Name: Beverly Cameron

Hometown: Ottawa, ON

Carrying torch in: Orleans, ON

Torchbearer number: 018

Beverly Cameron is a Coca-Cola torchbearer who was chosen because of her commitment to active living. Beverly is an Olympic athlete. She competed in the 1976 Montreal games in rowing. As an Olympian, she knows the feeling that comes with being in shape and as an adult; she knew she wanted to get back in shape.

The city of Ottawa inspired Beverly to get back into shape. When she moved there in the summer of 2007, she marveled at how active everyone was, regardless of the weather. It could be -30 with a wind chill and people are still skating on the canal or it can be +30 with intense humidity and people are still exercising outdoors.

Beverly decided to join a power walking club and began training for the 2008 Ottawa Marathon. Her training began in January, during the worst winter on record for many years. There were days when she was slogging through snow drifts, temperature dips, wind chills, and ice patches. But she finished the marathon (6:28.06) and commitment to stay in shape remained.

She has continued power walking home from work twice a week (~8 kilometres) and working out at her local gym three times per week. She has endeavored to ride her bike, climb the stairs at work, and walk during her lunch hour. She is looking forward to continuing her current activities and adding new ones. She hopes to start rollerblading on the Parkway, kayaking on the Ottawa River, snowshoeing in the Gatineau Park and that is just the start!

Name: Bill Eggertson

Hometown: Richmond, ON

Carrying: Cornwall, ON

Torchbearer number: 049

Bill Eggertson is a Coca-Cola torchbearer who was chosen because of his commitment to environmental sustainability. Bill has always been eager to lighten his environmental footprint. He became involved with renewable energy technology after the oil crisis of the 1970s. He promoted these green technology solutions to an increasingly receptive public.

Bill tries to raise awareness with facts, which underscore the economic benefits of environmentalism, while warning of the unacceptable costs if we continue to disregard the limits of our planet. He was invited to address the 2005 Kyoto summit in Montreal to explain a novel concept for renewable power and is writing a textbook on the subject.

This summer, Bill completed his most ambitious goal to date. He retrofitted his house so it is one of Canada’s first residential net-zero-carbon retrofits. He installed geothermal heating, small wind turbines and solar electric panels, which combined with super insulation and highly-efficient appliances, will allow us to live the low-impact life while demonstrating to other Canadians how they can do likewise.

Name: Sean Fry                   

Hometown: Brockville        

Carrying Torch in: Brockville

Active living is very important in Sean Fry’s life, so he takes great pride in being as active as possible. He knows that if you are inactive as a child, you will be as an adult. The health benefits that daily activity provides are far reaching. Sean enjoys playing sports with friends and refereeing and playing hockey, soccer and curling.

Sean also encourages other to be active. He is an intramural captain at school and pushes his friends and peers to do their best, try something new and more active every day.

Name: Neda Amani              

Hometown: Ottawa 

Carrying Torch in: Cornwall

Neda Amani immigrated to Canada with her family from Iran at the age of seven exactly 30 years ago. Canada provided Neda with not only freedom, but also equal rights as a woman, the opportunity for an excellent education and the ability to help make a difference in the world expressing her unique voice and talents. Canada also provided Neda the opportunity to work as a physician in one of the best health care systems in the world.

Neda dreamed of being part of the Olympics as a child and now it has come true. She will carry the flame with great pride as an Iranian-Canadian for Canada and all Canadians in the spirit and love of sport and an active lifestyle.