Kelowna man proposes after torch run

To Natalie Sayles, the Olympic torch will always have more than one meaning.

Sayles was dumbfounded when her boyfriend, Kelowna resident Shawn Ellis, dropped to one knee after his torch run near Nelson B.C. Saturday afternoon and popped the question.

"I don't know if I cried, I think my face was frozen, I was so shocked," says Sayles, also a resident of Kelowna.

"It was totally unexpected. He gave me a pair of really nice diamond earrings for Christmas, so I thought that was it for now."

Ellis says he got the idea to propose to Sayles several months ago. Sayles, who had participated in the 1988 Calgary Olympics as a dancer in the opening ceremonies, always had a soft spot for the games.

"So I set out to be a torchbearer," says Ellis.

Ellis discovered that Coca-Cola was offering Canadians the chance to become a torchbearer if they wrote an essay why they'd like to be one. Ellis explained his reasons and was excited when he was chosen.

Eight months later, he was standing outside of Nelson with his son, Tyler, 17, and Natalie's son, Gage, 12.

"I asked her son if it was OK if I proposed to his mother. He said it was okay," says Ellis.

Together, the three of them ran 300 metres with the torch to where Sayles was waiting with her mother, Rosemary.

"I dropped to one knee and I asked her. She got really teary."

Ellis says the Olympic caravan actually paused for a few minutes to let him propose, so they could get it on tape.

"That was great, they don't do that for anyone."

Sayles says the proposal held deep meaning for her.

"With the games, and the torch, and the flame symbolizing our life together...it meant a lot. It was perfect."

The couple, who have been together for seven years, says they have yet to set a date, but Sayles says she would like to get married on a beach.