Name: Kayla Neudorf

Hometown: Swan Hills, Alberta

Carrying Torch: Lake Louise
Torchbearer number: OTR084-032           

Torch Relay Segment: January 21^st, 2010

Age: 16

From an early age, Kayla Neudorf’s parents encouraged her to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. Although she finds enjoyment in various sports and activities, Kayla finds it more fulfilling to help others enjoy life. Coaching has brought her an even greater level of satisfaction. Coaches have asked Kayla to help mentor the younger athletes and project a positive attitude. She spends her time volunteering by coaching swimming, basketball and soccer. The act of seeing others enjoy sports gives Kayla the drive to excel in her own life.

Neudorf also believes the benefits of living an active lifestyle are tremendous. With obesity in children on the rise, she feels it is important that we show children alternative activities and encourage them to get active. However, she believes too many children lack the confidence and self esteem to even begin an active lifestyle. This is where Neudorf feels people like her can guide them on the right path and pass on the teachings she has received.

Neudorf will forever be grateful for how her parents encouraged her to maintain a well-rounded lifestyle and outlook on life.

 

Name: Meaghan Garvie

Hometown: Calgary, Alberta

Carrying Torch: Golden
Torchbearer number: OTR084-052           

Torch Relay Segment: January 21^st, 2010

Age: 25

Meaghan Garvie recently moved home to Calgary from Toronto, where she was a member of an internationally competitive senior synchronized skating team called ‘Black Ice’. She spent 6 wonderful years in Toronto skating, working out and competing with some of her best friends. Despite being busy with skating, Garvie attended school and completed her nursing degree at the University of Toronto. It was in Toronto that Garvie learned that no matter how busy you are it is important to find time to live consciously.

Living just outside of Calgary, the beauty of the natural world is apparent to Garvie every day. She believes it is almost impossible to live in Calgary and not work to protect the environment. However, she understands how all of us can be caught up in our daily responsibilities, especially now that she works 12 hour shifts as a nurse. The work is rewarding, but tiring. Still, Garvie has tried to make a difference. She often gets lunch in her work cafeteria, but does not like to use their disposable take-out containers. Instead, she brings her own plate from her unit’s kitchen. While it is a small step, it saves a lot of garbage and Garvie is hoping to start a trend.

Name: Nadine Tratch

Hometown: Calgary, Alberta

Carrying Torch: Banff

Torchbearer number: OTR084-004           

Torch Relay Segment: January 21^st, 2010

Age: 30

Nadine Tratch moved to Calgary in 2006 and became involved with the CIBC Run for the Cure as a volunteer on the executive planning committee.  For 3 years, she sat on different sub committees and helped raise $5.1 million for breast cancer research.  Nadine’s shining moment was becoming the Run Director for the 2008 run.  She was able to organize a run that brought in $1.7 million dollars and had 10,000 participants.

In 2009, Nadine decided to take a different approach to helping out others through running.  In March, she decided that she would run at least one charity race a month.  This way she could help raise funds for more than one charity throughout 2009 and touch more lives.

Nadine feels a sense of accomplishment every time she crosses the finish line knowing that in some way she has touched another life.

 

Name: Colin Buschman

Hometown: Calgary, Alberta

Carrying Torch: Golden

Torchbearer number: OTR084-068           

Torch Relay Segment: January 21^st, 2010

Age: 19

In the fall of 2008, Colin Buschman had the experience of a lifetime. He flew across the world to Newcastle, Australia, to take part in a Discipleship Training School with a program called Youth with a Mission. As part of that school program, he led a young teen’s group called Youth Street, and within Youth Street, he was a leader on the Surf Team. Not only was this a physically gruelling activity but it also taught Colin the tremendous power of nature. The youth were invigorated by the opportunity to be outside and enjoying the ocean through surfing.

Colin was inspired by his time working with young people and showing them the importance of living a physically active life. Colin is proud to be part of the Coca Cola Olympic Torch relay. 

 

Name: Danielle Vrielink

Hometown: Calgary, Alberta

Carrying Torch: Golden

Torchbearer number: OTR084-056           

Torch Relay Segment: January 21^st, 2010

Age: 14

Torchbearer Story: 

Danielle Vrielink has been doing biathlons for 4 years. She has been to the Alberta Winter Games in Leduc and is on track to go to the Alberta Winter Games this year. Last year, she won the Gernot Kostera award and came in first for her category. In his spare time, Danielle enjoys playing the piano. She recently completed her grade 4 level and won the sonatina class at contemporary Showcase. She is ecstatic to be a part of the Olympic games as a Coca Cola Olympic Torchbearer.

 

NAME: Elisabeth Vathje

Hometown: Calgary, Alberta

Carrying Torch: Lake Louise

Torchbearer number: OTR084-042           

Torch Relay Segment: January 21^st, 2010

Age: 15

Torchbearer Story:

Elisabeth Vathje slide skeleton in Calgary, Alberta. She has travelled to Lake Placid, New York to slide skeleton and is planning a trip to Park City, Utah.

Fiona McLean
Hometown: Calgary

Carrying torch: Golden

It’s easy to work towards being Green – all it takes is a little thought and big changes can develop through a series of small steps. At home, Fiona successfully encouraged her Condo Board to install energy saving lightbulbs in all of the common areas of her building – this massively reduced energy consumption, the frequency of the purchase of lightbulbs (and it’s packaging) and benefited 32 families. In addition to installing those same lightbulbs in her own suite, Fiona also replaced her old toilet with a low-flush, water-saving one and made sure that she always washed all of her clothes in cold water to cut down on energy consumption.

Since Fiona can’t use curbside recycling in her building, she now collects a week’s worth of recycling and take it to her friend’s house for blue box pick-up.

At work, Fiona argued they should be reducing the ‘clearcutting, killing of trees’ and has six people now recycling paper, cardboard and plastic products generated from their workload. In addition, everyone recycles their bottles and cans. All of these steps will keep items out of the landfill and be re-used in other products.

Fiona proposes a new recycling slogan – ‘respect’. If we all take little steps like this, the Green, not Black, environment will be there for everyone to enjoy.