Events help us build community.
Come join us for a relaxing afternoon on a gorgeous property above Elk Lake. A team is preparing a selection of sweet and savory treats for your delectation! Some gluten-free options will be available as well (please let us know if you are interested in gluten-free options).
There is parking on the property and also on the road. Consider car-pooling.
Lavender Wands Workshop at Bilston Creek Farm
Join Suzanne Moreau at Bilston Creek Farm to learn how to make lavender wands. Using the farm's lavender, Suzanne and two other facilitators will teach this craft that proved so popular last year.
Session starts at 10:00 a.m. followed by lunch at the farm. The farm is on Metchosin Road, just past Witty's Lagoon.
Victoria, BC V9C 3Z5
Registration is $20, payable through the website, or in cash on the day of the event. Please also bring $10 to purchase fresh-cut lavender, and money for purchasing lunch. Thanks to Suzanne for the photo of her lavender wands.
Cycle Tour - 2025
This is the 19th year of the Victoria Grandmothers for Africa Cycle Tour which raises funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign. This year the Tour will launch on August 10 and finish on September 7. The funds raised provide support to the grandmothers and their families who are living with the ongoing consequences of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa.
A registration fee of $20 is required to participate in the VG4A Cycle Tour. Interesting and varied optional group rides have been planned. Click HERE to see the Calendar of Optional Rides.
Each rider will determine for herself a personally challenging distance or goal to ride over the duration of the Cycle Tour. For the 2025 Tour; regular bikes, e-bikes, spin bikes or stationary bikes are all welcome. We have many group rides planned for all different levels of ability.
We hope you enjoy cycling the beautiful routes on either the roads or many bike trails on Vancouver Island and perhaps even further afield. This Cycle Tour is a time to make new friends and be inspired by those around you.
Check out our Cycle Tour page for additional information and details.
If you have any questions about the tour or ordering jerseys etc., please contact: Cynthia Cosulich at: vg4acycleregistrar@gmail.com.
Sign this Waiver. Scan signed and witnessed waiver and email to: vg4acycleregistrar@gmail.com or mail to: VG4A Cycle Registrar, 202-636 Montreal St., Victoria, BC, V8V 4Y1. (You may have already signed the Waiver when training rides began.)
Complete this Emergency Contact Form and carry it with you while you cycle.
Please read: Registration Policy.
Please read: Cycling Safety and Bike Sense Guide
Meet 9:00 a.m. at Mile 0 with ride afterwards for All Riders to Clover Point. Then, riders can either return or continue with a longer Optional Ride to Cadboro Bay along the waterfront to coffee at the Moka House. Route continues after coffee along Cadboro Bay, Arbutus, San Juan Greenway back to Lochside Trail and Galloping Goose. Suitable for Intermediate Riders. Average pace 16-17 km per hour.
No registration required.
Ride leaders: Tory Stevens, Marilyn Bergen and Lynn Kobierski for Clover Point return ride.
To register for the Cycle Tour, go to: 2025 Cycle Tour.
Join us at the Switch Bridge at 9:30 a.m. with an option to pick up riders at the Janion Building at 9:40 a.m. (ish)
Average pace 16-17 km per hour. If you are wondering what "Point" we are pedalling past, here is your answer, and it isn't just one: Ship Point, Ogden Point, Holland Point, Finlayson Point, Clover Point, Harling Point, Gonzales Point, Cattle Point and...if we do it...10 Mile Point!
We will have coffee in Cadboro Bay at the Moka House.
Suitable for Beginner and Intermediate Riders.
Registration required.
Ride Leaders: Cynthia Cosulich, Shirley Malnis and Marilyn Bergen
Please note, participants must be registered in the 2025 Cycle Tour.
9:30 am at the Blenkinsop Connector. Ride stops for coffee/early lunch at the Fickle Fig on Mills Road. Route follows Lochside Trail to Mount Newton, East Saanich Road and the Airport Trail. Returns through Sidney and the Lochside Trail.
Average pace of 16 - 17 km per hour.
