January 15, 2010, Calgary, Alberta – When SAIT Polytechnic faculty member Jim Szautner saw an advertisement to be part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, it was 20-year-old memories that drove him to apply. 

“I remember when the torch came through my hometown of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan on its way to Calgary in 1988. I stood out in the minus 28 degree weather to see the torch,” says Szautner, Academic Chair of SAIT’s diesel equipment technician and heavy equipment programs. “So to be a part of the relay now is a real thrill.”

Szautner applied to be a torch runner through the Royal Bank’s Carry the Torch online contest last April. As part of the application process, Szautner made a pledge to be more environmentally friendly. He set a goal of recycling and composting more, as well as taking public transportation to work at SAIT.

Szautner carried the Olympic torch through the town of Beaumont, Alberta the morning of January 15. His family lined the route, cheering along his 300 metre route (approximately three times the length of SAIT’s Cohos Commons soccer field). However, Szautner says it is not the distance but the memories and people he will be sharing the experience with that makes it so special.

What will he remember the most about the once in a lifetime experience? Szauntner says simply, “My family being there.”

Szautner is not the only SAIT employee involved with the torch relay. Ashleigh Ford from Students Services and Instructors Greg Smith and Adam Medrek will also take part. On January 18, Ford will run in Claresholm and Smith in Strathmore, and Medrek will carry the torch through a stretch of the BC interior on January 26.

The torch run began October 30 in Victoria, BC and will cover 45,000 kilometres – the longest torch relay held within the borders of any host country in history – leading up to the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, signaling the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Visit www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-torch-relay for details on the Olympic torch relay.

SAIT Polytechnic is one of Canada’s most exciting destinations for post-secondary education, offering more than 100 career programs that position people for success in technology, trades and business. A leader in innovation, SAIT also collaborates with industry on applied research and delivers corporate training worldwide. SAIT is a member of Polytechnics Canada and one of Alberta’s Top 50 Employers for 2010.