'A great cause': Smaller island communities embrace Tour de Rock
The 25th anniversary Tour de Rock team is descending Vancouver Island to raise money for pediatric cancer research and to send families affected by cancer to Camp Goodtimes.
On Monday, the team made stops at some of Vancouver Island’s smallest communities, like Woss, as it pedalled from Port McNeill to Sayward. On day three of the 14 day trek down the length of the island, the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock riders were loving every minute of it.
“It's been pretty awesome,” said Port Hardy RCMP officer and Tour de Rock team member Kyle Dornan on Monday.
“We got an absolutely great showing in Port McNeill, Port Hardy, Port Alice and now here in Woss, it's been pretty cool.”
Day three of the Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser saw the team of 20 riders undertake the longest leg of the journey with a 143-kilometre ride from Port McNeill to Sayward. For Tour de Rock CTV Media rider Anna McMillan, the stop in Woss gave her an opportunity to connect with members of the small North Island community.
“Riding into Woss we had people in their backyards and they’re like, 'Oh my Gosh it's Tour de Rock,'” said McMillan.
“I think the smallest communities are going to be the most excited to see us. You roll into a town past people’s homes and they’re in their windows waving,” she said.
A visit from the Tour de Rock team is an event that the residents of Woss look forward to every year. As many as 20 volunteers spent about a week setting up and preparing food for the tour stop.
Monday’s visit by the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock riders was the 10th year Woss resident and event volunteer Desire Glass welcomed the team.
“This is a great cause,” said Glass. “We come together as a community to support each other.”
According to the Tour de Rock team members, the conditions for Monday’s journey were perfect and it offered them an opportunity to enjoy the sights and collect some memories.
“It was what I expected and more,” said McMillan. “Everyone who’s done the tour before has said it's one of the best experiences of their life and now I understand why.”
Before the 20 riders left Port Hardy, RCMP officer Dornan was given a special souvenir by his junior riders when they shaved his head.
“I got a pretty awesome haircut,” said Dornan as he revealed his shaved head. “If anybody wants to get a sweet haircut, Weston and Beckett in Port Hardy can do up a pretty good haircut for you.”
The Tour de Rock riders ended the third day of the 14-day fundraising journey with a community dinner in the small community of Sayward. On Tuesday the team kicked off the next leg of the trip down Vancouver Island by making their way to Campbell River.
To donate to the cause visit the Canadian Cancer Society’s Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.