Former Uddingston woman carries Winter Olympic torch

Feb 26 2010 By Andy McGilvray

UDDINGSTON man Bill Wood this week spoke of his pride after watching daughter Janie Burns carry the Winter Olympic torch at this year’s Games in Vancouver.

Janie (52), who is originally from Uddingston but who has lived in Canada for 17 years, was selected to take part in the procession as a representative of the Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, where she’s head nurse.

And Janie was thrilled to pass the torch on to Canadian icehockey hero Trevor Linden of Vancouver Canucks, a club who sponsors the hospice where she w o r k s.

They both took part in a leg of the 106-day 45,000km cross- Canada relay, which visited every province and territory from October 30 until the Winter Olympics started on February 12.

Former Uddingston Community Council chairman Bill (79) said: “When Janie phoned to tell us she had been asked to carry the torch she was so excited she could
hardly speak.

“She was very, very proud and very surprised, astonished and excited.

“For a wee lassie from Uddingston it’s a big, big thing to be asked to carry the Olympic torch.

“It’s a major honour. She carried the torch in downtown Vancouver.

“I’m extremely proud. I watched Janie on the internet with my son Billy and she handed the torch over to Trevor Linden of Vancouver Canucks, who is absolutely

massive in Canada, so all the cameras were on that.

“It’s a funny thing that Vancouver Canucks sponsor the hospice where Janie works.”

Janie was educated at Tannochside Primary and Uddingston Grammar, before training at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Edinburgh Sick Kids’ Hospital.

She then worked in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain before settling in Vancouver with second husband Richard and their children Jonty and Sophie.

Bill and his wife Hilda visit as often as possible, and Mr Wood says he just loves the country.

He said: “Janie says Vancouver is overwhelmed with visitors for the Winter Olympics and the atmosphere is fantastic.

“It’s a beautiful place. We were in Whistler in June and it was covered in snow, so it’s quite magical.

“I used to travel a lot in my job and Vancouver is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.”