NAME: Amber Church

Hometown: Burnaby, British Columbia

Carrying torch: North Vancouver (District)
Torchbearer number: OTR104-095           

Torch Relay Segment: February 10^th, 2010

Age: 28                         

Torchbearer Story: 

Amber Church’s home is the Yukon, a place characterized by magnificent beauty and wild spaces, but also by significant challenges, including climate change. Her home has inspired everything that she does. Church is a Climate Change Action Facilitator for the B.C. Ministry of the Environment and a M.Sc. student at Simon Fraser University studying glacier retreat, climate change and natural hazards in the Yukon. Church founded and co-chaired the International Polar Year Youth Steering Committee (now the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists) to engage young people worldwide and help them take action to protect the Polar Regions. Under Church’s leadership, the organization grew to include thousands of young people from over 40 countries. Church was also part of the official youth delegation to the UN Climate Change Meetings and was one of 200 Canadians selected by the Climate Project Canada to be trained by Al Gore to present his Inconvenient Truth slideshow. Church travelled to the Antarctica in 2006 and the Arctic in 2008 with Students on Ice to work with their youth participants to create positive change once they returned home. Currently, Church is helping to plan a number of national youth events in advance of the UN Climate Change meetings in Copenhagen. Events include Power Shift, Pedal for the Planet and Climate Sphere.

NAME: Bailey Moznik

Hometown: Aldergrove, British Columbia

Carrying torch: North Vancouver (District)
Torchbearer number: OTR104-100           

Torch Relay Segment: February 10^th, 2010

Age: 23                       

Torchbearer Story:

At a young age, Bailey Moznik became aware of the human impact on the environment. While studying pollution and humans affects on the planet, Moznik and a friend came up with a plan to help. They noticed classrooms in their school did not have any recycling for paper. Informing their teacher, Moznik and her friend took immediate action.

First, making use of the used cardboard boxes as recycling bins, Moznik and her friend placed two in every classroom, the library, computer lab and office. As a result, the entire school began recycling. The boxes quickly filled up. During lunch hour, while the other children were outside, Moznik and her friends collected the bins. After sorting and packaging the paper, their teacher took the paper to the recycling plant. Seeing how much waste they saved and recycled made Moznik and everyone involved feel like they had accomplished something great.

Today, as a young adult, Moznik practises environmentally friendly acts daily. Some things are simple like turning the tap off while he brushes her teeth. Others include participating in the weekly recycling program, purchasing environmentally friendly cleaning products and using cloth shopping bags. These are just a few things that Moznik’s family does to ensure this beautiful planet stays green today and tomorrow.

NAME: Amanda Cheong

Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia

Carrying torch: North Vancouver (District)

Torchbearer number: OTR104-098           

Torch Relay Segment: February 10^th, 2010

Age: 19                      

Torchbearer Story:

Dragon boat, one of the world’s fastest growing water sports, evokes superlative levels of passion and dedication from its participants, who include Olympians, octogenarians, cancer survivors, and anyone else looking for alternative ways to adopt active lifestyles.

From five to seven days a week throughout her high school career Amanda Cheong dedicated 100 per cent on land and water working to reach higher plateaus of endurance, flexibility and strength. Her paddle became her paddle became her arm’s bladed extension, the racing drums coalesced with her heartbeat, and her personal journey intertwined with her teammates’ as they guided the same proverbial and literal boat.

Dragon boat also helped Cheong develop self-confidence and leadership abilities. She was eventually elected captain and fostered unity within her team by organizing community projects, fundraising to build a school in Kenya and more. Dragon boat offers a culturally rich way of life and has taught Cheong lessons that she adheres to on a daily basis.

NAME: Stephanie Strube

Hometown: Kelowna, British Columbia

Carrying torch: North Vancouver
Torchbearer number: OTR104-174           

Torch Relay Segment: February 10^th, 2010

Age: 27                       

Torchbearer Story:

Stephanie Strube is a native of Kugluktuk, Nunavut now living in and loving BC. She is a very active mom of three children. As a family, they like to hike, camp, fish and run. Strube has run two half marathons and has a goal to run a full.

Strube has recently returned to a healthy lifestyle after being sick for a year. She is now eating right and running regularily, along with being a mom. She is honoured to carrying the torch and hopes it will show the people of Nunavut that there is a lot out there to explore.

NAME: Robert Couzens

Hometown: Burnaby, British Columbia

Carrying torch: North Vancouver
Torchbearer number: OTR104-024           

Torch Relay Segment: February 10^th, 2010

Age: 17                     

Torchbearer Story:

Robert Couzens is only 17 but already knows the great reward that dedication and hard work bring. Couzens is heavily involved in boxing. He is a two-time national boxing champion, a two-time golden gloves champion, an international boxing participant and a 2009 Premier’s award recipient.