Dryden torch bearer Olivia Carter, right, lights a fellow torch bearer’s torch at the end of her 300 m run during the Olympic Torch Relay in Dryden on Jan. 4.

While bitterly cold temperatures may have scuttled plans to host Dryden’s 2010 Vancouver Olympic Torch Relay celebration at its intended lakefront site at Van Horne Landing, warm glowing hearts reveled in the Olympic spirit nonetheless.

Instead, hundreds crowded into Dryden High School’s Gordon Wood Auditorium for an unforgettable celebration.

The day was especially unforgettable for Dryden’s official torch bearer Michelle Arseneault.

“Fear, excitement, nerves, everything. It’s pretty hard to believe but I’m very honoured to have this opportunity. It’s very heartwarming. I think that pretty much sums it all up,” says Michelle Arsenault on her experience of  running the last 300 m with the Olympic Torch and lighting the cauldron in the high school gym.

An avid leader in environmental issues for Dryden, Arseneault was chosen for her ambition to make Dryden a greener place.

Her “One Less Plastic Bag” campaign last year drew great support from local businesses who banned plastic bags for a day for the cause.

Along with Arsenault were Olivia Carter and Tommy Johnson, who was chosen to start off the Torch Relay on King Street.

Citizens of Dryden and the surrounding area lined the streets to welcome the torch to Dryden and packed the Gordon Wood Auditorium for a huge celebration that included live entertainment, complimentary bannock and hot chocolate and off course, the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.

Live entertainment included the Chicomahgiz -  Singers, the Dryden Zirka Dancers, The Kellar Family, the WLON  Dance Troupe, Pass the Pineapple, The Chancellors, The McIvor Brothers and Erik Bleich.

Guest speakers included Chief Pam Pitchenese of the Eagle Lake First Nation, Chief Ruben Cantin of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, MP Greg Rickford, MPP Representative for Howard Hampton Tanya Cameron, Mayor Anne Krassilowsky and Community Torch Bearer Michelle Arsenault.

For more great images from the Vancouver 2010′s Olympic Torch Relay’s visit to Dryden check out VANOC’s official photostream