Final Announcement

To all our Wheels for Change friends

What a trip this turned out to be – we feel so honored by all the attention, publicity and support that we got as we made our three week, 1000 km journey across this beautiful province!

Along the way, we achieved so much:

· We cycled a grand total of over 28,000 km (not our goal of 40,000, but a great start!)

· We ended up involving over 800 cyclists, ranging in age from 3 to 84 years old, with 34 core cyclists, including 9 children

· We held 16 different community events, many featuring colorful bicycle parades, bike rallies, and other bike rides featuring various ‘green’ themes; speeches by Mary and Celia; songs by Robin and the kids; and our W4C banner and booth, with all its postcards, lawn signs, T-shirts and handouts. Some more unusual events included a movie viewing in Osoyoos, a meeting with the Mayor of Chilliwack in his chambers, and a tour of a ‘green’ retrofitted public building in Maple Ridge.

· Many postcards were signed and sent to politicians at all levels, and we sold many lawn signs (saying ‘next election I am voting for real action on climate change’)

· We were covered by at least one (often 2-3) different local media in each community we visited

· We also received significant attention from provincial/national media as well (5 CBC radio interviews, 1 studio interview on Global TV, 3-4 clips on Shaw TV and CHBC TV, and articles in various magazines)

· We received a number of endorsements by celebrities (activists, athletes, musicians)

· We also received endorsements by 9 Mayors (out of the 16 we contacted); many these Mayors and their Councilors participated in our community events

· On the final day, representatives from all the three main provincial political parties attended the final event on Parliament Hill to receive copies of the ‘kms cycled’ logsheets from our children (Liberal: Minister Ida Chong (reading a letter from Premier Gordon Campbell), NDP: Maureen Garagianis: and Green: Brian Gordon)

· At the same event, representatives from three out of the four main national parties also participated (Conservatives: declined to send a representative; Liberal: Bryony Penn (reading a letter from national party leader Stephane Dion), NDP: Julian West (reading a letter by national party leader Jack Layton), Green: Peter Ronald)

· Elie, Emma and Kassim, our tour’s oldest children, wrote their own speeches and presented them to the politicians at the Legislative Lawns, along with the logsheets. As one of them said, ‘please give us a life’!

For those 34 of us who were in the core bicycling group, I think I can speak for all of us in saying that Wheels for Change worked many changes on us – ‘transformative’ was the word we often used. Many of us have resolved to go home and make changes in our own lives in a number of different ways.

We had our ups and downs: we had rides that were just wonderful, but we also faced headwinds, heat waves and rainstorms; there were times when went things ran smoothly, and times when they definitely did not…. Throughout, people tried to support one another and this campaign to the best of their abilities, and generally there was a very happy, positive mood. As one of us said, it really makes a difference to be taking a holiday that is also making such an important statement.

We have all enjoyed the fact that people of all ages were involved, and from so many different backgrounds. We reckon that one of our main messages from this tour is that if we can do it (i.e. take positive action on climate change), given our not-too-stellar fitness levels and the state of our bikes, anyone can!

What moved us very deeply was the support for our campaign that was expressed by so many people across the province. We received many donations, emails and letters of support. We also had many offers of free or discounted accommodation, meals, supplies, yoga sessions, website design, bike safety instruction, bike equipment, bike tune-ups, etc.

To everyone who helped us, encouraged us, or joined us, we would like to say a very heartfelt ‘thank you’. It is inspiring to know that many people share our concern and our desire for stronger action on climate change.

And so, the end is really just the beginning, because now we move on to take action on this very serious threat of climate change, both in our own lives, and by thinking long and hard about how to best use our power as voters…

We hope that Wheels for Change has helped to inspire people across BC to take action with us – and now… let’s get going!

With Love,

Mary, Celia and Robin

Victoria Event Now Finalized

Access to Our Photographs

...and here's a site where you can look at a slide show of some of our favorite photos...

