As the Olympic Torch Relay makes its way across the country, the flame - or more accurately the 200 people that accompany it on its journey to Vancouver - takes a break.
The relay team had Thursday off in Fredericton before moving on to Miramichi and Bathurst today.
Wednesday the Olympic flame made its way through the capital city as torchbearers passed it every few blocks. Just before the end of the relay parade Olympic silver medalists and Frederictonian Marianne Limpert took the flame on Queen Street in the city's downtown and ran it into Officer's Square and onto the stage where she lit a cauldron that held the flame for a ceremony.
At the end of the show, torch relay organizers transferred some of the fire into a lantern for safekeeping.
Normally the flame would be stored for less than 24 hours, as the team moves it to the next location, but since the torch runners had a day, off the lantern was kept under constant surveillance in a secret location on the Delta Fredericton hotel property.
Bob Stellick, a spokesman for RBC, one of the relay's main sponsors, said the Vancouver Olympic Committee takes special care to ensure the flame stays lit.
"VANOC makes sure that whomever it is - it's not like the Stanley Cup, I don't think, where there's the keeper of the cup wearing white gloves - but the torch is properly taken care of each night," he said, adding there is a rotation of flame watchers.
Delta Fredericton general manager Sara Holyoke said there was a lot of excitement around the premises the past two days.
"We've been the host to a number of big events, but this is a once in a lifetime event for sure," she said.
The Delta was the main host hotel rooming more than 150 of the torch relay team members while the rest stayed at the Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook Hotel.
"They've certainly created a lot of enthusiasm in our hotel for other guests and our staff," Holyoke said.
Wednesday afternoon the flame made a special guest appearance in the hotel lobby where guests and staff had a photo opportunity, she said.
Hotel employees also went onto the roof to get an overhead view of the secondary parking lot full of relay vehicles, including more than a dozen short buses and RVs bearing the Vancouver 2010 logo, along with seven transport truck and dozens of cars and vans.
"It feels amazing to be able to host the flame for the Olympics because there's so much history to it," Holyoke said. "It's something we will all be able to tell stories about in the future."
Scott Tabachnick, a spokesman for Coca-Cola's sponsorship of the relay said the day in Fredericton was a good opportunity for the team to rest. The last day off was in Halifax last week.
"There's so much energy put in every day to make sure that everyone is touched by the torch and the Olympics," he said. "Having the odd day off really helps to recharge some of those batteries."
As part of Coke's sponsorship the beverage giant got to pick some of the torchbearers, which it did by asking applicants what commitments they've made to healthy living or environmental sustainability.
"We hope that these torchbearers can help inspire other Canadians," Tabachnick said.
Stellick said the response from the New Brunswick crowds has been great.
"New Brunswick has been really, really strong," he said. "It will be interesting to see how this builds as it goes through Canada, because it's off to a fabulous start. Certainly the weather has helped."
He said the relay team, which includes people form across the country and around the world, has been impressed by the Atlantic Canadian hospitality and the excitement the crowds have shown.
"It feels a lot like the Forth of July in America every day as the torch goes through," he said. "People come out and - very un-Canadian-like almost - cheer on this small motorcade that goes through and it's symbolic of something that's good for Canada."