Events help us build community.
Cycle Tour - 2025
This is the 19th year of the Victoria Grandmothers for Africa Cycle Tour which raises funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign. This year the Tour will launch on August 10 and finish on September 7. The funds raised provide support to the grandmothers and their families who are living with the ongoing consequences of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa.
A registration fee of $20 is required to participate in the VG4A Cycle Tour. Interesting and varied optional group rides have been planned. Click HERE to see the Calendar of Optional Rides.
Each rider will determine for herself a personally challenging distance or goal to ride over the duration of the Cycle Tour. For the 2025 Tour; regular bikes, e-bikes, spin bikes or stationary bikes are all welcome. We have many group rides planned for all different levels of ability.
We hope you enjoy cycling the beautiful routes on either the roads or many bike trails on Vancouver Island and perhaps even further afield. This Cycle Tour is a time to make new friends and be inspired by those around you.
Check out our Cycle Tour page for additional information and details.
If you have any questions about the tour or ordering jerseys etc., please contact: Cynthia Cosulich at: vg4acycleregistrar@gmail.com.
Sign this Waiver. Scan signed and witnessed waiver and email to: vg4acycleregistrar@gmail.com or mail to: VG4A Cycle Registrar, 202-636 Montreal St., Victoria, BC, V8V 4Y1. (You may have already signed the Waiver when training rides began.)
Complete this Emergency Contact Form and carry it with you while you cycle.
Please read: Registration Policy.
Please read: Cycling Safety and Bike Sense Guide
Thursday August 21 - This 90K+ 2 day trip starts at the Saanich Municipal Hall at 9:15 am, or 10:30 am at the Brentwood Bay ferry, or you can join in anywhere in between. From Mill Bay to Crofton is a leisurely (and hilly) 45 km cycle with stops for coffee and lunch. Supper will be at the Osborne Bay Pub in Crofton and overnight accommodation at the Croft Inn Motel.
Friday August 22 - will start with a leisurely breakfast at The Third Wave Restaurant, followed by the 10:10 am ferry from Crofton to Vesuvius on Salt Spring Island. Lunch will be provided on SSI by the SSI G2G group (2059 North End Road). The 1.5-hour lunch break will include a 20-minute story-telling session from Laurie about her recent trip to Africa for the SSI grannies. After this stop, there will be time for a ride along the coast and a quick exploration of Ganges before cycling 20 km on challenging back roads to the Fulford Harbour ferry at 4:20 pm. The total distance cycled on SSI will be 35 km. From Swartz Bay, a speedy ride back to Victoria. If riders begin and end at the Brentwood Bay ferry the total cycled distance is 90 km (45 km each day). Starting from SMH, the Day 1 distance is 65 km and the Day 2 distance is 60 km. SSI has no bike lanes and is quite hilly. You should comfortably be able to ride 20 kph on the flat and have experienced some hill riding in the previous few weeks and months. We are patient and considerate of others on the hills.
Maximum 16 cyclists.
Be sure to register for this amazing and fun filled ride by August 16th as we need to be able to confirm our hotel room reservations by then.
There will be an accompanying car with bike rack. Cost for ferries, motel, lunch on SSI and the support car's expenses will be about $130 each. You will also have an additional lunch, dinner and breakfast to pay for (or pack for) during the trip. A deposit of $100 should be sent by e-transfer to victoriagrand4africa@gmail.com by August 16th to confirm your spot.
Ride leaders: Laurie Wilson and Lib Cooper
Suitable for Intermediate cyclists.
Ride with GPS routes:
https://ridewithgps.com/Laurie's Ride Mill Bay-Duncan-Crofton
https://ridewithgps.com/Laurie's ride Salt Spring Island
Registration required. "Join us" they said. "It will be fun!" :)
Victoria Fringe Festival Presents: Nancy Edwards and her solo show, "Rethinking Good Intentions" based on her memoir "Not One, Not Even One: A Memoir of Life-altering Experiences in Sierra Leone, West Africa". Although Sierra Leone is not one of the countries which the SLF supports, the play speaks to many issues relevant to the work that we do including social determinants of health, ancestral and indigenous knowledge and bridging cultures. Nancy was in Sierra Leone from 1978-1984 as a community health nurse and now resides in Ottawa. Nancy has performed this play for several SLF grandmother groups.
