The people.

4 Comments June 23, 2015 drworobec

I suppose this graphic nicely sums up my Pan Am torch relay experience:

Carrying the torch through Burlington on Friday night was certainly one of those “moments.” A moment that won’t soon be forgotten. And you know what the best part was? The people.

The people who lined the streets as the shuttle bus dropped off torchbearers one by one, every 200m along the route. The people who held Canada flags and Pan Am signs and children on their shoulders. The people who came down in droves to catch a glimpse of the flame as it made it’s way along Spencer Smith Park. The people who cheered me on as I walked behind the always-impressive Teen Tour Band. The people who hugged me and took my picture and thanked me for representing Burlington. The people in my community.

It was you, the people. You are what made it so special, such an honour, and a never-to-be-forgotten experience.

Thank you.

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Passing the flame to canoeist Mark Oldershaw.

With my great BSSC team.

If you’d like to see the torch up close and personal, please stop by Burlington Sports and Spine Clinic, where it’s proudly displayed.

Friday, June 19th, 6:25pm

Leave a comment June 16, 2015 drworobec

Ah, the Pan Am torch run.

It’s happening on Friday… Friday, June 19th, at 6:25pm.

My segment starts at the Waterfront Trail, right below Spencer’s restaurant, and I run the torch into Spencer Smith Park (you can see the official Google Map here) for the official Torch Relay presentation, as Burlington is one of Pan Am’s “Major Celebration Cities.” The Sound of Music festival will be happening too, so the park will be a focal point, chalk full of people and activity.

I was nominated to carry the flame by my great friend and neighbour, Marnie, unbeknownst to me until the list of twelve finalists was released in December 2014. The City of Burlington then issued an online voting system to determine the city’s Pan Am Community Torchbearer, and the results of this vote were made public in March. It’s been a few long months of waiting for this exciting moment, and it’s finally here.

People keep asking me “what does this experience mean to you?”, and that’s a hard question for me to answer.

It means community. It means sport. It means friendship. It means honour. It means goosebumps and family and support and passion. It means my kids get to watch me do this. It means I get to do this.

These are the visions that race through my mind when I think about my 200m with the torch:

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And it really does give me goosebumps. See you Friday! panammap

I’m Burlington’s Pan Am Community Torchbearer!

4 Comments March 30, 2015 drworobec

Um….. I WAS VOTED BURLINGTON’S PAN AM COMMUNITY TORCHBEARER! I have held in this secret for two very loooooong months. I found out about this result soon after voting closed in late January, but I wasn’t able to share the news with anyone until the Pan Am Games made their official announcement, which they did last week.

Believe me, this was a hard secret to keep.

The torch will pass through Burlington on Friday, June 19th, although I don’t know many more details than that. This is what I do know:

Where: Spencer Smith Park; this also happens to be the Sound of Music Festival weekend.
Length of run: 200m (and here I was hoping for a 5k! Ha!)
And: Burlington is listed as one of Pan Am’s “Major Celebration cities.”

So to you, my readers, my patients, my family, my friends: I thank you for granting me this incredible opportunity. And to you, Marnie, my friend, my neighbour, my nominator, thank you for igniting the spark for all of this to happen.

Mark June 19th on your calendars.

And come join me along the torch route as we celebrate the Pan Am spirit of community and sport.