NAME: Poppy Quinlan

Hometown: Maple Ridge, British Columbia

Carrying torch: Chilliwack
Torchbearer number: OTR101-057           

Torch Relay Segment: February 7^th, 2010

Age: 15

As the 2009 Canadian Trampoline and Tumbling Champion in her age group, Poppy Quinlan loves living an active life and having fun. She enjoys trampoline, as it encompasses strength, flexibility and endurance.

 Quinlan trains most days, works hard and has fun. Being active keeps her healthy, helps her cope with stress and improves her self-confidence. It also helps her focus and achieve her goals in school and in life. Her trampoline club has chosen her as a role model to attend different community events, promoting his sport and inspiring others to be active.

Quinlan also loves her job working as a gymnastics coach in her community. This gives her the opportunity to encourage children to participate in regular physical activity in a fun environment. She is actively involved in promoting community events, which involves taking gym equipment to events and encouraging people to try new activities. On weekends, Quinlan enjoys refereeing soccer games. She loves encouraging good sportsmanship in the players and making it a fun learning experience.

Quinlan loves living Olympic on the Coke side of life.

NAME: Laurens van Vliet

Hometown: Agassiz, British Columbia

Carrying torch: Agassiz

Torchbearer number: OTR101-026           

Torch Relay Segment: February 7^th, 2010

Age: 60

Torchbearer Story:

Laurens van Vliet’s drive is the joy, relaxation and accrued health benefits from active living. He chooses stairs over escalators and elevators and exercises regularly. Laurens also cycles to work and is known in his community for his active living. In his family, Laurens has provided strong leadership in outdoor activities and sports. His three sons have been involved in competitive sports and have passed on an active lifestyle to their own children. At work, Laurens helped organize a team for the Vancouver Sun Run, inspiring 10 co-workers to participate. In his community, he has founded the Community Gardens Society, providing garden plots to 35 people annually. Laurens has organized hiking, skiing and cycling trips for large groups. He has also organized annual canoe trips and coached YMCA softball teams. Currently, Laurens is exploring the feasibility of starting disc-golf as a recreational activity in his community. Laurens is convinced that living an active lifestyle can positively impact the lives of others.

 

NAME: Brennan Gademans

Hometown: Langley, British Columbia

Carrying Torch: Merritt
Torchbearer number: OTR101-007           

Torch Relay Segment: February 7^th, 2010

Age: 16

Torchbearer Story:

Brennan Gademans is both a dreamer and believer. He feels that by living a healthy, active lifestyle and nurturing his talents, he can do anything in life he sets his mind to. Gademans is an elite track and field sprinter. It started last year when he thought he was just an average boy who could run fast and decided to see how far he could go with his talents. With hard work Gademans became BC high school champion, Summer Games gold medalist and placed 4^th in nationals. He has committed to a way of living that will allow him to be a winner in mind and body, in heart and soul. Gademans trains five to six days a week and has seen his dreams begin to unfold. He believes he is a perfect example of what a Canadian boy can achieve if only he dares to dream.

 

NAME: Diana Dampier

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Carrying torch: Chilliwack
Torchbearer number: OTR101-100           

Torch Relay Segment: February 7^th, 2010

Age: 37

Torchbearer Story:

Diana Dampier works at ParticipACTION and was the project manager for the Sogo Active program that encourages and supports youth 13 to 19 to be more active. Dampier was part of the team of experts who developed the program that now reaches over 900 communities.

Individually, Dampier enjoys playing beach volleyball, doing Russian kettlebells and riding her bike to work. With her family, Dampier enjoys geocaching as an excuse to hike outside while searching for treasures with a GPS machine.

 

NAME: Andy Lin

Hometown: Maple Ridge, British Columbia

Carrying torch: Chilliwack
Torchbearer number: OTR101-042           

Torch Relay Segment: February 7^th, 2010

Age: 19

Torchbearer Story:

Andy Lin is from Taiwan. He came to Canada only four years ago to study English and get a better education. His family sacrificed many things to support him, including giving up their company. Lin was forced to give up many things too, including his friends. After arriving in Canada Lin made many new friends and learned a lot about the country. He thinks Canada is a wonderful and beautiful country with a great education system and attractive landscapes. Lin hopes to live in Canada for the rest of his life and is very glad to be given the chance to run with the Olympic torch for Canada.

 

NAME: Jared Bogdanovich

Hometown: Maple Ridge, British Columbia

Carrying torch: Rosedale
Torchbearer number: OTR101-034           

Torch Relay Segment: February 7^th, 2010

Age: 13

Torchbearer Story:

Jared Bogdanovich is only 13 and already knows the importance of being active. He is an amateur athlete playing ball hockey and basketball. He is also an honour roll student. Bogdanovich is thrilled to represent Canada in the torch relay and hopes to one day participate in the Olympics again, but this time as an athlete.