Sport as medicine: Benjamin Cooper-Janvier’s Journey to Boston and beyond
This April, Benjamin Cooper-Janvier will run the Boston Marathon—not only as a personal milestone, but as a powerful act of healing, purpose, and advocacy for Indigenous youth.
Benjamin, 28, is Denesųłiné from Cold Lake First Nations on his father’s side and English on his mother’s. He grew up in Calgary, grounded in ceremony and a deep connection to culture. His road to Boston has been years in the making: more than 2,500 kilometres of training, a missed qualifying attempt, and a final push that secured a Boston-qualifying time of 2:49:07.
But for Benjamin, running has always been about more than physical endurance. As a teenager, he lost his brother Randy to suicide—an unimaginable loss that, over time, revealed itself as part of a deeper legacy of intergenerational trauma. His father attended Blue Quills Residential School for over a decade, and the impacts of that experience reverberated across generations. In a university classroom in 2017, hearing the word “suicide” during a lecture, Benjamin confronted the full weight of that legacy—and everything changed.
From that moment on, sport became his medicine.
Running, movement, and a daily commitment to wellness became the foundation for healing—not just for himself, but for future generations. “No matter how big or small the trauma passed to me, it began a lifelong journey to ensure my children won’t have to carry that burden,” he says.
Fundraising for Spirit North
Now, Benjamin is using his Boston run to raise $10,000 in support of Spirit North’s programs. He believes Spirit North is doing the work needed to lift Indigenous youth out of cycles of harm and disconnection. On his fundraising page at Canada Helps, he writes:
“My dream is to make sport and athletics more available for Indigenous youth and people—to empower them to overcome the impacts of residential school, and to help them succeed in the world as it is today—the same way it did for me.”
He knows that sport alone isn’t the whole answer—but it's been a powerful force in his life, alongside ceremony, family, nature, and other supports. He also knows that not all youth have access to these same opportunities, and he's determined to change that.
We’re honoured that Benjamin has chosen to walk—and run—alongside Spirit North in this journey. His story is a powerful reminder of why this work matters, and of the strength that emerges when pain is transformed into purpose.
To support Benjamin’s run and help bring the power of sport to more Indigenous youth, visit his fundraising page:
Mahsi cho, Benjamin—we’re with you every step of the way.
