Patrick Chan, who won two silver medalls at Sochi 2014, is one of the nine new Torchbearers announced for the Pan Am Games ©Getty Images

Toronto 2015 have announced nine well-known Canadians who will participate in the Pan American Games Torch Relay, which gets underway at the end of the month.

Among the latest names to be unveiled are double figure skating silver medallist Patrick Chan, Los Angeles 1984 cycling road race silver medal winner Steve Bauer and two-time Olympic moguls champion, Alexandre Bilodeau.

"The symbolic Torch Relay will be a unifier of people, spirit and pride in communities across Ontario and beyond our borders,” said Michael Coteau, the Minister responsible for both the Pan and Parapan American Games.

"The participation of celebrated Canadians in the Torch Relay will add to the excitement and broaden the reach and profile of these Games while putting a well-deserved spotlight on our athletes, Torchbearers and local communities."

Following the start of the Relay on May 30, NASCAR driver J.R Fitzpatrick, who has 14 pole positions and nine wins to his credit in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will be the first of the nine new Torchbearers to receive the torch and will carry it through Cambridge, Ontario, on June 20.

Ice hockey star Darnell Nurse is due to take it through Hamilton on June 22, before Bauer, an inductee in the Canadian Sport Hall of Fame and wearer of the Tour de France yellow jersey for 14 days becomes one of the 3,000 Torchbearers of the Games the following day.

Bauer was selected by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation to receive the honour of carrying the Torch and will take it through Milton, whose roads will be the home to cyclists during the time trial events at the Pan Am Games.

Bilodeau, who became the first Canadian to win Olympic gold on home soil, will carry the torch through Montreal
Bilodeau, who became the first Canadian to win Olympic gold on home soil, will carry the torch through Montreal ©Getty Images

Freestyle skier Bilodeau, who became the first Canadian to win Olympic gold on home soil at Vancouver 2010 before replicating his success at Sochi 2014, will carry the Flame in Montreal on June 28, while retired footballer Dwayne De Rosario and NHL star Wayne Simmonds are both due to be Torchbearers on July 5 as it arrives in Toronto.

Chan, a seven-time national champion and three-time world champion, was the second athlete selected to be a Torchbearer on July 6, with singer songwriters Jim Cuddy and Amanda Martinez set to be among the participants in the 41-day Relay two days later.

The event will culminate on July 10 with the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony in Toronto, with the Torch due to have been carried by more than 60 modes of transportation by then.

"An impressive list of great Canadians will carry the torch on its 41 day journey leading up to the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games,” said Toronto Mayor, John Tory.

“The Torch will travel across Toronto, uniting our neighbourhoods in the spirit of friendship and sport.

“Come out and cheer our Torch Relay participants on!"

Toronto 2015 are set to announce further Torchbearers through the official Torch Relay Twitter account @TO2015torch in the build-up to the event getting underway on May 30.



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