Nancy is performing this play on six occasions however there is a choice of two dates that we would like to see VG4A attend which are Saturday, August 23 at 3:15 and Sunday, August 24th at 5:15. All proceeds from the play on these 2 dates will be donated to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. The location is the Intrepid Studio, #2-1609 Blanshard Street, Victoria. The corner of Fisgard St. and Blanshard St.
Here is some other information about this Fringe venue which you may find useful:
Intrepid Studio
You must purchase your tickets online through the Fringe Festival website:
https://intrepidtheatre.com/festivals/fringe-festival/tickets-passes/. Scroll to the bottom of the page for button and ticket sales. There are no ticket sales at the door, so please buy in advance, online. And remember to buy your $5 button at the same time.
On August 23rd there will be a "Talk Back" at Caffe Fantastico - 965 King St. at Quadra St. where Nancy will talk further about her experience in Sierra Leone and also our own Education team will be present to represent VG4A & SLF. This event will run from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. although doors are open earlier and there is food and beverage available. There is no admission fee but a donation at the door.
If you are able to come to the event at Caffe Fantastico please write Lib Cooper: e.cooper@telus.net to confirm your attendance. This helps the Caffe know how many to expect. Anyone is able to come to this event whether they attend either of the plays or not. This event is also open to the public.
If you are unable to attend the play on either the 23rd or 24th the other dates are: August 22nd @ 5:30, August 28th @ 8:15, August 30th @ 1:00, August 31st @ 2:30.
We hope to see you on the 23rd or 24th to enjoy this inspiring 1 hour play and the Talk Back at Caffe Fantastico on the 23rd.
10 am at Mile 0, cycling through Victoria to the E & N and then to The Nest. Return will be along the Galloping Goose.
Registration required.
Suitable for Beginner Riders.
Ride Leaders: Julie Holder and Joyce Hobday.
Please note, participants must be registered in the 2025 Cycle Tour.
Cyclists will meet in time for the 8:40 a.m. Brentwood Bay to Mill Bay Ferry. This route will involve mostly rural roads but there will be some highway riding for short distances. There are a few steep climbs but they are short. The coffee stop will be at the Cowichan Bay Bakery and there will be a lunch stop at Bright Angel Park. Bring a packed lunch. Estimated return ferry to Brentwood will be the 3:00 p.m. Average pace 18-20 km per hour.
Suitable for Experienced riders.
Details to be sent to registrants.
Ride Leaders: Maureen Weston (Cycle Tour Alumni), and Tory Stevens.
This ride will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Switch Bridge with an option to pick up riders at Harbour Road opposite Café Fantastico.
West Shore ride to Royal Roads. The ride follows the Galloping Goose to Harbour Road, takes Esquimalt Road to E & N, GG to Wale Road, Belmont, College and Serpentine, returning on the GG to Switch Bridge with a coffee stop at The Nest.
Average pace will be 16-17 km per hour.
Suitable for Beginner or Intermediate Riders.
Leaders are Cynthia Cosulich and Tracy Rowe.
9:30 am at the Blenkinsop Connector. Ride stops for coffee/early lunch at the Fickle Fig on Mills Road. Route follows Lochside Trail to Mount Newton, East Saanich Road and the Airport Trail. Returns through Sidney and the Lochside Trail.
Average pace of 16 - 17 km per hour.
Suitable for strong Beginner and Intermediate Riders
Ride Leaders: Lisbie Rae, Julie Holder and Lib Cooper.
Campbell River to Victoria Ride - 2025
The Victoria Grandmothers for Africa Campbell River to Victoria Ride is a three-day event with up to 30 women cycling 275 km. We are supported by Grandmother groups along the way who provide meals, refreshments, and positive energy! Support and the participation of cyclists from all over Vancouver Island and other islands, gives this event its unique character.
This fundraiser, under the umbrella of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, provides support to grandmothers and their families who are living with the ongoing consequences of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa.
