Richard Baptiste was chosen by Vincor Canada to carry the Olympic Torch on one part of its journey across Canada in 2010. His daughter Taylor will run at his side with a flag that represents the Osoyoos Indian Band. Photo by Diane Zorn – Special to the Osoyoos Times
OSOYOOS TIMES-July 22, 2009
By Diane Zorn – Special to the Osoyoos Times
As one of the official suppliers for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Vincor Canada offered its employees a chance to participate in the Olympic Torch Relay in a big way – by actually carrying the Olympic Flame.
Richard Baptiste of the Osoyoos Indian Band said he never expected that from more than 50 national submissions, that he would be one of the nine selected to represent the wine producer and marketer in the relay.
Baptiste has been a Vincor employee for 29 years and was nominated by two of his supervisors for his team participation and commitment to the company’s core values.
Three British Columbia Vincor employees were chosen— one from Oliver, one from Summerland and Baptiste, who lives in Osoyoos.
Six other people will represent Vincor in the eastern provinces.
“We found out at work on July 8,” Baptiste said. “They called us in to watch a DVD about the torch.
“There was an Olympic representative there and part way through they stopped the video to announce who the winners were.”
He said that some of his co-workers were close to tears when they offered congratulations, but to him the announcement did not quite seem real.
Baptiste’s first question to the Olympic representative was to ask if his 12-year-old daughter, Taylor, could run at his side to carry the band’s flag.
His request was granted.
Baptiste will be carrying the Olympic Torch as part of a relay linking 1,000 communities as it travels across Canada to the Games, which take place in Vancouver in February.
Baptiste said more details about his role in the relay will be coming, but at this point he knows that he is scheduled to be part of a two-to-three hour leg of the relay as it journeys through Osoyoos on Jan. 25, 2010 and that he will run with the torch for 300 metres.
“I just hope I don’t trip,” laughs Taylor, who added that she is excited to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
When asked what the honour meant to him, Baptiste responded with a smile.
“Well, now I don’t have to watch it on TV, I will be a part of it!”
The Olympic Torch will pass through Osoyoos on January 24 and 25, 2010, on its way to Vancouver.
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