About Us
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.
Updated: January 2024
Volunteer Pilots
Each year we recruit additional volunteer pilots in the spring. We estimate the number of returning pilots, and the needs of any new centres at that time. If you are interested, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email . Information about what is involved in being a pilot volunteer is included in the Pilot Handbook.
The Hamilton Team
• Tammy Heidbuurt, New Hope Community Bikes
• Ruth Kaulback, Welcome Inn, 40 Wood Street E, Hamilton
• Nancy Gray, CWA Coordinator, Hamilton & Burlington
You can reach us by email at: cwahamilton@gmail.com
Facilitators
Organizations helping us through providing operational support in various forms include:
Welcome Inn Community Centre – hosting
Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles
Vision
Our vision is to offer free and universal access to Cycling without Age rides in the beautiful outdoors to Hamilton and Burlington seniors and others facing barriers to movement.
Mission
Our mission is to provide opportunities to connect with neighbours and nature by offering free rides to individuals on a custom bicycle (trishaw) to those facing barriers to movement.
Guiding Principles
- All services must adhere to the guidelines and principles of Cycling Without Age International*
- Individual passengers must not be charged for services.
- Organizations may be asked to make financial donations to support CWA activities.
- Rides should be available to all those in the general community facing barriers to movement.
- Pilots must be accredited volunteers.
- Services should be operated and managed by the community they serve.
- Services should be operationally and financially sustainable over time.
- We will share our expertise and experience with new chapters when asked.
- All resources and assets should be efficiently utilized.
*The CWA International principles are: generosity, slowness, storytelling, relationships and without age.
Approved by CWA Hamilton & Burlington Advisory Team – March 2022
Documentation and Information
Pilot Information
- Pilot Application
- Pilot Handbook – Updated April 2024
- COVID Screening Questionnaire
- Pilot Information Session – July 2021
Newsletters
Organizational
- 2022 Annual Impact Report
- 2021 Annual Impact Report
- Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles – Hamilton & Burlington CWA Chapter.