.JPG) Adventure in Citizenship: Alissa Tam was selected by our Rotary Club to attend this function in Ottawa. Alissa used the opportunity to strengthen her ideas on citizenship and leadership. Aboriginal culture ceremonies were a large part of the entire week. They attended a citizenship court ceremony that admitted over 200 people to Canadian citizenship and made Alissa realize that, as Canadians, we are all one identity. The Adventure in Citizenship program introduced her to people from all across Canada. Interesting venues included the Supreme Court of Canada, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Rideau Hall. The most interesting venture, for Alissa, was participating in the entire procedure of the voting process (at 17 years of age, Alissa had never voted and did not understand the vetting and procedural processes that have evolved to protect our right to vote at all levels of government).
Alissa correlated membership in Air Cadets together with the relationship to Rotary and Rotary's motto "Service Above Self" which enabled her to attend Adventure in Citizenship to further her interest in eventually joining a Department of Justice.
Guest Speaker: Rob introduced Scott Fisher as Director of Partnerships for Tour of Alberta (a professional bicycle race which show cases Alberta to the world). Scott was born in Leduc, lives in Edmonton where he and his spouse have 2 children. He leaves soon to Europe to view Tour de France among other activities.
Tour of Alberta is held the first week of September as this week was granted by the International Cycling Association. The third annual race goes September 2 to 7, 2015. This is the only sanctioned bicycle race held in Canada at this level. It is multiday and runs the same number of teams as Tour de France (15 teams of 8 riders each, thus 120 bicyclists). Alex Stieda was the first Canadian to wear the yellow jersey [in the 1986 Tour de France]. He lives in Edmonton and was on the Canadian Olympic Team. He organized the group that lobbied to bring the event to Alberta {Alberta Peloton Association}. Rural Alberta definitely has benefited financially, as has the urban centres.
Participants include 3 world champions, second highest rider in Tour de France. It is multistage as it moves throughout the province. Often the riders are driven between the stages as the starting point for the next stage is often not the same as the ending point for the previous stage. There are various competitions including best individual time per stage and most overall points. This year will incorporate more of a team competition so total points for each member of each team becomes important. In 2013, Rohan Dennis from Austria on Team German Sharp won. In 2014, the direction that the stages were run in was reversed from 2013. The event was broadcast to over 160 countries, started in Calgary. The Lethbridge stage was run on a very cold day. Other stages included Innisfail to Red Deer Wetaskiwin to Canadian Forces Base Namao, Edmonton Northlands to Strathcona County (longest day) included 3 laps around Sherwood Park, final stage in Edmonton centered on Churchill Square. Overall leader was Daryl Impey whereas Tom Dumowkin and Reuben Zepuntke won other prizes.
A festival is held to start and finish each stage (show case the community). It includes an autograph alley for the kids to meet the riders. There are public participation rides in Edmonton which use proceeds to support various charities. The financial impact to Alberta was $22 million. 350 hotel rooms, 300 police officers, 2500 volunteers, 130 vehicles. It is a health and wellness sport as well as an environmental one. Exposure included 45.5 million international TV viewers, 16,800 news stories, 69 million Twitter impressions and $151 million international media value.
2015 will be different as it will centre on northwest Alberta. Starting in Grande Prairie with a team time trial, then going to County of Grande Prairie through Evergreen Park and Beaverlodge. Next stage Grande Cache down Highway 40 ending in Miette Hot Springs (Jasper will host the ending festival); next Jasper to Marmot Basin, day 5 Edson [part on dirt roads] to Spruce Grove; day 6 City of Edmonton with 11 laps through the river valley ending in Churchill Square.
Scott was thanked by Doug MacDougall who used to be a bike rider (Rob is a bike Rider).
|
