Over 350 athletes, volunteers and spectators gathered at Westwood Park in Saint-Lazare on Sunday August 25 for the 9th edition of the Bryan Liew Run. The Bryan Liew Foundation raised $10,200 for the advancement of the Soulanges outdoor synthetic athletics track project.

“We felt a real craze for the Bryan Liew Run this year,” says Patrick Lepage, co-organizer of the Bryan Liew Run with Claudia Wagner. “The help of our two ambassadors, Audrey Plamondon and François Perreault, was a big factor. These two exceptional individuals actively participated in promoting the event via their networks of acquaintances and social media.”

Runners of all ages were able to choose between distances of 1, 2, 5 or 10 km. The little ones could also don their running shoes to take part in the 400-meter race. 

Marilyne Picard, MNA for Soulanges and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister responsible for Seniors (Caregivers), made an important announcement during the medal ceremony. Financial assistance of $5,000 will be granted to the Bryan Liew Foundation as part of the Volunteer Support Program. 

Who is Bryan Liew?  

Bryan Liew passed away prematurely in 2013. He was a Saint-Lazare resident since 2003. He had a profound influence on local athletes. Coach of the local running club as well as the Westwood Junior High School track and field club, Bryan Liew gave generously of his time over the years.

His remarkable passion for running, his knowledge and his natural leadership have inspired many athletes to surpass their limits or to take up the sport. In addition to leading many young athletes to top-level competitions, he has also been invaluable to runners recovering from injuries or other trials in their lives.

On October 19, 2014, Ville de Saint-Lazare designated the track at Westwood Park the “Bryan Liew Track”. A commemorative plaque has since been installed at the Parc Westwood chalet. 

In the wake of his departure, the Bryan Liew Foundation was created by race organizers Claudia Wagner and Patrick Lepage, along with Bryan Liew's wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Harder. Its aim is to promote amateur sport among the population of Vaudreuil-Soulanges, and to encourage the development of sports facilities in the region.

“The ultimate goal is to raise enough funds to promote the construction of a synthetic athletics track in the region,” reports Patrick Lepage.“The costs of such a facility are great, but by having a certain amount of money, we'll have a better chance of moving forward with this project.”

To date, the organization's bank account shows a balance of $60,000 in order to make this project a reality. “According to our estimates, it would cost $1 million to make this idea a reality.We don't want to raise the whole amount, but a good enough sum to convince a local municipality to make it happen. 

In three years' time, Ville de Saint-Lazare wants to redo Westwood Park, and we hope they'll seize the opportunity to get this project off the ground,” confides Mr. Lepage.  

Committed ambassadors 

In badminton, Audrey Plamondon was provincial champion at junior, college and university levels, as well as at the Masters tournament earlier this year. During her university years, she wore the colors of the Vert & Or de l'Université de Sherbrooke.

She took part in the World University Badminton Championships twice, in 2004 in Thailand and in 2006 in China. She was also the Canadian flag bearer at the opening ceremonies of the Championship in China. Now a physical education teacher at the Papillon-Bleu school and mother of two, Audrey runs, plays tennis, volleyball and beach volleyball.

François Perreault has taken part in 300 timed running competitions, completing 35 marathons including the “Six Major Marathons” and 2 ultramarathons. For the past 30 years, François has been a history teacher at Baie-St-François high school in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. François Perreault founded and coached the Baie-St-François running club for ten years. 

In 2014, a school-wide physical activity was born: “Bouge de là”, a 3 km and 5 km race for all schoolchildren. Today, all Salaberry-de-Valleyfield elementary school take part, for a grand total of 1,600 participants. He has also coached the Cégep de Valleyfield's Noir et Or cross-country club since 2022.

Is it possible that other ambassadors will join the event for the 2025 edition? “It's not impossible. We'd like to recruit a young teenage athlete to act as an ambassador for us in the region's English-speaking communities. That's what we're lacking at the moment, so the call goes out,” concludes Mr. Lepage.