The Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) is remaining relatively tightlipped about specifics on the Canada-wide Olympic torch relay that kicks off Oct. 30.

But details are emerging about the route the flame will take as it passes through the Capital Region.

Alice Bacon, spirit co-ordinator for the Greater Victoria Spirit Committee, said the flame will turn heads everywhere it goes as it travels down main roads. For safety purposes, “rolling road closures” will pre-empt the flame’s arrival in communities.

“In general, the road closures will be brief,” she said. “Depending on the flow of traffic, the road will be closed for a short period of time before the arrival, and as soon as it moves through, the road is reopened. There will be interruptions to traffic flow throughout the region that day.”

The flame, transported to Canada in a lantern from Athens, Greece, will light an Olympic cauldron to mark the kickoff of Canada’s three-month relay. Most communities the flame will pass through on the Island will host some sort of event to mark the occasion, with a much larger party in the Inner Harbour to be held on the Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The flame begins its journey on the steps of the legislature in Victoria mid-morning that day and will pass through eight municipalities on the first day of the two-day event.

From Victoria, torchbearers will bring the flame through Esquimalt and View Royal. From there, it will travel to Sidney, North Saanich and Central Saanich.

Then it swings back to Victoria, where 15-year-old Jeneece Edroff will light the Olympic cauldron as part of Victoria’s celebration event.

On Saturday the flame will appear in Sooke and travel through Metchosin and Colwood, before heading up-Island.

In all, 180 torchbearers in Greater Victoria will cover the first two days of the relay.

The flame will be transported by more than just on foot: it’ll travel via wheelchair, bicycle and even boat, as it gets rowed across Elk Lake on its way into Saanich.

A number of First Nations communities will hold private torch blessing ceremonies, including the Esquimalt, Songhees and T’Souke First Nations. CFB Esquimalt will also host a private celebration to welcome the torch.

The flame will also pass through Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse, the first of 34 National Historic Sites of Canada on the relay route.

All the torchbearers have been notified about where they will be carrying the flame for their individually designated 300 metres.

VANOC has not released a list of names of individuals who were selected as torchbearers, although some names, including Edroff and Olympic silver-medal rower Dave Calder, have been released as local carriers.

Bacon said the Friday night celebration in the Inner Harbour is going to be an evening of entertainment, complete with acrobatics, performance art, visual art and music.

“It’s going to be fantastic. It’s going to be a proud moment for our community, because we have such an immense amount of talent locally, and they’ve worked to create this collective celebration that puts this talent to full use.”

That event has a budget of approximately $400,000, including a $150,000 contribution from the City of Victoria.

For more details on road closures, go to www.victoriaspirit.ca

kslavin@saanichnews.com