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Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bike Week Winnipeg to run June 8 to 14
St. Boniface WINNIPEG It's time to party — and a collective invitation has been issued to the city's bike community to join in the fun. Bike Week Winnipeg will host two neighbourhood bike parties in Westwood and St. Vital, on June 6 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. (3550 Portage Ave.), and on June 13 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. (5 Fermor Ave.), respectively, to celebrate cycling as an inclusive activity for everyone. The parties will include bike activities with Green Kids, bike decorating, refreshments, and free bike tune-ups courtesy of Vélo-Cité or The W.R.E.N.C.H. During Bike Week, which officially runs between June 8 and 14, Winnipeggers are also invited to attend group rides, workshops, and events such as the Bike Week Bash, Bike Winnipeg's Kidical Mass group ride for families, and Bike to Work Day on June 10. Supplied photo Participants of a group ride during last year's Bike to Work Day are pictured here. This year's Bike Week Winnipeg will run from June 8 to 14. 'Bike Week is a celebration of bicycles and everyone that uses them,' said Charleswood resident Dave Elmore, who chairs Bike Week's board of directors. 'We like to say it's for everyone, as when we started, Bike Week was more aimed at commuters. Now, it's for anybody and everybody that rides bikes.' Ultimately, one of Bike Week's universal goals is to encourage people to get on their bicycles rather than take single-occupant vehicle journeys. Elmore — a passionate cyclist himself — said the emergence of e-bikes in recent years has also become part of the conversation. 'In my personal opinion, e-bikes are shrinking the city, and they're giving people the opportunity to ride further in a shorter time,' he said, noting there will be numerous pit stops for riders on Bike to Work Day (presented by CAA Manitoba) to stop and refuel and enjoy snacks and swag. Elmore said there will be a group ride that day from Assiniboine Park to The Forks, and that people can 'jump on and drop off' at any time between 6 and 9 a.m. 'Bike Week is so important to me in so many ways. It's about encouraging people to get on their bikes and ride,' Elmore said. 'It's important to embrace and utilise our active transportation system, and there's also the environmental aspect.' Bike Week Winnipeg event producer Andraea Sartison is thrilled this year's event offers so many opportunities for people to get involved. Mondays A weekly look at news and events that matter in your communities. The St. Boniface resident said she's encouraged by the volume of local businesses lending their support. Sartison also said organizers are also welcoming any financial support community members can muster in a crowdfunding model: 'We're asking for a little community support this year. We're accepting any dollar amount, starting at $5.' 'We want to continue to grow, and we need a little love. Winnipeg is a very grassroots city, with a small town vibe in a big city, and people are always happy to contribute.' Visit for more information. Simon FullerCommunity Journalist Simon Fuller is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. Email him at or call him at 204-697-7111. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Getting more butts on bikes'
Dave Elmore recalls the ribbing he got as a teenager when many of his friends were buying their first cars and he bought a bike instead: a blue 10-speed CCM Turismo. 'Cycling's always been important to me,' he says. 'It's always been something I've done.' Today, the 70-year-old Charleswood resident shares his passion for cycling through his volunteer work as chairperson of Bike Week Winnipeg. The annual event features programming meant to encourage and engage cyclists. This year's edition takes place June 8-14. 'It's all about getting more butts on bikes,' Elmore says. An engineer by training, Elmore was working as a project manager for the federal government when he started commuting to work by bike in the early 1990s. He co-founded the cycling advocacy group Bike to the Future, now known as Bike Winnipeg, in 2007. The following year, he helped start Bike to Work Day, an annual one-day event for bicycle commuters. In 2014, the event was rebranded as Bike Week. With the rebrand came an expanded mandate to engage cyclists of all kinds — whether they ride for everyday transportation, recreation or some other reason. Rather than create change through advocacy, Elmore says, Bike Week attempts to create cultural change by engaging riders, trying to get more people involved in cycling and growing their understanding that bicycles can be a part of the city's transportation culture. While Bike to Work Day is still one of the week's flagship events (it takes place June 10), this year's Bike Week will feature numerous activities for people of all ages and abilities, including group rides, workshops, games and a wrap-up party on the legislative grounds on June 14. The following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can help people find opportunities. To learn more about its programs and services, go to or call 204-477-5180. The following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can help people find opportunities. To learn more about its programs and services, go to or call 204-477-5180. The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada needs volunteers for its walk at the Teddy Bass Athletic Field in Kildonan Park on June 28. They will help with setup, registration and participant motivation. No experience is required. Apply at by June 16. Creative Retirement Manitoba needs board members who are passionate