Suitable for strong Beginner and Intermediate Riders
Ride Leaders: Lisbie Rae, Julie Holder and Lib Cooper.
Tuesday, August 19th - VG4A/Galiano/GoGos
6:30 am ferry for the Galiano GoGos with arrival at 8:00 am in Swartz Bay where they will be met by some of the VG4A riders. This group will then ride to the 10 Acres Cafe, 9805 Seaport Place, Sidney, BC. for coffee at 8:30 am. After coffee the VG4A and the GoGos will head north towards the ferry terminal. Those that want to catch the 10:30 am ferry back to Galiano can do so from this point. The rest will carry on to Lands End Rd. for about 8 km, which is a hilly part of the ride. We get back onto West Saanich Rd. and head south towards the airport at which point we follow the flight path around the airport to East Saanich Rd. We will go south on East Saanich Rd. to Mt. Newton Cross Rd. and then head east toward the Lochside Trail. We will go north along Lochside into Sidney. This distance is approximately 35 km. It is then another 6 km back to the ferry. Keep in mind there will have been the 6 km into Sidney from the ferry, so the total distance would be 47 km. The ride can easily be shortened at the south end.
Average pace 16 - 17 km per hour.
Suitable for Intermediate Riders.
Ride Leaders: Wanda Bentkowski, Bonnie Yarish and Tracy Rowe (Galiano Gogo contact, Marian Lowery)
Thursday August 21 - This 146 km 2 day trip starts at Mile 0 at 9:30 am riding to the 11:00 am Brentwood Bay ferry. From Mill Bay to Crofton is a leisurely 40 km cycle with stops for lunch and coffee. Supper will be in Crofton and overnight at the Crofton Inn Motel.
Friday August 22 - will start with a 22 km round trip to Chemainus to see the town and wall murals, returning in time for the 11:25 am ferry from Crofton to Vesuvius on Salt Spring Island. Lunch will be provided on SSI by the SSI G2G group (2059 North End Road). Afterwards, time for a quick exploration of Ganges before cycling 20 km on challenging roads to the Fulford Harbour ferry at 4:20 pm. From Swartz Bay, a speedy ride back to Victoria. If riders begin and end at the Brentwood Bay ferry the total cycled distance is 115 km. Saltspring Island has no bike lanes and is quite hilly. You should comfortably be able to ride 20 kph on the flat and have experienced some hill riding in the previous few weeks and months. We are patient and considerate of others on the hills.
Maximum 16 cyclists. This ride is designed to first accommodate those riders who will not be cycling the Campbell River to Victoria ride.
There will be an accompanying car with bike rack. Cost for ferries, dinner, motel and lunch will be between $170 - $200 per person.
Start will be at 9:30 am at Mile Zero or before 11:00 am ferry in Brentwood Bay. Riders are welcome to join along the way.
More information to come on this ride, so stay tuned!
Ride leaders: Laurie Wilson and one other registered rider (Wanda Bentkowski possibly)
Suitable for Intermediate cyclists.
10 am at Mile 0, cycling through Victoria to the E & N and then to The Nest. Return will be along the Galloping Goose.
Suitable for Beginner Riders.
Ride Leaders: Julie Holder and Joyce Hobday.
Cyclists will meet in time for the 8:40 a.m. Brentwood Bay to Mill Bay Ferry. This route will involve mostly rural roads but there will be some highway riding for short distances. There are a few steep climbs but they are short. The coffee stop will be at the Cowichan Bay Bakery and there will be a lunch stop at Bright Angel Park. Bring a packed lunch. Estimated return ferry to Brentwood will be the 3:00 p.m. Average pace 18-20 km per hour.
Suitable for Experienced riders.
Details to be sent to registrants.
Ride Leaders: Maureen Weston (Cycle Tour Alumni) and Christine Scott.
This ride will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Switch Bridge with an option to pick up riders at Harbour Road opposite Café Fantastico.
West Shore ride to Royal Roads. The ride follows the Galloping Goose to Harbour Road, takes Esquimalt Road to E & N, GG to Wale Road, Belmont, College and Serpentine, returning on the GG to Switch Bridge with a coffee stop at The Nest.
