Get into the Olympic spirit with community watch parties at the Carleton Place Public Library

Olympic excitement is growing across the country today and the Carleton Place Public Library (CPPL) is inviting local residents to gather, cheer and celebrate together as the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 gets underway.

CPPL is hosting a drop-in viewing of the Opening Ceremonies today at 1:30 p.m., giving residents a chance to watch the highly-anticipated spectacle alongside fellow Olympic fans. According to the library, the first 20 people through the doors will also receive official CBC Olympic swag.

Adding to the experience, library visitors today will have the rare opportunity to have their photo taken with an official torch from the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, a piece of Canadian Olympic history on display for one day only.

The Opening Ceremonies watch party is just the beginning of a series of Olympic and Paralympic watch parties planned at the library over the coming weeks, offering families and fans a warm space to gather and support Team Canada.

Scheduled watch parties include men’s hockey action when Canada faces Czechia on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 10:40 a.m., followed by the women’s hockey gold medal game on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 1:10 p.m. Short track speed skating for both men and women will be shown at the library on Friday, Feb. 20 at 2:15 p.m.

CPPL will also host a Paralympic watch party for wheelchair curling when Canada takes on the United States on Thursday, March 12 at 1:35 p.m.

All events are drop-in and open to the public.