SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - It was a matter of seconds, but David Gilday managed to pull it off just fine.

Gilday was the final torchbearer for the Yellowknife portion of the 106-day relay, which came through the city on Nov. 5.

David Gilday, the final torchbearer of the Yellowknife section of the 2010 Olympic torch relay, prepares to light the cauldron at the ceremonial circle at Somba K'e Park on Nov. 5. - James McCarthy/NNSL photo

Gilday said he just tried to have as much fun as possible.

"The town was obviously excited to see it and be part of the Olympics," he said. "Wonderful to see everyone out to do this."

Gilday's leg was one of 66 along the city route, which wound its way through Dettah and Ndilo as well before going through the streets of Yellowknife. Each leg of the route consisted of just 300 metres, but Gilday said he almost ran into what could have been a serious problem.

"I almost sprained my ankle coming in," he said. "I stumbled going around the DND Building, but it was fun. It was great to have everyone cheering me in."

A crowd of around 1,000 people braved the winds coming off Frame Lake to watch the festivities unfold, which included local musical acts such as Giant Con and Priscilla's Revenge, who gave up a potential opportunity to perform at the Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards in Winnipeg to play at home. One of those watching was Gilday's wife, Pam Dunbar. She said she felt a lot of pride watching her husband run the final few metres.

"I know this was very meaningful for David," she said. "He was excited to do it and very proud to have been the community pick. I know he's been looking forward to this for days and it's a proud moment for him and the whole family."

The relay contingent also included people from outside Yellowknife, such as Kate Pierce. Pierce, who hails from Courtenay, B.C., carried the torch along Taylor Road, and said it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"I got to see the flame burning and it was so exciting," she said.

Pierce's home community did have the Olympic torch roll through town in the earlier stages of the relay, but she wasn't given the option to run there, although she did get to watch it pass her house. She said the organizers gave her a choice of either Yellowknife or Inuvik.

"I thought to myself 'Well, I don't think I can afford Inuvik', so I chose Yellowknife," she said. "I got to stay with a great family, Karen and Chuck Depew, along with their two children, Elise and Joseph, and it's been an amazing experience."

You would think running an Olympic torch relay would be an amazing moment, but for Gilday, it's just another chapter for him in the NWT.

"I've had a great life here and I've done a lot of wonderful things, but this is just another one of those moments," he said. "It's just so nice to do it with a lot of people from the community."

Olympic Games officials allowed some torchbearers to keep theirs after completing their portion of the relay.

Unlike some who have done so already, Gilday said he won't even consider selling his torch.

"Not a chance," he said. "I won't even take offers for it. I'd like to put it somewhere so the public can see it for a long time."