Churchill Square was packed Wednesday night as the Olympic torch arrived. Churchill Square was packed Wednesday night as the Olympic torch arrived. (CBC)

It was a party-like atmosphere in Sir Winston Churchill Square on Wednesday evening as thousands of people greeted the arrival of the Olympic torch.

Canadian flags were waving everywhere as former Olympian Doreen Taylor, a speedskater during the 1960 and 1964 Olympic Games, ran into the square and lit a cauldron with the Olympic flame.

People all along the route ran alongside the torch carriers, videotaping and cheering as the relay made its way from Hawrelak Park to the legislature and then to Churchill Square.

Torchbearer Owen Proctor said the reaction to the torch's arrival in Edmonton was overwhelming. Torchbearer Owen Proctor said the reaction to the torch's arrival in Edmonton was overwhelming. (CBC)"This is already incredible, this is overwhelming, this response is fantastic," said Owen Proctor, one of the torchbearers who began the run out of Hawrelak Park amid a throng of noisy fans.

"We had people all the way up and down Groat Road five, 10 people deep, we had firefighters waving flags, military personnel."

Earlier Wednesday, runners carried the torch through Sherwood Park. Hundreds of students from Glen Allan Elementary School cheered from the side of the road, and waved flags and handmade signs to welcome the torch parade.

There were celebration sites at six points along the torch relay route, including the University of Alberta Butterdome, Whyte Avenue and the legislature grounds.