NAME: Finnigan Canadensis

Hometown: Sointula, British Columbia

Carrying Torch: Port McNeill
Torchbearer number: OTR097-007           

Torch Relay Segment: February 3^rd, 2010

Age: 47

Torchbearer Story:

As a Canadian university student, rowing brought Finnigan Canadensis so much self-confidence that it gave him the strength to come out as a gay athlete. Unfortunately, it took years of being challenged by homophobia at different clubs before Canadensis established Australia’s first rowing club with a mandate to promote rowing across the breadth of human diversity. In such a short time, the rowing club that Canadensis started has attracted hundreds of members from across diverse backgrounds. It has been recognized by the Australian government for community health leadership. The triathlon inspires rural youth to dream their potential and challenges sedentary adults to reignite their vitality. Canadensis has also achieved coaching certification in Canada and taught rowing at a girls’ high school in Melbourne. He has also successfully competed in triathlon, cycling, running and swimming competitions. Canadensis has sinced returned to Canada and relocated to a remote island on BC’s coast. There he has introduced triathlon to kids, youth, adults and seniors in the spirit of fun and fitness.

NAME: Darren Dean

Hometown: Courtenay, British Columbia

Carrying Torch: Powell River
Torchbearer number: OTR097-020           

Torch Relay Segment: February 3^rd, 2010

Age: 36

Torchbearer Story:

Darren Dean’s commitment to active living began twenty years ago when he chose a career as a professional forester. He now spends 2-3 days per week working in the coastal rainforests of British Columbia managing reforestation projects.

Aside from work, Dean is also the Vice President of Canadian Loggers Sports Association (CANLOG) and a loggers sports competitor. Loggers sports includes a combination of various skills, which are largely based on the traditional wood chopping and sawing skills used by lumberjacks. Dean practices these skills twice a week for 2-3 hours.

In order to provide a more balanced training regime, Dean has included other sports as a way to augment his training. He is playing ultimate Frisbee and volleyball on a weekly basis and has also included weekly yoga sessions. These extra activities are helping with Dean’s endurance, flexibility and core strength and have enabled him to shed 24 pounds (11% of his body weight) since December.

For the past two years, Dean has also served as a trainer and mentor to the Loggers Sports club at the University of British Columbia. Along with three other volunteers, Dean has provided training opportunities for the 25-30 member club and encouraged them to actively participate in the sport both at school and on the CANLOG circuit.