SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife doctor will carry the Olympic torch in Ontario next week.

Dr. Ewan Affleck is one of 20 physicians carrying the torch on behalf of the Canadian Medical Association on Monday in Cornwall, located approximately 100 kilometres southeast of Ottawa. The association said it selected Affleck because he inspires his community to be active.

"It's really nice," said Affleck, who learned the news when he came back from an expedition to Baffin Island.

"When I came back, I had a phone (call) from the Canadian Medical Association saying 'are you Ewan Affleck' and I said 'yes.' I thought I had done something bad but they said 'you've been selected to carry the Olympic torch.'"

Affleck is a graduate of McGill Medical School in Montreal. He started practising medicine in the North in 1992, and settled in Yellowknife in 2001. A general practitioner and the medical director of the Great Slave Community Health Clinic, Affleck started distance running at age 40. He eventually participate in two midwinter, 135-kilometre Arctic ultra-marathons.

He is the science and education director for impossible2possible, a Canadian non-profit organization that hosts adventures to motivate youth to protect the environment. He was also medical director for the 2008 Arctic Winter Games held in Yellowknife.

During the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, Affleck will be working as a medic with cross-country skiers, ski jumpers and biathletes.

"That will be a lot of fun," said Affleck. "I'm looking forward to it. They'll have me working hard."