Former resident medals at Pan Ams

Audra Vair, who grew up in the Creemore area and is still listed as a resident on the Rowing Canada database, was rewarded for years of training last week when she won two rowing medals at the Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

On Monday, October 17, Vair won bronze in the Women’s Double event with her rowing partner, Elizabeth McCord of Toronto. She and an expanded team then went on to capture a silver medal in the Women’s Quad event on Wednesday, October 19.

Vair grew up in Shamrock House, the steep-roofed house on the north side of County Road 9 just before Centre Line Road. She attended New Lowell Central Public School and began rowing at the age of fourteen, while attending Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario.

In the summers, she would row at the Barrie Rowing Club with her father, Derek Vair, but moved on to row for the University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Rowing Club. After receiving her Undergraduate Degree in Bio-Pharmaceuticals from the University of Ottawa, she went on to study Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia, all the while rowing for UBC. 

After receiving her Master’s Degree, she came back to London, Ontario to row with the Canadian Development Team, where she remains until after the Nationals in November, at which time the finalists for the 2012 Olympic team will be announced.

Vair is the daughter of Derek and Egle Vair, previously of Creemore. She is the niece of current residents Anna Narusis and Rita Fransen.