Coca-Cola Torchbearers – January 12th
Name: Craig Peterson
Hometown: Vermilion, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Lloydminster
Torchbearer number: OTR075-083
Torch Relay Segment: January 12th, 2010
Age: 30
“Mr. Peterson,” Craig Peterson’s student whined, “do we really have to pick through all this garbage? Can’t we just get our parents to pay the money that we need instead of doing this stupid job?” It was a simple project for Peter’s students: pick up all the garbage from the previous days events at the Vermilion fair. It was absolutely amazing the amount of garbage and bottles strewn around the fairgrounds. It seemed people just did not care. Here, Peterson thought, was a perfect teachable moment. This fundraiser was a great way for Peterson to teach his students how much garbage is carelessly thrown on the ground, and how easy it is to reduce the amount of waste by recycling bottles. Normally, groups who do this job neglect to collect and recycle the pop cans and simply toss them out. This year, however, it was important to Peterson that he and the students save the bottles from the trash and sort them into a separate trailer. During that weekend, Peterson and his students collected enough bottles to fill a large cattle trailer. More importantly, the students became stewards, asking people to pick up their own garbage and recyclables; a small yet worthwhile step towards a greener future.
Name: Josephine Olivieri
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Lloydminster
Torchbearer number: OTR075-100
Torch Relay Segment: January 12th, 2010
Age: 39
During the 2008-2009 school year, Josephine Olivieri started the first ever St. Philip School walkathon. It was attended by 260 children. As the walkathon started, Olivieri was told by other teachers how difficult it was to get the kids to walk 3-4 times around the gym during regular gym class. However, as each class turned up for the walkathon, the kids not only walked, but ran around the gym. Most of the kids even surpassed their own goals, running 30-50 times around the 300 metre track. Olivieri and the other teachers were surprised to see the kids having fun, getting exercise and raising money to help their school. In the end, the kids learnt that they could have fun exercising while completing the walkathon. They also almost raised $10,000 for their school. They have since completed their second annual walkathon and it, too, was a success. Olivieri has always tried to teach children about how to take care of their bodies and to stay healthy. On January 13, 2010, Olivieri will turn 40 years old and she is honoured to spend her 40th birthday as a Coca-Cola Torchbearer.
Name: Sarah Head
Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Carrying Torch: North Battleford
Torchbearer number: OTR075-052
Torch Relay Segment: January 12th, 2010
Age: 29
Sarah Head’s father was lucky enough to be chosen to run with the Olympic Torch in 1988. Head thought this was amazing as a child; she thought her dad must be famous. Now, as an adult, Head looks back on that moment as one of the most treasured of her life. Not only did her father teach her about the Olympic spirit, he also taught her how important it is to care for the planet.
Thanks to her parents, Head grew up loving the outdoors and gardening. Head is a gardener (and volunteer shed coordinator) in her neighbourhood’s shared garden space. They converted a previously abandoned lot in Nutana, Saskatoon into a beautiful organic garden. They also care for the garden, creating a place where citizens can come and enjoy a green space in the inner city.
Head and her neighbours work hard to grow organic veggies and fruit in their garden. Any extra is then donated to the food bank, providing nutritious food to those less fortunate. Head is proud to carry on her father’s legacy, both in her capacity as a Coca-Cola Torchbearer, but also as an inspiration to others in her community. She is showing that you can help your community and the planet while eating great, too.
Name: Tim Strom
Hometown: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Carrying Torch: Shellbrook
Torchbearer number: OTR075-014
Torch Relay Segment: January 12th, 2010
Age: 30
Sport, physical activity, and living actively have always been an integral part of Tim Strom’s life. Since childhood, he has taken part in almost every sport he has been able to. Currently he participates in adult volleyball, basketball, curling and skiing in the winter. In the summer, he enjoys golfing, running, windsurfing and other water sports.
Volunteer coaches afforded Strom the skills necessary to continue his involvement in sports. Because of their example, he has made the life choice to become a physical educator and volunteer as a coach. His continuing goal is to provide young athletes with the skills and attitudes necessary to live actively for the rest of their lives, but most importantly creating an atmosphere of fun. Strom always stress teamwork, integrity, a positive attitude, and fair play as being just as important as individual skill level.
In the past 10 years, Strom has coached volleyball, basketball, badminton, and athletics in Saskatchewan, at both the school and community level. Every year he volunteers on average over 500 hours coaching over 150 athletes from ages 10-18. The most rewarding feedback from athletes is to see them continuing to be active as adults and know that every hour he has volunteered was worth it.
