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continued from p.3 Pan Am Games bring the sports action and heroes close to home able. It's not a dream that's way out there. We have so many great athletes from Oakville." Maggie Kerr, a 17-year-old White Oaks high school student who carried the torch in the relay, pointed out that the Pan Am Games are not just about the sports, either. "The community's here having fun together," said Kerr, whose mother signed her up online for a chance to be a torch bearer. "It's how it brings the community together to share in a common goal." Oakville will be represented in the Pan Am Games by Oakville Aquatic Club swimmers Zack Chetrat, Evan White, Dominique Bouchard and Tera Van Beilen; triathlete Kyle Jones; sailor Lee Parkhill; Burloak Canoe Club paddlers Adam van Koeverden, Brady Reardon and Mark Oldershaw; volleyball player Dan Lewis; and soccer players Kinley McNicoll and Adam Bouchard. "I think everybody knows what the Olympics are, and everyone knows what (the Pan Am Games) are. It's all for sport," said Oakville mayor Rob Burton. "Look at the number of kids who went on to (the NHL) in hockey. Look at the amount of kids who went on to be Olympians. It's a town that punches well above its weight," he added, "and we try to keep up with it." The Pan Am Games features 49 sports and several thousand athletes from 41 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. It will run from July 10-26. The 16-sport Parapan Am Games for the physically challenged are from Aug. 7-15. Visit www. toronto2015.org for more information. 5 | Thursday, June 25, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "There was a grassroots movement from sports clubs to get people out to this event because they were so proud to be selected." Many youngsters coloured the brick courtyard in the square with chalk, building a `Road to the podium' community art mural that led up to the stage. There was also a large billboard that many spectators signed in support of Oakville's and Canada's Pan Am athletes. Eight-year-old Andrew Kelder, an Oakville Christian School student, attended Olympic celebrations several years ago in Oakville and told his mother he wanted to be at the Pan Am festivities as well. "You get to see the sports. Not just on TV , you get to see them live. I'm looking forward to that," he said. "If the tickets are not too expensive, I'm going to go see fencing... just because I really like pirates and stuff. They use swords, and I know they use swords in fencing." Sharon Van Beilen, whose daughter Tera swam at the 2012 London Olympics and will also represent Canada at the Pan Am Games, said events such as Tuesday's celebration are an important buildup to the Games. "Olympic events we've had in the past have been great, the parade we had with a huge turnout. It's not the Olympics, but people are warming up to it and as the weeks go by, people will start to get excited," she said. "(It's especially valuable) for little kids to look up to athletes from Oakville. They can see it's do- Residents awaiting the Pan Am torch's arrival at Centennial Square put words of encouragement for local athletes on a wall. Elias Datseris adds his name to the mural while Pan Am mascot PACHI enourages the crowd. | photos by Riziero Vertolli ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) Interlocking Tumblestone, Retaining Walls, Garden Installation, Sodding & Excavating, Call for FREE Estimate plus more (905) 827-8158 · www.rogerslandscaping.org INJURED? I Can Help! YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY UNLESS I GET YOU MONEY My team of experienced lawyers can help you with: · Car accidents · Slip and Falls · Disability Claims (Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, CPP) · Wrongful Dismissal OFFICES IN OAKVILLE AND TORONTO For a free consultation call: Oakville: 905.842.2022 or Toronto: 416.351.9222 email: sspadafora@slspc.ca PLATINUM /OBOakville Menus available at oliverbonacini.com O&B Café Grill · 240 Leighland Ave., Oakville Place · QEW & Trafalgar · 289.291.0265 Sam Spadafora Injury and Employment Law