Olympic torch run honours Jack Poole

The man who helped bring the 2010 Olympics to Vancouver but died just a few months shy of seeing the dream fulfilled was remembered during an emotional torch run on Sunday.Jack Poole, who was the chairman of the board of directors for the Games, was supposed to carry the torch in his hometown of Mortlach, Sask. But Poole died last October from pancreatic cancer and never got the chance to hoist the flame over his head.Poole's wife, Darlene, carried the torch in his place."I'm finding it very hard to hold back tears, I'm so proud of Mortlach and the respect that they've shown for Jack," said Poole."He would have loved to have been here and would have been so proud."Darlene Poole ran through the village, just west of Moose Jaw, and headed toward the Mortlach school where about 500 people were gathered. In front of the school, a sign read: "Jack Poole is here in our hearts."There were cheers from the crowd as Darlene Poole ran to the front steps of the school and lit an Olympic cauldron. A plaque was also unveiled in honour of her husband.Poole's daughter, Gwen, said it was an emotional homecoming for her."This is an amazing tribute to my father, Jack Poole," said Gwen Poole. "I love this town, this is my best memories of my childhood right here in (this) little village.""I can't put it into words. It's surreal being here, a bit like a dream."Building communities was Jack Poole's passion.He was born in Mortlach in 1933 and graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor of science in civil engineering.His first company, Daon Development, was in its heyday the second-largest real estate investment firm in North America.In 1989, Poole co-founded VLC Properties, now known as Concert Properties, one of Vancouver's most prominent development companies. Concert Properties CEO David Podmore said at the time of Poole's death that Mortlach left a great impression on the man who learned early on that mutual respect goes hand in hand with building a business or a friendship.Podmore flew from Vancouver to Saskatchewan just to take part in the ceremony Sunday in Mortlach. Podmore said he needed to be there out of respect for Poole."We thought it would be wonderful if we could be here and we wish Jack of course was here to run the run," said Podmore."He had a great fondness for this town where he was born and raised. To him it was very, very important to come to his birthplace to celebrate the Olympics," said Podmore.Poole was asked to run the committee bidding for the Olympics back in 2001 and was appointed chairman of the board of directors after Vancouver won the Games. His death came only hours after the Olympic flame was lit in Olympia, Greece. Poole was 76.Darlene Poole said Jack was there Sunday as the sun sparkled through the blue skies of his hometown. He was on the run too - Darlene Poole had taped a photograph of her husband to the torch."He had to run with me. This is his time and I couldn't run alone so he helped," she said.