Astronaut Chris Hadfield meets the public and media at the Eaton Centre yesterday as the route for the 2015 Pan Am Torch Relay was revealed, along with a contest to select torch bearers.

Canadian astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield and Olympic medalists Simon Whitfield and Catriona Le May Doan introduced the route yesterday for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Torch Relay.

PACHI the porcupine was also on hand at the Eaton Centre event.

Whitfield and Le May Doan shared the honour of being the first torch bearers to run with the Olympic Flame as part of the relay for the Vancouver 2015 Olympic Winter Games.

Along with the route, the Games organizing committee (TO2015) also officially opened the online torch bearer contest to the public across Canada, www.toronto2015.org/torch-relay/torchbearers. Some torch bearers will be selected by sponsors and Games partners, including communities along the route. Contest closes Dec. 1.

Mall visitors were able to sign up immediately. The mall booth for people to sign up for the relay will remain open until this Sunday during mall hours.

Among the criteria required for becoming torchbearer:

• Be at least 13 years of age on or before May 30, 2015.
• Be a Canadian citizen or legal resident of Canada.
• Be able to run/wheel your assigned 200 metre segment on your assigned day.

  Astronaut Chris Hadfield, EatonCentre, Pan Am, torch Relay