Name: Tyler Young
Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Carrying Torch: Battleford
Torchbearer number: OTR075-061
Torch Relay Segment: January 12th, 2010
Age: 15
Tyler Young credits his parents with encouraging him to lead an active lifestyle. Young prefers to be busy with sports, rather then sitting at home. He has played many sports including hockey, soccer, football, volleyball, baseball and track & field.
Young’s favorite sport is track & field. He belongs to the Saskatoon Track & Field Club and trains four days a week. Young has inspired some of his friends and they too now belong to the club and train with him. Young has set a good example for his younger neighbor as well. His neighbor listened to Young talk about track and now he comes out to train, which is a lot of fun for both of them.
As one of the older kids in track, Young tries to set a good example for the younger kids and encourage them during their training as well as cheering them on during competitions. Young enjoys being active and hope to continue to be active his entire life. Young also dreams of one day making to compete in the Olympics.
Name: Mary Renard
Hometown: Estevan, Saskatchewan
Carrying Torch: Blaine Lake
Torchbearer number: OTR075-021
Torch Relay Segment: January 12th, 2010
Age: 17
Since Mary Renard was a little kid, she loved to jump and play. She had so much energy that her parents decided to put her in gymnastics. She loved exercising and the feeling you get after you’ve just had a workout. Today she is still in gymnastics and try to push herself to her greatest potential. She is on the cheerleading team at her high school and enjoys doing all sports. Renard also loves to run.
Renard encourages others to do their best by getting them to try their hardest in the sports. She believes that no matter how good you are at something, you should still always try your best. Renard likes being active because it makes her feel good and it helps her do well in school. She says that when she is having a bad day, all she needs to do is jump on a trampoline or go for a run and then she always feels better.
Name: Darrell Balkwill
Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Carrying Torch: Maidstone
Torchbearer number: OTR075-071
Torch Relay Segment: January 12th, 2010
Age: 51
On December 2, 2007, Darrell Balkwill awoke having just tuned 49 and realizing his next birthday was the big 5-0. Balkwill was out of shape and over-weight with a sedentary lifestyle. He decided to improve his health through regular physical activity. Balkwill established his goal and motto – “Fit For Fifty”. He put the “FFF” around the house and on his workout shirts as a constant reminder of my mission.
Balkwill soon realized that he needed a way to measure his fitness and challenge himself, so accepted a friend’s invitation to run the Las Vegas half-marathon in December 2008. He shared his goal with his family and challenged them to join him. Balkwill created “Reason To Run” as their team motivation. Their reason to run was a co-worker’s 3-year-old daughter battling cancer.
Balkwill’s Fit For Fifty goal was realized beyond his expectations when, at 30 pounds lighter, he presented a check for over $6,000 to Evan and her family on behalf of the 8 Reason To Run runners who completed the Las Vegas half-marathon, the team sponsors and over 60 generous donators. Balkwill now has a physically active lifestyle that he likes to share with others. Balkwill is proud to be a Coca Cola Olympic Torchbearer.
Name: Emily Motoska
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Lloydminster
Torchbearer number: OTR075-089
Torch Relay Segment: January 12th, 2010
Age: 13
Emily Motoska is proud to be a Coca Cola Olympic Torchbearer. Her father was a torchbearer for the 1988 winter Olympics. She says that being active is very important to all of her family members. Motoska thinks that being part of the Coca Cola Torch Relay is a great way to show teens that being active is fun and rewarding!
Name: Sydney Kirychuk
Hometown: Vegreville, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Lloydminster
Torchbearer number: OTR075-090
Torch Relay Segment: January 12th, 2010
Age: 13
Sydney Kirychuk was on holidays in San Diego, California when she found out that she was selected to be a Coca Cola Olympic Torchbearer. She is honoured to be part of the relay for herself and for her family. Her dad was so excited that he told everyone in the hotel lobby in San Diego that she was going to carry the torch for the 2010 Winter Olympics. She is excited for the games and has no doubt that her mom will be her loudest cheerleader.
Name: Robert Potter
Hometown: Sherwood Park, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Lloydminster
Torchbearer number: OTR075-097
Torch Relay Segment: January 12th, 2010
Age: 19
Robert Potter was nominated to be a Coca Cola Olympic torchbearer because of his involvement with the Men’s Volleyball team at MacEwan University of Edmonton, Alberta. His team won the CCAA nationals in 2009.
