6 photos from Mark Oldershaw’s day on the Hill
On Canada Day, Olympic medal-winning canoeist Mark Oldershaw was named the Canadian Opening Ceremony flag bearer for the upcoming Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.
Shortly after the announcement via Team Canada on Twitter, Oldershaw was a guest at Parliament Hill in Ottawa for the official Canada Day celebration. Below are six photos from Oldershaw’s day on the Hill.
Summer meets winter
Backstage at Canada Day celebration on Parliament Hill, Mark Oldershaw with Olympic curling champion from Sochi 2014, Jennifer Jones, on July 1, 2015 (Greg Kolz for Canadian Olympic Team).
Olympic curling champion Jennifer Jones was on hand at Parliament Hill, where Oldershaw was introduced to the crowd as Team Canada’sToronto 2015 Pan Am Games flag bearer.
A view to a flame
Mark Oldershaw stands with the flag in front of the Centennial Flame at Parliament Hill, on the day he was named Team Canada flag bearer for the Pan Am Games on July 1, 2015 (Greg Kolz for Canadian Olympic Team).
Prior to his introduction, Oldershaw had a moment of reflection at the Centennial Flame, revealed 48 years ago to celebrate Canada’s 100th anniversary.
The warm-up wave
Mark Oldershaw waves the flag prior to Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill on July 1, 2015 (Greg Kolz for Canadian Olympic Team).
A third generation Olympian, Oldershaw will make his Pan Am Games debut at Toronto 2015 after he leads Canada out at the Opening Ceremony. He clearly received plenty of flag experience on Canada Day.
Red carpet treatment
Mark Oldershaw with Olympic 4x100m relay champion from Atlanta 1996, Glenroy Gilbert (carrying the Pan Am Games torch) on the red carpet at Parliament Hill on July 1, 2015 (Greg Kolz for Canadian Olympic Team).
Soon it was showtime as Oldershaw, accompanied by Glenroy Gilbert, hit the red carpet on way to centre stage. Gilbert, an Ottawa-area hero and Olympic champion, carried the Pan Am torch as it begins to make its way to Toronto for the Opening Ceremony on July 10, 2015.
Meet the crowd
Mark Oldershaw holds the flag flanked by fellow Olympic medallists Glenroy Gilbert (left) and Curt Harnett on stage at Parliament Hill on July 1, 2015 (Greg Kolz for Canadian Olympic Team).
Then Oldershaw and Gilbert joined Team Canada chef de mission Curt Harnett on stage. Harnett, one of the top sprint cyclists in the world in his prime, is a three-time Olympic and two-time Pan Am medallist. He has been a tireless promoter of Canadian athletes and the Pan Am Games.
An Olympic family
Mark Oldershaw with wife and fellow Olympian Annamay Pierse at Parliament Hill on July 1, 2015 (Greg Kolz for Canadian Olympic Team).
Another Olympian on Parliament Hill was Annamay Pierse. The Olympic swimmer has recently married Oldershaw and they are expecting their first child in October. Oldershaw is the fifth Olympian in his family… nobody will be surprised if he isn’t the last.
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