Whether he was just being recognized out on a run or organizing the entire Olympic medical team, UBC Emeritus Dr. Jack Taunton was a staple in the sports community.
Taunton passed away on October 23 at 77 after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Cheryl, their two daughters and six grandchildren.
UBC School of Kinesiology Director Robert Bourshel announced Taunton’s passing in a news post last week, writing Taunton was “a dedicated physician, accomplished scholar and visionary leader in the field of sports medicine.”
“His leadership and dedication to advancing medical care for athletes and to establishing the field of sports medicine as a medical discipline was remarkable,” Bourshel wrote.
Taunton faced medical setbacks as a child, having contracted polio at seven years old and being involved in a car crash as a teenager, which both required physiotherapy. These experiences sparked his interest in medicine, and in 1976, he received his medical degree from UBC. Taunton, despite having dyslexia, graduated at the top of his class.
In 1979, he co-founded the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre alongside Doug Clement and Don McKenzie. The centre, housed in the Chan Gun Pavilion at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, is a decorated clinic for sports injury rehabilitation and education.
Taunton served as director of the clinic for over 25 years and was a clinical teacher and supervisor for graduate students. His research interests revolved around overuse injuries, injury prevention and athletic cardiac disease.
He also had a specific focus in concussions and co-established the BC Brain Wellness Program as an associate member of the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health.
Taunton was nationally and internationally recognized for his discipline, having attended eight Olympic games. He was the chief medical officer of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics when for the first time, the IOC Medical Commission had zero complaints.
But Taunton was more than a doctor within the sports community. While in medical school, he founded Canada’s first road running club, the Lions Gate Road Runners, and he was a nationally ranked marathon runner. Taunton ran 62 marathons in his life, with a personal best of 2:25:29.
Alongside Clement, Taunton and his wife founded the BMO Vancouver Marathon in 1972 and the Vancouver Sun Run in 1985, the latter of which saw 45,517 runners participate this past year alone.
“His impact on running culture and sports medicine has left an indelible mark, empowering countless individuals to lead healthier, more active lives,” wrote RUNVAN in memoriam on their website.
Taunton was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 and the UBC Sports Hall of Fame in 2021. In June, he was appointed to the Order of Canada for his contributions to sports medicine.
Taunton’s loss was felt tremendously throughout the UBC sports community. UBC alum and current race walking coach Evan Dunfee took to X to remember Taunton.
“Your passion, drive, and dedication to your community have always inspired me,” wrote Dunfee. “Your impact & legacy are truly indescribable and you’re going to be so deeply missed by so many, myself included.”
Former UBC President Santa Ono expressed his devastation at Taunton’s passing.
“He was one of the most remarkable graduates of UBC,” Ono wrote. “He was one of the university’s biggest cheerleaders and encouraged me in both good times and bad.”
Many other organizations, such as UBC Athletics, Field Hockey Canada and the Invictus Games, also shared condolences online, signifying Taunton’s wide and meaningful impact in the local, national and global sports communities.
“Jack will be missed by all who knew him,” Boushel concluded.
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