You can also look at our travel blog (accessed from our Home page)

Thanks to JD Gibbard, our travel blog/photographer/fellow bike rider!

Thank You, Sun Valley Cycle and Cycle Cycle!

The Wheels for Change riders based in Vernon have been supported by two local bicycle operations, Sun Valley Cycles (a bicycle store) and Cycle Cycle (an organization dedicated to recycling old bicycles). Sun Valley Cycles has provided us with a discount for all bike parts, and has put a lot of work into tuning up our bikes. Thank you, Bernie and others! Cycle Cycle has also devoted a lot of time and attention to making our bikes ready for the road. Thanks to Brent, John and others.

Yes, You Can Still Register!

People are asking whether they can still register for the tour (we very sternly said on the Bike Tour page of the website that the deadline was two weeks ago!), and the answer is 'yes'! As long as you let us know, by email or telephone, and a day or two in advance, so that we can make plans for including you in our meals and camping arrangements!

We Could Use One More Driver!

One more thing - we are looking for one extra person to help out in the kidmobile, with driving and child-minding. There are five (nice!) kids between the age of 7 and 12. We have one great child-minder/grandma, but she would appreciate a helping hand! You wouldn't have to bicycle (unless you want to!), and you would free up one of our cyclists to log more kms!

One Week To Go!

It's one week before we hit the road and it's all falling into place. Depending upon where we are on the route, our core group ranges from 20 to 30 people (and in age from 3 to 73!), dozens more are planning to join us just for the day, and hundreds more will be taking part in our shorter bike rides within the towns and cities. We are so impressed by the diversity, passion and commitment of the people joining this tour. We can see that we are tapping into a strong current of feeling, shared by many people across the province, that stronger action needs to be taken on this issue - and soon. So, as we enter our final weeks of preparation, we would like to say that we look forward very much to seeing you out there somewhere along the route!

Finally - watch this space! This Announcements blog will shortly become our Travel blog, complete with photos!

Blessing of the Bicycles!

'I look forward to keeping track of your progress. I spoke with Michael Batten at St David’s in Delta (he and I coordinate the Blessing of the Bicycles together with a small group of Anglican and Lutheran cyclists), and we will put in a prayer for safe travels for all involved in Wheels for Change on June 29^th.'

Paige Dampier
Parish Ministry Facilitator,
Anglican Diocese of New Westminster

We miss you, Otesha Project Rocky Mountain Group!

My family just had 17 house guests between the age of 18-30 over four days last week. They were the Otesha Project's Rocky Mountain group, and they rolled in on their bikes, set up their tents, cooked up some local, organic food, and generally provided my family and the Wheels for Change group here with lots of ideas, fun and inspiration. Check out their website to learn more about this fantastic project, that involves a two month tour by bicycle, performing plays in high schools on sustainability issues. When they left, we missed them, but we sure appreciated their 'leave the campsite cleaner than when you found it' policy!

A Bike Ride in the Lower Mainland

Date: September 8-9, 2007
What: The 23^rd Annual Bicycle Trek for Life and Breath is an exhilarating, fully supported, two-day 200-kilometre ride along rural roads with mountain views and waterfront scenery to raise money in support of lung health. Riding at your own pace means you don’t need to be a gold medal athlete; just prepare yourself for fun, fresh air, and 400 new friends!

Contact Info:
Our website: www.bicycletrek.ca
Tel: 604-731-5864

Another great meeting in Salmon Arm

What a great group we have in Salmon Arm! Here are some of them at the second meeting to organize the evening event at Peace Park.

From left to right: Lindsay Lazzaratto, Richelle Stacer and Julie Maxwell of (SASSSEC) Jordan Thompson (Canada World Youth), Siri Hermanski (SASSSEC), Karen Andreassen (Shuswap Environmental Action Society).

The 4 young people from SASSSEC are part of the Salmon Arm Senior Secondary School Environmental Club. All were influenced by the film An Inconvenient Truth and were founding members of the SASS Environmental Club.

Vernon volunteers, musicians and businesses come out to support our campaign

"Wheels for Change" would like to offer our heartfelt gratitude to the following volunteers, artists and local businesses for their contribution to the success of our Celebration Day for the Earth and for helping to put the fun in our FUNdraiser.

Thank you to the following volunteers and musicians for supporting the Wheels for Change campaign fundraiser:

Vernon Art Gallery, Sue and Richard Vignola ( Rancho Vignola ), Janis Novosell Elaine Holmes and Rory White, Ed and LeRae Walter (Fandango Farms ), Mahina Rose, Adham Shaikh, Charlotte Sandoz, S.E.N.S., Denys and Monika Lawrence, Katimavik participants, Sue Bru, Laurent Gagnon, Karl Podolski, Robin Genthon, Kath Raeber, Paul Emerson, Nonie Jackson, Jayme McKillop, Gerald Humphrey, John Lanegin (aka Lo-Fi Cowboy), Kelli Sullivan, Devaki Thomas and family ,Olivia Johnson, Rod Neufeld, Shelly Vida.

Silent Auction donors: Bubble Headz, Town Theatre, Breadeaux Pizza, Staples, Baker's Dozen, Safeway, Farwest, 30th avenue Pawn, Pooh's and Bean's, Olympia Cycle and Ski, Nature's Fare, Summerhill Winery, Nadine's Bud's N Bloom, Dream Weaver, The Starting Block, Valhalla Pure Outfitters, Hemp City, Rapunzels, Regis Pictures and Framers, Bean to Cup, Ladies World, Okanagan Science Centre, Cut and Style, Your Dollar store and more, Italian Kitchen, Sun Country Cycle, Allan Brooks Nature Centre, Penningtons, Home Hardware, The Flower Spot, Save-On-Foods, Art Knapp, 24/7 clothing, Sweet Caroline's Bakery, Denys and Monika Lawrence, Kiso Organics, Karl Podolski, Val Chiba, David Wilson, Wayne Lariviere.

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the Earth and support Wheels for Change.

Celia and Mary

We have a Prius!

Wheels for Change is overjoyed to announce that we have been lent a Prius for the duration of the trip! This will serve as a low emissions support vehicle for our bike tour. THANK YOU to our generous anonymous benefactor!

First Meeting of the Salmon Arm Team!

A great team has formed in Salmon Arm to organize the community event there! The individuals/groups who are committed to helping out include: Joyce Henderson, Judy Stockdale, Nonie Jackson, Jordan Thompson of Canada World Youth, BC-Uruguay 2007, Jan Gamble of the Shuswap Eat Local Project, Karen Andreasson of Shuswap Environmental Action Society (SEAS), and Warren Bell and Sarah Kipp of Community Association for Sustainable Salmon Arm (CASSA)

The plan is to ride the 60 km from Vernon to Salmon Arm, using back roads through some beautiful countryside. We will stop at Hullcar Crossing at midday, where the Canada World Youth group is kindly providing us with lunch, and where they and others from Salmon Arm will join us in cycling in to town. After setting up camp and being fed a delicious supper provided by the Shuswap Eat Local Project, we will be joined by many community people in a celebratory bike ride through town, ending at the Peace Park at 7:00 pm for music, speeches, postcard signing and more... We will post more details on the website once they are finalized.

ATraining Ride - and Media Event - for the Vernon Gang!

Some of the Vernon team went on our first training ride on Monday, April 30th, out from Polson Park to to a picnic at Kinsmen Beach on Okanagan Lake. The day was beautiful and the cyclists got a taste of how fun this trip will be!

Thanks Mary, Celia, Judy, Nonie, Brian, Julia, Robin, Cath, Emma, Tom, Shaonie, Elie, Kassim, and Jeremi for coming out to be photographed!

Thanks Natalia Vignola and Kate Mahaits for your professional photography, and Jack Elliman for your videography.

Thanks also to the following local media: Tyler Olsen of the Morning Star, Darren Handschuh of the Daily Courier, Dawne Novakowski and Vince of Shaw TV, and Kiss FM radio. We got some great local coverage!

Thank You, Rancho Vignola!

Wheels for Change would like to thank Rancho Vignola for their generous offer of a supply of fruit and nuts to boost us as we go on our bike tour from Nelson to Victoria!

Rancho Vignola Nuts and Dried Fruit: 'Bringing the Best of the New Crop from the farm to your community, and to cyclists everywhere! Go 'Wheels' Go!'

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Wheels for Change went to Victoria for Earth Walk for Earth Day!

Lots of interest - a few new cyclists signed up for the full tour, and many more for the final day in Victoria!

Here is our booth, being manned by Mutang Urud of the Victoria team...

Vernon Campaign Coordinating Group

Here are some of us in the Vernon campaign coordinating group, at our meeting held on April 15th, at Mary's place. From left to right: Brian, Terry, Celia, Karl, Nonie, Mary. Robin and Cathy are missing because they went home early...! We are holding up another small banner made for us by the Katimavik group.

First Victoria Meeting

Here is the first meeting of the Victoria group, already with their helmets on and raring to go! This group had a great meeting on Wednesday, April 11^th, to plan the final day of the bike tour (Sunday, July 22). On this day, the main group of cyclists will be coming over to the Island on the ferry, gathering with local cyclists at the ferry terminal, and then cycling into the city centre. The group are also making plans for the Grand Finale event at the end of the ride! More to come… If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Natasha Blanchet-Cohen at: nbciicrd@uvic.ca

‘Wheels for Change’ Fundraiser
Friday, May 18^th, 2007, All Day Event in Vernon

Join us for a day of games, art, music and silent auction to raise money for the environmental campaign "Wheels for Change"

1^st Event : 3:30-5:00 pm, in Polson Park
‘Capture the Flag’ game for kids and families, organized by Katimavik

2^nd Event: 5:30-9:30 pm, in the Vernon Art Gallery
An evening of art, music, food, silent auction, and more, organized by Wheels for Change and Katimavik

• 5:30-6:30 Take part in an eco-friendly pop-art project where Laurent Gagnon and other artists will teach us how to create beautiful art from recyclable ‘waste’.

• 7:00-9:30 Enjoy an evening of music featuring the acoustic tunes of local artists:
• Robin Genthon- opening with drum and chant song
• Paul Emerson - soulful sounds sung with spirit
• Jayme McKillop- 'folksy' lady
• Barry (Lo-Fi) Clarke- post modern singer/songwriter
• Devaki Thomas- powerful emotional sensual sounds
• Rod Neufeld- Canadiana singer/songwriter

• Serving Celia’s delicious buffet meal and Café Feminino coffee by donation.

• Silent Auction throughout the evening, with lots of wonderful items donated by local businesses!

3^rd Event: 10:00 onwards, Fandango Farm
Dance featuring DJ Adham Shaikh, organized by Wheels for Change.
Tickets for this event are $15.00 at The Bean Scene, $20.00 at the door.

Thank You, KATIMAVIK!

The Katimavik group, based here in Vernon from February to May, have been amazing!

Mary and Celia met with them in February to tell them about Wheels for Change, and as a result they decided to make our campaign their Community Involvement Project (the Katimavik programme requires them to do one big group project in the community for each of their three month stays)!

They have been helping out in all sorts of ways, from making a beautiful banner (see photo), to making a Wheels for Change booth, to taking the booth to different events to publicize the campaign, to holding a big fundraiser for the campaign on May 18th (more on this later).

Our Announcements Blog has been Set Up!

Here is our first announcement:
We're cycling 40,000 kilometres from Nelson to Victoria!

It is only 1000 kms from Nelson to Victoria, but with your help we can collectively cycle 40,000 kms (the equivalent to circling the Earth!). Whether it is by bicycling 1 km or the whole journey, hosting the community events along the route, sending postcards to politicians, or sharing our inspiring stories, we will make a difference on climate change!