The torch run for the 2017 Canada Summer Games took place in Steinbach Friday.

Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen says Steinbach has a great reputation of being able to host events because of the immense community and volunteer support. Goertzen notes it's a proud moment for this to be the 50th anniversary of the summer games on Canada's 150th birthday and being able to have the games in Mantioba, and the torch run in the community of Steinbach.

"We have a huge sports community and when we see the individual torch bearers who are involved today with carrying the torch, you heard their different stories, a lot of it was sports, but a lot of it was just the great things they've accomplished in life. Other than sports, the perseverance that many of them have, the different ways they contribute to their community and how they've overcome challenges."

Goertzen notes there are many athletes who have competed in the Canada Summer Games and gone on to become professional athletes.

"For the vast majority of them, they go to do great things in their community, they go on to do great things in life."

Luis Reis was the tenth runner. Reis says it was special to be a part of the event because of his involvement in the community and the education sector for the past 26 years.

"It's just an honour to have been selected to be a part of this run, especially in Steinbach. I spent ten years in Steinbach as an administrator and another 16 in Grunthal as an educator, so just a real honour to have been chosen to run. I feel honoured to represent a lot of the educators that put in extra time and put in extra time with extracurriculars and just spend a lot of time with kids to help develop them."

Ivan Miloutinov is 4-years-old and was the final runner. He says he enjoyed being able to hold the torch and his favourite sport is soccer.

Goertzen says he hopes each athlete has success not only athletically but, "I hope they accomplish what their goals are in life, whether those are in the field of athletics or other things. Often people enter certain things expecting one kind of an outcome in life and they get something completely different, but they find that in the end, they end up where they should be, and where they can make a difference."

He adds these athletes are a great example, not only of exercise and athleticism but also of being driven and driven to push through challenges and hard times to accomplish big goals. Goertzen notes these competitions are also a lesson for other things that happen in life as the athletes get older.

The 2017 Canada Summer Games take place in Manitoba from July 28 to August 13.