VANCOUVER — Leonard and Bruce Magill have two lifetimes of trucking between them, but they say no haul compares to their most recent gig.

The brothers are part of the Vancouver Winter Olympic torch relay celebration and have been trucking alongside the Olympic flame since it began its journey on Oct. 30 in Victoria. During its 106-day journey, the Olympic torch will visit 1,036 communities and travel more than 45,000 km.

Traveling the far corners of North America is nothing new for Leonard. Back in 2000, Leonard toured with KISS for the North American portion of their 142-city farewell tour, but even that doesn’t compare to the length of this pre-Olympic tour. Neither is, believe it or not, watching Gene Simmons spit out balls of fire as thrilling as working with the Olympics.

"It’s a privilege to do it on Canadian soil. It’s magic," Leonard said while on a Jan. 5 stop in Winnipeg. "It’s amazing to watch Canadians unify themselves in a way I’ve never seen before."

And to think the Grimsby, Ont. resident stumbled upon this job by accident after getting laid off last spring. A job popped up online for a half-year tour in Canada. After a couple of interviews, it was revealed the job was part of the Olympic torch relay celebrations and Leonard eagerly signed on. A month later, there was still an opening for another driver, so Leonard called his older brother Bruce.

Then it became a family affair. 

Hauling the Olympic torch across Canada
better than following Kiss: brothers Magill say

The two have another brother who has owned trucks in the past and their father was a master diesel mechanic, so they were pretty much born with diesel in their blood.

But even with their lengthy history in trucking, this is the first time the brothers have driven team.

"It’s definitely an adventure. You can’t really expect brothers to get along 365 days a year," Bruce says with a laugh.

The brothers were hired by GMR Marketing to take turns piloting a 2006 International truck owned by RBC.

For the community celebrations, the national bank created a Eco-Home trailer, specially built on a 40-ft dropdeck. The mobile display, which runs off of solar panels and wind generators, is designed to raise awareness on how Canadians can ‘green’ their homes, live off of the grid and have carbon-free homes.

"It’s an interesting piece of equipment and the engineering is a marvel," says Bruce. "Even at minus 42 with the wind chill it still worked. Somebody did their job right."

Both bros were given an opportunity to step out of their cabs and participate in the relay as torchbearers. Bruce got the first shot on Nov. 30 in Rimouski, Que., when one runner dropped out at the last minute.

"I was totally elated to run with the torch; it was very special," he recalls.

Little brother Leonard ran with the fire on Jan. 6 in Winnipeg and despite the minus 40 (with wind chill) temps, he says it was an experience of a lifetime.

They’ll be right alongside the torch until it reaches Vancouver for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony later this month.

After that, the brothers will head back to Ontario. Leonard isn’t exactly sure what he’ll do next. It’s unlikely his next gig will be as unique as traveling Canada with the Olympic torch, but he’s hoping it will come close.