Meeting Minutes-Nov. 24th. 2022-Ian Evans: Bicycling Across Canada
Start @ 9:55 am in the Trinity United Church Gymnasium
45 Members in attendance
President John Sneyd welcomed all in attendance and a special welcome to Ian Evans who has presented to us before.
Also a special welcome to today’s six guest attendees: Mike Diamond, Doug Davidson, Larry Kich, Joe Gruzleski, Al Dejong, and Don MacGoll
President Sneyd paid thanks to some members for their efforts for several contributions.
- Warren Gregg was recognized for organizing and purchasing of the tickets for the Drayton Theatre performance of Mamma Mia;
- The Remembrance Day activities was organized by members of the Activities Committee lead by Martin Alderwick;
- Thank you to Ken Marchant for organizing the tickets for members to attend the VBA Cabaret;
- A shout-out to Ritchie Zelk, the Club photographer, who maintains the meeting bulletin board as well as the Club website and who was also here this morning to help set up the room chairs.
John next read out a note of thanks the Club received from the Watson family for the card of sympathy and recognition of the passing of member Ken Watson.
John reminded members of the Club business cards that were left on the chairs at the two previous meetings for members to pick up and use to distribute to other potential members to bring in more members to the Club.
The next coffee meeting will be next Thursday, December 1st, and the last coffee meeting of the year will be December 15th, also at the Boathouse. Our Christmas Luncheon will be on December 8th opening at 11:30 at the Victoria East Golf Course.
The next membership meeting will be our first meeting in the new year on January 5th, 2023 with Ken McGoogan who is the author of numerous Arctic discovery books.
Announcements:
Activities – Ken Marchant
- Ken began by thanking everyone who came to the Cabaret at the Village by the Arboretum;
- Ken announced that there are now 48 people signed up to attend the Christmas Luncheon. The cut-off date for purchasing tickets to this event will be December 1st. The door will open at 11:30am along with the bar. Gifts have been gathered from all over the community and there will be special gifts for the ladies.
President John Sneyd introduced today’s guest speaker, Ian Evans.
Bio:
Ian has embraced adventure all his life - from scaling the shed roof at aged 3 to skiing to the South Pole at aged 58. He has also climbed 5 of the "7 Summits" ", cycled 5,000 km solo & unsupported across Australia (twice) around the coastline of Iceland and to the Arctic Ocean and run 10 marathons.
But the thing about Ian is that he is an ordinary guy, from a rural background in England, who has decided to push himself to achieve extraordinary things at the very edge of his own comfort zone. He is not an explorer, world record holder or super-fit world-class endurance athlete, but is a Chartered Accountant who has led in many ways a regular life. Ian has worked for 25 years in Africa and Canada operating his own consulting practice specializing in the restructuring and refinancing of transportation companies.
Ian's latest expedition in 2021was to cycle 8,000 km across Canada from Prince Rupert in B.C. To Cape Spear Newfoundland while raising $10,000.00 for the Community Foundations of Canada.
Presentation:
I have always wanted to ride across Canada, and what a better time to undertake this expedition than 2021, when international travel and cross-border excursions are restricted due to the COVID pandemic. A truly 100% all-Canadian adventure covering over 8,000 km, climbing 56,000 metres, from the furthest westerly coastal point to furthest easterly point and touching every province - a ride across our continent. This expedition was special for me in another way in that my wife, Liz joined me by supporting the expedition in our camper van, enabling me to travel much lighter than on previous treks. Once leaving our starting point in Prince Rupert, BC the 84-day expedition had numerous challenges. From the heat and forest fires in BC, the unexpected predominant easterly headwinds and bomb-site roads across the Prairies and the nightmare cycling conditions across the “Transport truck Grand Prix” route of highway 11 in northern Ontario. Days in the saddle were much longer than anticipated, including one memorable ride of 12 hours covering 170 kms into a raging headwind in Alberta. All of this was more than made up for by the tranquility of the Ottawa Valley, the eclectic nature of small-town Quebec, the ocean cycling routes of the Maritimes and the fun and characters in Newfoundland.
Memories include the warm welcome we received across the country, those rare tailwind days when 200 km seemed no issue, the camper van challenges with repairs and waste hose disasters, the drivers with horn-tooting encouragement and the many laughs and absurd situations that unfolded along the way.
We reached our goal of raising $10,000 for the Centre Wellington Community Foundation (CWCF). The Foundation has been a pillar of our community for a long time, providing funding for many worthy local initiatives, notably the Community Wellington COVID-19 Community Response Fund, which we supported on this expedition.
A short Q&A followed Ian’s presentation and then John Sneyd thanked Ian for his presentation and gave him a token of appreciation from the Club.