This is a challenging three-day ride for experienced cyclists who are capable of riding at 21-23 km per hour on the flat for an overall ride average of 17-19 km per hour.
Join the 2025 Cycle Tour for $20.
Join the Campbell River to Victoria ride with a registration fee of $450 for accommodations, meals, etc. (As only members of the Cycle Tour can participate it is important that you register and pay the $20 fee for the VG4A Cycle Tour prior to registering for the Campbell River ride). If the cost of the ride ends up being less than $450 you will be refunded the difference.
We have disallowed payment by credit card due to the high cost for a credit card transaction, therefore, please pay by e-transfer, cheque or cash.
This Campbell River Ride is a wonderful experience for all involved and we hope you will join us! More details of the ride can be found Here.
Please read: Registration Policy. Deadline for registration is July 15. Priority is given to members of VG4A and members of BC Islands Region Grandmother Groups.
Sign this Waiver. Scan signed and witnessed waiver and email to: vg4acycleregistrar@gmail.com or send to: VG4A Cycle Registrar, 202-636 Montreal St., Victoria, BC V8V 4Y1. (You may have already signed the waiver when training rides began or when you signed up for the Cycle Tour)
Please note, registrants must be 55 years of age or older by December 31 of the year of the tour and be a member of VG4A or a BC Islands Region Grandmother Group. Anybody registering for this ride must be already registered for the 2025 Cycle Tour.
10:00 a.m. start from Selkirk Trestle. This 40km gentle ride takes place on September 7th, the last day of the 2025 Cycle Tour. Most of the trip will be on the Galloping Goose and the Lochside Trail to Centennial Park in Saanichton. Registered riders can also join at the Blenkinsop Connector at 10:30 a.m. or at Michell's Farm and Lochside Trail at 11:15 a.m.
Riders will meet up for lunch in Centennial Park with the women cycling down from Campbell River, who will be arriving around 12:15-12:30 p.m. Afterwards, this group (V-CP-F) will leave around 1:00 pm for a return to the Selkirk Trestle in time to meet up with all of the VG4A cyclists coming in from various rides.
Suitable for Intermediate Riders.
Registration required. Cost $11.00 for Lunch.
Ride leader: Tracy Rowe
The combined groups will leave the Selkirk Trestle at 2:45 pm, riding together to the 2025 Cycle Tour Finale event which starts at 3:00 pm!
Longer G&G ride: 2:15 p.m. Saanich Municipal Hall for older grandkids, grandmothers, grand-others and parents for a 7.7 km cycle to Mile 0. Will join with all the other Grandmother/Grand-other riders at the Selkirk Trestle. A practice ride will be held prior to Sept. 7, details to follow. Registration of Grandmother and number of guests required. Suitable for older or more experienced grandkids and must be accompanied by either a parent or grandparent/grand-other.
Shorter G&G ride: 2:45 p.m. at Ogden Point. A short 1.6 km ride for any Grandmother, Parent and Grandkids, starting at Ogden Point and cycling along the Dallas Rd. cycle path to join with all the other Grandmothers, Grand-others and older Grandkids arriving for the Finale at Mile 0. Suitable for Beginner Riders and younger grandkids - grandchildren must be accompanied by either a parent, grandparent or grand-other.
Registration of the participating Grandmother with number of guests required so that we have sufficient support for your cycling grandkids of any age!
Leaders: Barbara Langton and. Lynn Kobierski from Saanich Municipal Hall and Betty-Joan Traverse and Berken Feddersen from Ogden Point.
VG4A members Bonnie Yarish and Laurie Wilson travelled to Eswatini and South Africa with 14 other Canadian grandmothers and six members of the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) in May 2025. They visited nine diverse SLF community-led partners – in Eswatini, around Cape Town, and in the Durban region. Eswatini and Durban had higher numbers of HIV and AIDS cases in the early 2000s than anywhere else in Africa. The Durban region is home to the Zulu nation, the largest ethnic group in South Africa. The travellers will share what they learned about inequalities, community, solidarity and the effectiveness of a holistic and responsive approach to problem-solving.
Bring a guest!