Tour de Guelph – Always the Fourth Sunday of June!
Tour de Guelph is a cycling event in support of Guelph General Hospital and local Rotary projects through the Rotary Clubs of Guelph South and Guelph Trillium.
Its intent is to build and support community well-being within Guelph-Wellington.
The first Tour de Guelph took place in 2014 and was born from an ambitious idea from then Rotarian David Parr. David, an avid cyclist himself, was inspired by a Foundation Board member, Terry Manning, who, when he was almost 70, embarked on a 50-day cycling journey which raised $33,000 for the Hospital.
It was that inspiration that got David’s “gears” turning. Working with Terry, he researched other cycling events, proposed the idea to the Foundation and brought the Rotary Club of Guelph South on board, who then recruited the Rotary Club of Guelph Trillium.
In 2014 with the two Rotary clubs, a few staff members from The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital, and with the support of others in the community, Tour de Guelph became a reality.
In its nine years, the event has raised over $850,000 for our community and has grown into one of Guelph-Wellington’s largest community sporting events. Our biggest year was in 2019 when we last rode together in a single-day event, with 750 registered riders.
About 100 volunteers help with the event each year. The majority being Rotarians, plus many other individuals and local business leaders lend a hand. This allows the majority of the proceeds received from sponsorship and peer-to-peer fundraising to go directly to important community initiatives.
Tour de Guelph is for all ages and abilities and welcomes participation from community members as well as visitors to Guelph-Wellington.
About The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital
We all need the hospital at some point in our lives. Guelph General is one of Ontario’s best, and we need to keep it that way. Our Hospital is receiving exceptional marks in national safety and quality standards, attracting leading medical specialists, and building innovative partnerships to support a healthy, vibrant community.
At Guelph General Hospital, every piece of equipment used in the direct care of patients is funded by our caring community. Together with the support of our generous community, we are transforming healthcare.
Over the past nine years, Tour de Guelph has helped fund Interventional Radiology Equipment, IV Pumps, Ultrasound Machines, Respiratory Ventilators, the Hospital’s new CT Scanner, a Centralized Cardiac Monitoring system, Blood Pressure Monitors for the hospital’s Day Surgery Unit, and a new MRI machine.
Visit gghfoundation.ca for more information about The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital.
About The Rotary Clubs of Guelph South and Guelph Trillium
Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. 2020 marked 100 years of Rotarians taking action to create lasting change in Guelph!
Your support of Tour de Guelph has far reaching impact through the proceeds disbursed throughout our community by the Rotary Clubs of Guelph South and Guelph Trillium. Many local groups aimed at youth development, family support, and community building will be supported. The Rotary also supports a select few international organizations through Tour de Guelph.
For more information about Rotary – visit our websites:
Rotary Club of Guelph South
Rotary Club of Guelph Trillium
Rotary in Guelph and Wellington
The following is a list of organizations that have benefited through Rotary from Tour de Guelph in past years:
Focus on Nature: Connecting kids to nature through photography by offering workshops and camps in the Guelph Ontario area.
Guelph Youth Music Centre: The Guelph Youth Music Centre is a unique facility that educates, enriches and fosters the development of our youth through music and the arts.
J.O.E.: Community-based employment and job training for adults with developmental disabilities.
Living on Less: A workshop series aimed at providing practical and creative tools for living on less; less money, less environmental impact, and less stress!
Parish Nurse Program: A nursing and support program for Puslinch and Guelph residents who need help with their body, mind and spirit.
Portage Ontario: A non-profit organization with a drug addiction rehabilitation centre for youth in Elora, Ontario.
Royal City Quilters’ Guild: The Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Unit (at the Guelph General Hospital) is one of the longest running community outreach partnerships – now in its’ 13th year. Their goal is to provide a ‘Comfort Quilt’ to each person who has reason to visit the facility.
Shelldale Family Gateway: A non-profit, community benefit, charitable organization that aims to enrich the quality of life for the Onward Willow neighbourhood of Guelph.
Sunrise Therapeutic Centre: To develop the full potential of children and adults with special needs and lead them closer to independence through a therapy, recreation, horse riding, life skills and farm related activity program.
Children’s Help for Uganda: A charitable organization building a safe, sustainable community for children and adults in rural areas of Jinja, Uganda.
Action Read Community Literacy Ctre.: Membership for credentialing clients basic digital literacy skills
Beginnings Family Services: Support for prenatal classes for those in need (Note split in funding request)
Big Brothers – Big Sisters of Guelph: Continuing support of the Play On program for pre-teen girls
Chalmers Community Service Centre: Provision of coffee/snacks for patrons utilizing the food pantry
Child Witness Centre: Support of the Guelph Youth Symposium for 1,500 grade 8 students
Children’s Foundation: Support of the Food & Friends program providing breakfast for students
Diabetes Canada: Funding to send a child with Diabetes to summer camp
Focus on Nature: Funding of 3 full day workshops at low income neighbourhood schools
Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival: Funding for 6 underserved youth to attend March Break camp
Guelph Wellington Women in Crisis: Funds to purchase a new washing machine for Marianne’s Place shelter
Hopewell Homes: Funds to repair siding on home and replace 2 windows
Hospice Wellington: Funds to deliver their 8-week Adult Grief Group
Lakeside Hope House: Help to develop a social enterprise café operated by members
Michael House: Funding to complete maintenance & repairs at housing & office locations
Power of Hope: Support the “Basket of Hope” hygiene project for 75 homeless people
Sanguen Health Centre: Fund the purchase of supplies for “the van” in support of homeless people
St. James the Apostle Anglican Church: Support the “Living Better on Less” 8 week program
St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation: Funding of 5 “comfort carts” in support of palliative patients for 1 year
The Guelph Enabling Garden: Funds to support the ongoing replacement of wooden garden bed structures
The Julien Project: Funds to be used to support local marginalized adult & youth cooking skills
YMCA-YWCA of Guelph: Support of the SHARKS swim program for 3200+ grade 3&5 students
