1st glimpse of Pan Am cauldron made with Dofasco steel
Hamilton steelmaker's contribution to the games found home near CN Tower
A colourful cauldron at the base of CN Tower will be unveiled Friday night during the opening ceremony of the Pan Am Games. And it has a strong Hamilton connection.
The cauldron is made with 10 different types of steel donated by Dofasco, and manufactured by its 5,400 employees.
The hoarding panels that concealed it came down overnight, giving the public a first glimpse of the structure on Friday.
During a press conference Thursday, games officials announced the location of the cauldron that will house the flames, but kept mum on any other details, holding back until the ceremony.
The reason for having so many different types of steel is to house all the structural peculiarities involved in making a torch. Some parts require less strength than others, and some need to handle tremendous heat, said Tony Valeri, vice president of corporate affairs at Dofasco.
Valeri also said the variety of steel represents a diverse portfolio, much like the diversity represented in the games and in Hamilton's different sectors.
"For us that was an important part of the narrative," he said. "From a Dofasco perspective, we are always bringing together a diverse perspective. It's the way we always worked. So for TO2015, we saw an opportunity to bring together diverse communities."
An exact replica is set to be erected somewhere in Hamilton after the games, but that location has not been announced.
What do you think of the cauldron?