Photo: 2017 Bike Tour Ambassadors Paul Dubois, Carrie Lee, Rino Bortolin and Dave Monk.

Essex Region Conservation Bike Tour raises over $20,000

The sixth annual Essex Region Conservation Bike Tour, hosted on Saturday, September 23, was a big success.

The event welcomed nearly 300 cyclists, a new attendance record. The cyclists, of all ages and abilities, pedaled six different route options, enjoying some of the beautiful Greenway trails and scenic roads the Essex Region has to offer. As a new addition to the event, one group of riders enjoyed the Cypher Systems Group Greenway, the freshly completed trail that runs from Essex to Amherstburg. The tour welcomed riders from all over Southwestern Ontario, Michigan, and the Greater Toronto Area.

The tour welcomed back a number of past event sponsors, including Caesars Windsor, Union Gas, and Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island. Five new route sponsors also signed on to support the cause: Loaring Physiotherapy, Roth Mosey & Partners, Lalovich Real Estate- Remax Preferred Realty Ltd., Zing Healthy Foods, and Windsor Mold Inc.

Including sponsorships, donations, and registration fees, the event raised over $20,000, with all proceeds supporting regional trail development and conservation projects in the Place for Life.

The event also implemented a brand new Bike Tour Ambassador program, which invited community leaders and local athletes to promote the tour and lead the ride from their starting location.

This year’s ambassadors included ERCA Board Chair and Amherstburg Town Councillor Rick Fryer, ERCA Board Member and City of Windsor Councillor Fred Francis, City of Windsor Councillor Rino Bortolin, Amherstburg Mayor Aldo DiCarlo, Town of Lakeshore Councillor Dave Monk, ERCA’s 2016 Athlete of the Year Carrie Lee, and City of Windsor 2016 Commuter of the Year Paul Dubois.

“The Essex Region Bike Tour is a remarkable opportunity to highlight some of the beautiful natural areas in the Place for Life,” said Richard Wyma, ERCA General Manager.  “We know that trails contribute positively to the health of our community, the attractiveness and livability of our region, and our economy, and look forward to continuing to grow this event and our regional trail network for years to come.”

For more than four decades, Essex Region Conservation has been sustaining and enriching the environment of the Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island region to ensure it is the Place for Life.

 

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