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INUVIK - The torch for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver is scheduled to pass through Inuvik on Nov. 4, 2009.

"Residents of Inuvik who are anxious to catch the Olympic spirit will have the opportunity to see the Olympic Flame in person on Nov. 4, 2009 as it passes through Inuvik," said Mayor Derek Lindsay at the town's tree lighting ceremony Friday.

Great Northern Arts Festival executive director Tony Devlin and town senior administrative officer Sara Brown display the Vancouver 2010 Olympics flag during an announcement in Jim Koe Park on Friday evening. The event also served as a time to officially light the town tree. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

The small crowd at Jim Koe Park gathered around a hot chocolate dispenser while the mayor read his proclamation over the loud speaker.

Lindsay said a special team of committed residents will keep tabs on the torch relay as it draws closer.

"We will be striking a community task force to be comprised of Town of Inuvik council and staff representatives as well as from the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in membership," he said.

Registration information is posted online for those who want to apply to be torchbearers during the relay in Inuvik.

You can apply at iCoke.ca or rbc.com/carrythetorch. The application period started on Nov. 21, 2008.

Lindsay told the crowd the official start of the relay will be on Oct. 30, 2009.

"The relay will culminate on Feb. 12, 2010 when it arrives in Vancouver," he said.

The relay will be the longest single-country relay in the history of the Olympic games.

The route stretches more than 45,000 kilometres. By the end of the torch relay, more than 1,000 communities will have been involved.

The torch announcement was part of the annual tree lighting ceremony.

SAO Sara Brown said the tall tree frame that sits on the stage in the park was made in-house.

"We've been working on it for a few weeks now," she said. "It was designed by Rick Campbell."

Brown said the decision to make the tree themselves was an easy one because of costs of shipping a pre-made frame north.

Brown said the town looked at getting a real tree again, as in past years, but the decision was made for the frame alternative.

"We talked about using a real tree, but it's mostly dark now and you wouldn't see the actual tree for too long during the day," she said.

"The lights were the most important part."

Brown added the only trees that are tall enough in the region are very old and it's not worth it to cut one down for that purpose.

"We plan on leaving it up well past Christmas. It's going to be there for a while," said Brown.