Cycling Without Age - Mississauga

 While perusing the Cycling Without Age Facebook page over the winter I came across an organisation called ' Motiview ' which had developed a library of footage captured from cycling paths and pedestrian walks all over the world to be used in a virtual cycling program for seniors. I thought this would be the ideal adjunct to our summer program to keep us in mind over the winter when outdoor activities in Canada are for the hardy and foolhardy.  However, on enquiring over their subscription model, I found it beyond the reach of even the more affluent for-profit retirement homes.  The idea came to me that if we were able to video record our rides from the trishaw, we should be able to create our own library of footage from local trails and parks including some landmark areas which would be familiar to residents of Mississauga. And so the project of 'vCWAM' was borne.  However, the homes we were involved with had more experience with the exercise habits of their senior ...

 After picking up Marybelle from Brantford last fall I had written to Ernie Porthouse about my plan to have a small ceremony when we were officially adding Marybelle to CWAM and he promised that he would be pleased to attend the same. As it happened, the over-winter parking at The Shores of Port Credit wasn't available so Marybelle spend the winter in my garage.  Having made the decision to retire in the fall of 2025 and started the process initially by putting the practice property and building up for sale, we were on a timeline for a spring closing when the offer stipulated a March 31st closing.  Having to declutter over 30 years of accumulation, equipment and furniture from the hospital was no mean feat but with little room left in my garage, I ended up pitching a small temporary shed beside the house to hold some of my precious possessions that wouldn't fit anywhere else. Having Marybelle close at hand over the winter allowed me to make the upgrades to her gradually....

 It came as a surprise to me when I first received a letter from the City of Mississauga that I had been nominated and selected to receive a new award instituted by the Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee for the City of Mississauga. I had been negotiating with other cycling colleagues on who we should nominate for the Phil Green Award for 2025 (to be awarded in 2026) and there was general consensus on a candidate who had done much for cycling in Mississauga.  I am pleased to announce that he did win this prestigious award which was a well deserved acknowledgement to his persistence and passion for improving cycling infrastructure in Mississauga while encouraging many more people to consider cycling not just as recreation but as a viable way to commute making a conscious decision to improve their lives and that of others who were or would be suffering from the coming effects of climate change. I was aware that there were a few more categories of awards created by the MCAC b...