Quesnel, B.C.- Long-time Quesnel City employee and Quesnel icon Dennis Baptiste has been officially named the community torchbearer at last night's regular meeting of Quesnel City Council. As the Community Torchbearer, Dennis will run the leg of the relay up Reid Street before it reaches the celebration stage just after 1 p.m. on January 29. He will also light the community cauldron. Dennis has been a Quesnel City employee since 1974 and was named Employee of the Year at last weekend's Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.

The Torch Relay route  will begin in South Quesnel at 11:24 a.m., where it runs north on Highway 97. It makes its way to Alex Fraser Park by 11:55 a.m. and then travels through Johnston Subdivision before crossing over the Moffat Bridge into West Quesnel. The Torch visits several areas of West Quesnel before crossing the Fraser River Footbridge. It is then carried up Reid Street to the Spirit Square at 1:05 p.m. The Torch then travels through the downtown core and North Quesnel, before making its way north on Highway 97, wrapping up the run at 2:43 p.m. Residents should stand on the right side of the road in the direction of the torch's travel for best viewing. A link to an interactive route map is available on the City's website.