Cycling Without Age

At today's club meeting our guest speakers will be Mike Moulden and Nanc Gray from Cycling Without Age, Hamilton -  Burlington.

The Hamilton and Burlington chapter of Cycling Without Age was initiated by retired accountant Nancy Gray and her friend from McMaster Jill Axisa. Jill and Nancy started planning and working on this chapter since June 2018. The Hamilton location of the chapter became a reality when Tammy Heidbuurt, Executive Director at New Hope Community Bikes got involved in late 2020. Tammy reached out to Emily at the Hamilton and Oshawa Port Authority who was looking to bring more people (especially seniors) to the waterfront trail. Nancy reached out to her contact at McMaster University – Dee Henne (AVP & CFO) who was looking for opportunities for more staff involvement in the downtown Hamilton community. With generous financial donations from both HOPA and McMaster, New Hope Community Bikes was able officially launch the CWA Hamilton & Burlington chapter, and to purchase the first trishaw in July 2021.

The Welcome Inn Community Centre became the first location for the chapter to offer rides weekly rides to the seniors in its program. In that first summer of 2021 22 passengers received rides from 8 pilots. In 2022 the Burlington location was opened when the City of Burlington offered space for the 2nd trishaw, which was purchased through the generosity of an anonymous donor. A third trishaw was purchased in 2023 when the chapter received a New Horizons Seniors Program Grant from the federal government. Fundraising allowed the purchase of a large sea container to store the trishaws in the off season. By the end of 2023, there were nine weekly locations and several annual one-day events that the chapter participated in.

Partner agencies and centres in 2023 included: Welcome Inn Community Centre, Shalom Village Seniors’ Apartments, City Housing Hamilton, Burlington Seniors’ Centre, Maple Villa Long Term Care, Chartwell’s Christopher Terrace and Martha’s Landing Retirement Homes, Wellington Square United Church’s HUB/ Friday Meal Bag Program, Good Shepherd’s HOMES and Seniors Assisted Living Programs, SAM Day Program, L ’Arche, Salvation Army’s Lawson Ministries, St. Peter’s Residence at Chedoke and Idlewyld Manor. Each of these agencies organized their clients to participate in the program.

The program is thriving as a result of approximately 65 volunteers, including our pilot trainers, site coordinators, pilots and bike buddies who make it possible for passengers to ‘feel the wind in their hair’ and due in no small part to New Hope Community Bikes who continue to provide the legal structure including liability and property insurance, administration, grant management, tax receipting for donations, trishaw transportation, and maintenance.

Speaker's Bio
Nancy Gray is the CoFounder and Volunteer coordinator for the Hamilton & Burlington CWA chapter. She is a retired CPA from McMaster University. She has lived in Hamilton and currently resides in Burlington.

Mike Moulden is a volunteer and fundraiser for the Hamilton &Burlington CWA chapter. He lives in Dundas having retired three years ago after over 50 years in the steel industry and educational field. 

Instructions for Online Visitors
All Club Members, Visiting Rotarians and other vistors are welcome to jon us online via Zoom at our Wednesday morning club meetings..

Please use the following coordinates to access the weekly Rotary Club of Hamilton AM meeting: