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!'