Cycling Canada and 94 FORWARD Announce New Multi-Year Collaboration

Cycling Canada and 94 FORWARD are pleased to announce a major multi-year collaboration that will support the long-term development of cycling in Metro Victoria as well as across the country.

94 FORWARD, which manages the 1994 Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund and provides funding and support services to high-performance sports organizations, will pledge up to $ 2 million over the next two years to support Cycling Canada’s strategic plan which includes initiatives to develop a regional center in the Victoria region.

The collaboration will be the most significant that 94 FORWARD has undertaken under its Impact Model to date, which includes significant collaborations with Triathlon Canada and Athletics Canada. The partnership will also mark the largest private funding contribution in the 139-year history of Cycling Canada, which was founded in 1882 and is one of Canada’s oldest national sport organizations (NSOs).

The announcement follows the recent launch of Cycling Canada’s strategic plan which outlines a bold and transformative journey for the organization and sport in Canada over the next decade. At the heart of the strategy is a renewed and concerted focus on the growth and development of Canada’s cycling community. The priority for the association and its provincial and territorial sport partners over the next decade will be the collective development and delivery of more cohesive programs, campaigns and resources to encourage participant growth and member engagement. across the country.

94 FORWARD will work closely with Cycling Canada and Cycling BC to support this mission through targeted investments in key areas, including regional development programs, events, athlete and coach development, and programs. pilots to increase the number of participants and members at all levels of sport. The learnings and models developed through this collaboration will be shared and promoted nationally in order to support the development of programs and activities in all regions of the country.

One of the focal points of the collaboration will be the development of a Cycling Canada center in the metropolitan area of ​​Victoria. The center will be more than a traditional high performance training institute; it will be a regional center of activity and expertise that will promote the alignment and integration of sport development, from development programs and community events to national and international competitions.

“We are delighted to be working with 94 FORWARD and key partners and stakeholders in the region as we begin to pilot, test, and refine the various elements of our new strategy,” said Cycling Canada Executive Director Matthew Jeffries. The Victoria area has long been connected to cycling and has an abundance of roads, trails, facilities and training opportunities throughout the year. Most importantly, the region is home to one of the most engaged and prosperous cycling communities in our country – it is uniquely positioned to play a key role as we work to develop and grow our cycling community of coast to coast. We are extremely grateful for the support of 94 FORWARD and believe that this collaboration will be an important catalyst to help us carry out our plan.”

“On behalf of the 94 FORWARD Board of Directors, I would like to congratulate Cycling Canada,” said 94 FORWARD President John MacMillan. They have a bold and exciting plan and we believed in investing. Victoria’s cycling community is thriving and the Cycling Canada Center needs to build on this community of cycling enthusiasts. The disciplined management of the Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund continues to provide us with opportunities to build world-class programs. This project will be reinforced by the enormous municipal support dedicated to sport and physical activity in the region. Many people and agencies have helped make the Victoria metropolitan area the summer sports training capital of Canada.”

“Cycling BC is excited to continue its partnership with Cycling Canada and grateful for this collaboration with 94 FORWARD. This will be a big step forward for Metro Victoria and all of British Columbia and it is an opportunity to create a plan for similar programs across Canada. As a member of Cycling Canada’s strategic planning team, I am delighted to see our vision come to fruition,” said Erin Waugh, Executive Director of Cycling BC.

For more information, visit https://www.cyclingcanada.ca/