

Leaman said residents are invited to visit the event at the civic centre or to line the streets that afternoon to witness the "fanfare" of the Olympic torch parade.

Earlier that day, the torch will arrive in New Brunswick via the Confederation Bridge at about 10 a.m. It will arrive in Port Elgin at about 10:30 where a Can-Am Spyder Roadster will be used to transport the flame into the village.

Then it's off to Cap-PelÉ, followed by Shediac for a lunchtime celebration featuring Acadian music, dance and culture. From there, the flame goes to Memramcook and then makes its arrival in Sackville for the afternoon before turning back to Metro Moncton for an evening ceremony at the city's new track stadium.

The flame's cross-country trek will culminate on Feb. 12, 2010 when it arrives in Vancouver for the Olympic Winter Games' opening ceremony before a global viewing audience of billions.