Julia's Story

History is made up of a lot of great stories. Some about political figures, athletes, celebrities and then some about the everyday people. The You and Me stories. Well the Olympics are no different. We all watch the games,we see the medals won. We feel the pride of the anthem as the flag raises in BC Place and shed a tear as a dream was shattered or realized. But what about the people who hugged and highfived as they passed the torch to each other from one end of Canada to the next? What is their story?

Meet Julia...

Julia Wilson is not your typical 25 year old woman. After five years of playing for the Simon Fraser University's basketball team and the Canadian Jr. National team , Julia was diagnosed with MS a month before the end of her career with SFU. At 6 foot 4, Julia knew at a young age that basketball was her dream and pursued and realized a lot of goals along the way. Anyone else being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis that had dreams of being a professional athlete would be at best completely shattered by the news. That's where Julia is different. Her aunt was diagnosed at 22 as well and lives a full life with a family her own. There is no pity party in the bitter barn for Julia. Life may have thrown her off balance for a bit but she soon had new dreams and new goals.

And it was exactly that spirit that compelled her father's local Union to ask Julia to participate in the Torch Relay. And when the corporate gods reach out from Coca-Cola, you answer YES. After receiving her uniform,instructions and special issued Hudson Bay red mittens (the white maples leaf is rubberized for better grip on the torch), Julia was set. On the day of her leg of the relay everyone in her area met at an undisclosed location to receive last minute instruction and get on the bus that would take them to the relay site. You'd think being chosen and actually experiencing the whole energy of this event would be enough, and you'd be right.

Until Trevor Linden joins your group.

Yes, Trevor Linden,former Canuck and all around Vancouver Royalty was part of the group being led to the site and the exchange was only a few people away. While waiting for the relay to begin Trevor joked, "I can't believe my boss let me off work for this." To which Julia mused that she did not think him of all people had a boss anymore.

"The wife." he replied.

As the bus went down the street fans of all ages ran along side chanting Linden's name. He joked it would be nice if once it were a girl. One can only imagine the mood in the bus, the energy palpable.

Once the bus had arrived and each person was set in their leg ready for the hand off it was all over in a quick 300meters. When I asked what it felt like the second the flame left her hand she answered, "I felt that the moment had just flown by! I could just feel the excitement from the crowd about the Olympics and was just amazed I had a piece of history in my hands."

And with each torch and flame that passed on after Julia, a small piece of history was left behind, a new dream emerged and new story was told for the next person. Each one of them carrying their own dreams and making their own history like Julia, Trevor and everyone else that day.