SFU Alumna Embraces Once In A Lifetime Legacy

Unprecedent numbers of people across Canada poured into the streets to view the spectacle that typically happens only once or twice in most people’s lifetimes – the carrying of the Olympic Torch. Select Canadians were awarded the honour to triumphantly carry the 3.5 pound symbol of peace and sport throughout the mountains, plains and rivers of Canada’s vast landscape, and received a glimpse into the life popular celebrities endure with cameras flashing and people cheering them on. Canada had never seen such a spectacle before and many claim it may be another lifetime before we do again.

Janice Banks Peace (BSc ‘76) was one several SFU alumni who mentally prepared for months to become a member of an historic three-minute occasion. When asked what this moment meant to her, she replied: “Carrying the torch signifies nationalism to me. It is the one time when we can all come together and cheer for our athletes and carrying the torch is an incredible honour for me. It is important because it gives me a chance to be involved in the Olympics in a small way. I have always enjoyed sports but I know I'll never be an Olympic athlete.”

Although a knee injury prevented her from participating in many sports as an adult, Janice runs a family medical practice in Surrey with an emphasis on Obstetrics and has played a large role behind the scenes in one of Vancouver’s leading sport communities. Namely, she has been the team doctor for the Vancouver Whitecaps Women's Soccer Team since 2004 - they were inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, the first women's team in the history of BC Sports to receive that honour. In 2008 she was the team doctor for the Under 20 Women's National Soccer Team for the qualifying CONCACAF competition in Mexico and they then went on to Chile for the World Cup.

Her international travels through her involvement with the soccer world, and  numerous volunteer-based trips for her medical profession are something that Janice treasures, and her recent Torch Bearer experience helped relive many of those moments: “the Olympics offer countries a chance to come together to display the best of their nation. It also allows individual athletes a chance to excel and be recognized (even if you're Eddie the Eagle!!).”

Much like Olympic athletes must work hard to accomplish their goals, Janice adds that, “students and young graduates should ask themselves if they could look their future children in the eye and say ‘I always wanted to be a (doctor, lawyer dentist etc) but never tried’ would they regret that? If so, then they must reach for the dreams, even if it takes hard work and lots of determination to reach their dreams.”

After her once-in-a-lifetime experience carrying the Torch, Janice found her emotions difficult to describe: “ It was elation, intense excitement, nationalism and honour all rolled together. It was the most incredible experience I think I've ever had and I couldn't stop smiling! The energy and excitement of the crowd was so contagious and I was so proud to be a Canadian and to have been chosen to carry the torch.”

Watch Janice's’ Olympic Torch Relay experience here

March 2010