Next meeting: January 5th, 2023 - Ken McGoogan: Reaching for the Beaufort Sea
Adjournment @11:04 am
Recording Secretary: Kerry Gennings
45 Members in attendance
President John Sneyd welcomed all in attendance and a special welcome to Ian Evans who has presented to us before.
Also a special welcome to today’s six guest attendees: Mike Diamond, Doug Davidson, Larry Kich, Joe Gruzleski, Al Dejong, and Don MacGoll
President Sneyd paid thanks to some members for their efforts for several contributions.
- Warren Gregg was recognized for organizing and purchasing of the tickets for the Drayton Theatre performance of Mamma Mia;
- The Remembrance Day activities was organized by members of the Activities Committee lead by Martin Alderwick;
- Thank you to Ken Marchant for organizing the tickets for members to attend the VBA Cabaret;
- A shout-out to Ritchie Zelk, the Club photographer, who maintains the meeting bulletin board as well as the Club website and who was also here this morning to help set up the room chairs.
John next read out a note of thanks the Club received from the Watson family for the card of sympathy and recognition of the passing of member Ken Watson.
John reminded members of the Club business cards that were left on the chairs at the two previous meetings for members to pick up and use to distribute to other potential members to bring in more members to the Club.
The next coffee meeting will be next Thursday, December 1st, and the last coffee meeting of the year will be December 15th, also at the Boathouse. Our Christmas Luncheon will be on December 8th opening at 11:30 at the Victoria East Golf Course.
The next membership meeting will be our first meeting in the new year on January 5th, 2023 with Ken McGoogan who is the author of numerous Arctic discovery books.
Announcements:
Activities – Ken Marchant
- Ken began by thanking everyone who came to the Cabaret at the Village by the Arboretum;
- Ken announced that there are now 48 people signed up to attend the Christmas Luncheon. The cut-off date for purchasing tickets to this event will be December 1st. The door will open at 11:30am along with the bar. Gifts have been gathered from all over the community and there will be special gifts for the ladies.
President John Sneyd introduced today’s guest speaker, Ian Evans.
Bio:
Ian has embraced adventure all his life - from scaling the shed roof at aged 3 to skiing to the South Pole at aged 58. He has also climbed 5 of the "7 Summits" ", cycled 5,000 km solo & unsupported across Australia (twice) around the coastline of Iceland and to the Arctic Ocean and run 10 marathons.
But the thing about Ian is that he is an ordinary guy, from a rural background in England, who has decided to push himself to achieve extraordinary things at the very edge of his own comfort zone. He is not an explorer, world record holder or super-fit world-class endurance athlete, but is a Chartered Accountant who has led in many ways a regular life. Ian has worked for 25 years in Africa and Canada operating his own consulting practice specializing in the restructuring and refinancing of transportation companies.
Ian's latest expedition in 2021was to cycle 8,000 km across Canada from Prince Rupert in B.C. To Cape Spear Newfoundland while raising $10,000.00 for the Community Foundations of Canada.
Presentation:
I have always wanted to ride across Canada, and what a better time to undertake this expedition than 2021, when international travel and cross-border excursions are restricted due to the COVID pandemic. A truly 100% all-Canadian adventure covering over 8,000 km, climbing 56,000 metres, from the furthest westerly coastal point to furthest easterly point and touching every province - a ride across our continent. This expedition was special for me in another way in that my wife, Liz joined me by supporting the expedition in our camper van, enabling me to travel much lighter than on previous treks. Once leaving our starting point in Prince Rupert, BC the 84-day expedition had numerous challenges. From the heat and forest fires in BC, the unexpected predominant easterly headwinds and bomb-site roads across the Prairies and the nightmare cycling conditions across the “Transport truck Grand Prix” route of highway 11 in northern Ontario. Days in the saddle were much longer than anticipated, including one memorable ride of 12 hours covering 170 kms into a raging headwind in Alberta. All of this was more than made up for by the tranquility of the Ottawa Valley, the eclectic nature of small-town Quebec, the ocean cycling routes of the Maritimes and the fun and characters in Newfoundland.
Memories include the warm welcome we received across the country, those rare tailwind days when 200 km seemed no issue, the camper van challenges with repairs and waste hose disasters, the drivers with horn-tooting encouragement and the many laughs and absurd situations that unfolded along the way.
We reached our goal of raising $10,000 for the Centre Wellington Community Foundation (CWCF). The Foundation has been a pillar of our community for a long time, providing funding for many worthy local initiatives, notably the Community Wellington COVID-19 Community Response Fund, which we supported on this expedition.
A short Q&A followed Ian’s presentation and then John Sneyd thanked Ian for his presentation and gave him a token of appreciation from the Club.
Next meeting: January 5th, 2023 - Ken McGoogan: Reaching for the Beaufort Sea
Adjournment @11:04 am
Recording Secretary: Kerry Gennings