Christina Flemming             

Hometown: Halifax  

Carrying Torch: North Sydney

While in university Christina Flemming found a sport that combined all of her favourite childhood activites: triathlon. She began training, and even convinced her dad to join in. When people in their community saw them training it had a trickle effect. One neighbour dusted off his rusty bike for the first time in years, another started running with her dog. Friends joined the local gym, and her mother began power walking with a group of elderly women.  

Flemming enjoys training with her father as he has inspired her since she was six years old when he carried the Olympic Torch through Nova Scotia on its way to Calgary in 1988. Because of her commitment to active living, people became more active and her father proved he could complete a triathlon with his 60^th birthday looming.

Lisa O’Brien              

Hometown: Topsail, Conception Bay South        

Carrying Torch: Membertou

Lisa O’Brien has been involved in sports since she was three years old. Now that she is older, she stays involved by coaching figure skating. She feels coaching is very rewarding when you are able to teach a new skill and see your student achieve their goals. 

O’Brien is a mother of two boys and teaches them that being involved in sports is good for them physically, mentally and socially. She helps coach hockey and soccer and aims to be a positive role model to the children and encourage them to stay active.

Carrying the torch has always been a dream of O’Brien’s and now it will finally come true. With her children on the side cheering her on, she is anxiously awaiting her chance at carrying the flame.

Clint Lettice              

Hometown: Sydney Mines  

Carrying Torch: Membertou

Clint Lettice has been active for his entire life. As a minor hockey play, coach and board member in Syndey Mines for over 30 years, Lettice was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004 for his volunteer work with the minor hockey association.

Lettice believes it is important to be a positive role model to his players. He teaches them sportsmanship and how to make healthy life choices.

Lisa Parsons            

Hometown: North Sydney  

Carrying Torch: Dominion

Lisa Parsons began eating healthy and being active three years ago and it changed her life. She now enjoys running 20km a week and has lost 35lbs.

Parsons challenges her children to be active through sport and other activities. They are learning the importance of being active every time they go out to play with their friends. Parsons believes that her commitment to running teaches them that health and wellness are a vital part of being happy and healthy.

Parsons volunteered to help the running club at her children’s school and was able to share her love of running with even more children. She is grateful of her health and that she could make an active contribution. She believes that living by example so that her children will see what a positive impact it has.

Gordon Warnica                  

Hometown: Fall River         

Carrying Torch: New Waterford

Gordon Warnica is 63 years old and has devoted his life to active living. As a runner for more than 50 years, he now teaches a hiking and learn-to-run class twice a year. Through his efforts he has taught more than 50 people to hike and 120 to run. Warnica has hiked the Appalachian Trail and plans on participating in a 1000 mile canoe race from Whitehorse to Alaska.

Warnica was a charter member of the organizing committees of both The Rum Runners Relay (60 teams of 10 runners) and The Cabot Trail Relay (65 teams of 17 runners) in Nova Scotia. Both races started out with 10 or 12 teams and they now come from as far away as France, Ireland, The Cayman Islands and California. They encourage participation in these events by using the ‘Tour de France’ format having no leg start until the previous one has finished. Warnica was race director of the first two Eco-Endurance Adventure races in Nova Scotia, introducing these exciting new events to the Maritimes.

Taylor Murray                       

Hometown: River Ryan       

Carrying Torch: New Waterford

Taylor Murray tries to live eco-friendly to reduce her impact on the environment. She rides her bike to her friend’s houses and encourages them to do the same. She also gets her family to walk when they visit her grandparents instead of driving. Murray has also started a recycling program in her home, and eventually got her extended family to participate as well.

Murray uses a refillable water bottle to reduce plastic use. She also volunteers at Tae Kwon Do school where she teaches children the importance of active and green living. She believes that getting the message out is the first step in protecting the earth.

Ruth MacInnes                     

Hometown: Sydney 

Carrying Torch: Sydney

Ruth MacInnes has lived a very active life. She has been heavily involved in the Canadian Special Olympic Winter Games. She has volunteered and coached the local and provincial Special Olympic programs for over 15 years. She was also the speed skating head coach for team Nova Scotia at three Canadian Special Olympic Winter Games.

Because of her hard work, MacInnes has received several coaching and volunteer awards. MacInnes is an excellent role model for giving back to your community and leading an active, healthy life.

Lauchie Beaton        

Hometown: Port Hastings  

Carrying Torch: Baddeck

Lauchie Beaton has been involved in track and field as a coach for 23 years. She was a coach for two Nova Scotia Canada Games. Beaton enjoys participating in sport and encouraging her athletes to persevere their dreams and goals, much like she is now by carrying the Olympic Torch.

Additionally, Beaton qualified and ran in 10 consecutive Boston Marathons. 

Conor Scallion                     

Hometown: Wentworth       

Carrying Torch: Baddeck

Conor Scallion is carrying the torch in honour of his father who passed away in 2003. His father was an aspiring Olympic athlete as a cross country skier in the 70s. The qualification rules changed just as his father qualified. He was unable to make it to any Olympic Games due to other factors, such as his commitment to raising a family.

Scallion has been very involved in skiing and cycling growing up in Nova Scotia. He attended the 1999 Canada Winter Games in Newfoundland and now coaches skiing. Scallion was involved in building a network of mountain biking trails which now host the largest bike race in the Maritimes.

Louis Deveau                       

Hometown: Cheticamp       

Carrying Torch: Wagmatcook

Louis Deveau is a pharmacist in a small community where he engages and encourages his patients to lead healthier lives by exercising and eating well. He aims to lead by example by being involved in hockey, badminton, soccer and jogging.

As a pharmacist, Deveau is at the front line of the health care system and sees the need for major changes in the lifestyles of Canadians. He believes it is very important to promote the prevention of diseases to ease the financial burden on our health care system. Many chronic diseases can be prevented by making healthier life choices. Deveau helps the people of his small community to make better choices and lead better lives.