Visually impaired Pachi chosen as Toronto 2015 mascot

Mascots are an important ambassador for the Games and a playful way to engage and inspire kids to get active and involved. 18 Jul 2013

Pachi, the visually impaired mascot for the Toronto 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games

Pachi, the mascot for the Toronto 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games

ⒸToronto 2015

By Toronto 2015

Pachi was selected from the more than 4,000 entries that were submitted by groups of kids from across Canada.

After months of anticipation, Pachi the porcupine was introduced on Wednesday (18 July) as the official mascot for the Toronto 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games, which take place from 7-14 August 2015.

Thousands of young kids filled the CBC atrium in Toronto, Canada, anxiously awaiting their chance to meet the new mascot.

Originally designed by a group of four students, Team Porcupine includes Fiona Hong, 13, Michelle Ing, 13, Paige Kunihiro, 14, and Jenny Lee, 13, from Buttonville Public School in Markham, Ontario.

The young team entered the Toronto 2015 mascot creation challenge as part of a school project.

Pachi was selected from the more than 4,000 entries that were submitted by groups of kids from across Canada, and was also the favourite in the online voting contest that received more than 33,000 votes.

Porcupines have more than 30,000 quills, but Pachi has 41—one for each of the Pan American countries participating in the Games. His quills are five brilliant colours and represent qualities that he holds: green is youth, fuchsia is passion, blue is collaboration, orange is determination and purple is creativity. Like other porcupines, Pachi has impaired vision and difficultly seeing people and objects that are far away.

“Mascots are the face of the Games and something that I remember fondly from each of the Games I have competed at,” said Rosie MacLennan, Olympic and Pan Am gold medallist, trampoline. “Pachi is definitely lovable and memorable.”

Mascots are an important ambassador for the Games and a playful way to engage and inspire kids and youth to get active and get involved. Pachi’s unveiling represents a significant milestone along the roadmap to hosting the Toronto 2015 Games.

Pachi’s character came to life through a series of stages that included the original design from Fiona, Michelle, Paige and Jenny, professional illustration and refinement by renowned illustrator James Caswell and finally costume design by Toronto-based Maydwell Mascots Inc.

People can meet Pachi online at the Toronto 2015 site. The website features information and news about Pachi, fun downloads such as colouring pages, photos and videos as well as stories of his travels in The Mascot Diaries.