about lifelong learning. The charity offers affordable educational opportunities for older adults. The working board requires members with basic computer skills to help with program planning alongside staff members, who manage presenter communications. No formal education is needed. The board meets eight times annually, on the second Friday morning of the month. Email hello@ by June 30. Apathy is Boring needs people ages 18 to 30 for Winnipeg RISE. The program provides training, resources and funding to support youth in designing and leading a community project. No experience is required. Apply at by July 6. The St. Vital Agricultural Fair is seeking volunteers for its 114th annual Fair and Display on Aug. 8 and Aug. 9. Opportunities include serving as greeters, setting up and taking down tables and chairs, and serving meals in a cafeteria style. Volunteers are also needed at the children's craft table and in helping exhibitors place their entries, and to help with cleaning duties such as garbage removal. More information about the event is available at Apply at PjMcFarlane@ or to 204-487-4597, ext. 1, by July 29. The Leftovers Foundation, a food-rescue charity with a mission of reducing food waste and increasing access to food for people facing barriers, is gearing up for Home Harvest. The program facilitates the rescue of homegrown food. Community members can participate by signing up through the website or mobile app to become a donor (grower) or volunteer to complete routes. Growers with excess produce can submit a request any time, and volunteers can harvest and deliver the produce to local service agencies and keep a portion for themselves. Volunteers can sign up in groups or individually. Email alyssa@ or go to for more information. Apply by Aug. 2. Villa Rosa needs volunteers to help manage its donation room by organizing items and keeping the space welcoming. This is a weekly position, and you must be at least 18 years old. Contact the volunteers co-ordinator at volunteers@ or 204-786-5741 by June 13. Shelter Movers — a national charity providing free moving and storage services to people and families fleeing abuse — needs movers and drivers. Movers must be 18 or older, and drivers must be 21 or older. Email by June 30. The West Central Women's Resource Centre needs three board members, including the treasurer. For more information about the West End centre, visit Send your resumé to wcwrcboardinterest@ by June 30. Parkinson Canada is recruiting support group facilitators for Brandon. The facilitator plays a critical role in the delivery of support services at the community level. They create a confidential and welcoming space, where people living with Parkinson's or their care partners can share their experiences and develop supportive relationships in a group setting. The group meets from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month. Apply at or volunteer@ by June 30. Folklorama needs pavilion volunteers for roles such as admissions, guest services, beverage services and food preparation. They also help backstage, support cultural displays, manage souvenirs and help with setup. Folklorama oversees volunteer applications, while pavilions handle selection and training. Participants gain skills in communication, problem-solving and leadership. This year's festival runs from Aug. 3 to Aug. 16, with flexible hours for volunteers aged 13 and over. Apply at by July 31. The Canadian Red Cross needs volunteers. The Red Cross can show you how to help when disaster strikes. Go to email volunteer@ or call 1-844-818-2155. Last year's Bike Week drew more than 14,000 people to 160 events over seven days, according to a report prepared by Fête Jockey Events Inc., which helps organize and manage Bike Week. Elmore expects similar numbers this year. Bike Week 'adds to the culture and visibility of cycling across the city,' says Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg. '(It's) creating those opportunities to give people that experience of cycling so they can get out there and imagine it as part of their everyday life,' he says. 'It's everyday people who are looking for those cycling opportunities — not just some radical core of people. It's everyday folks. It's our neighbours, our aunts, our uncles and our siblings that want to get out riding.' Cohoe praises Elmore's efforts, describing the retiree as 'tireless (and) ageless.' '(He's) someone who's committed a huge amount of time to making the city better, to helping us all be a little bit more environmentally friendly and sustainable, and someone who's always ready to take on the task, big or small,' Cohoe says. 'You get a smiling face, you get a hello and a warm welcome from Dave every time.' Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. In addition to chairing Bike Week, Elmore is a mechanic at the WRENCH community bike shop, he teaches cycling skills to middle school students and he leads spin classes twice a week at the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg. The grandfather of two rides to these volunteer commitments on one of his eight bikes — usually either his red Surly or chrome Sekine. 'Ultimately I don't look at any of them as work because I enjoy doing them, and I guess I'm seeing the benefits because I'm seeing more and more people on bikes,' Elmore says of his volunteer commitments. 'The things that we're doing as different organizations, whether it's Bike Winnipeg or Bike Week, are making a difference in our city, and that keeps me going.' If you know a special volunteer, email Aaron EppReporter Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. He was previously the associate editor at Canadian Mennonite. Read more about Aaron. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