Average pace will be 16-17 km per hour.
Suitable for Beginner or Intermediate Riders.
Leaders are Cynthia Cosulich and Tracy Rowe.
Campbell River to Victoria Ride - 2025
The Victoria Grandmothers for Africa Campbell River to Victoria Ride is a three-day event with up to 30 women cycling 275 km. We are supported by Grandmother groups along the way who provide meals, refreshments, and positive energy! Support and the participation of cyclists from all over Vancouver Island and other islands, gives this event its unique character.
This fundraiser, under the umbrella of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, provides support to grandmothers and their families who are living with the ongoing consequences of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa.
This is a challenging three-day ride for experienced cyclists who are capable of riding at 21-23 km per hour on the flat for an overall ride average of 17-19 km per hour.
Join the 2025 Cycle Tour for $20.
Join the Campbell River to Victoria ride with a registration fee of $450 for accommodations, meals, etc. (As only members of the Cycle Tour can participate it is important that you register and pay the $20 fee for the VG4A Cycle Tour prior to registering for the Campbell River ride). If the cost of the ride ends up being less than $450 you will be refunded the difference.
We have disallowed payment by credit card due to the high cost for a credit card transaction, therefore, please pay by e-transfer, cheque or cash.
This Campbell River Ride is a wonderful experience for all involved and we hope you will join us! More details of the ride can be found Here.
Please read: Registration Policy. Deadline for registration is July 15. Priority is given to members of VG4A and members of BC Islands Region Grandmother Groups.
Sign this Waiver. Scan signed and witnessed waiver and email to: vg4acycleregistrar@gmail.com or send to: VG4A Cycle Registrar, 202-636 Montreal St., Victoria, BC V8V 4Y1. (You may have already signed the waiver when training rides began or when you signed up for the Cycle Tour)
Please note, registrants must be 55 years of age or older by December 31 of the year of the tour and be a member of VG4A or a BC Islands Region Grandmother Group. Anybody registering for this ride must be already registered for the 2025 Cycle Tour.
10:00 a.m. start from Selkirk Trestle. This 40km gentle ride takes place on September 7th, the last day of the 2025 Cycle Tour. Most of the trip will be on the Galloping Goose and the Lochside Trail to Centennial Park in Saanichton. Registered riders can also join at the Blenkinsop Connector at 10:30 a.m. or at Michell's Farm and Lochside Trail at 11:15 a.m.
Riders will meet up for lunch in Centennial Park with the women cycling down from Campbell River, who will be arriving around 12:15-12:30 p.m. Afterwards, this group (V-CP-F) will leave around 1:00 pm for a return to the Selkirk Trestle in time to meet up with all of the VG4A cyclists coming in from various rides.
Registration required. Cost $11.00 for Lunch.
Ride leaders: Susan Powell and Tracy Rowe
The combined groups will leave the Selkirk Trestle at 2:45 pm, riding together to the 2025 Cycle Tour Finale event which starts at 3:00 pm!
Longer G&G ride: 2:15 p.m. Saanich Municipal Hall for older grandkids, grandmothers, grand-others and parents for a 7.7 km cycle to Mile 0. Will join with all the other Grandmother/Grand-other riders at the Selkirk Trestle. A practice ride will be held prior to Sept. 7, details to follow. Registration of Grandmother and number of guests required. Suitable for older or more experienced grandkids and must be accompanied by either a parent or grandparent/grand-other.
Shorter G&G ride: 2:45 p.m. at Ogden Point. A short 1.6 km ride for any Grandmother, Parent and Grandkids, starting at Ogden Point and cycling along the Dallas Rd. cycle path to join with all the other Grandmothers, Grand-others and older Grandkids arriving for the Finale at Mile 0. Suitable for Beginner Riders and younger grandkids - grandchildren must be accompanied by either a parent, grandparent or grand-other.
Registration of the participating Grandmother with number of guests required so that we have sufficient support for your cycling grandkids of any age!
Leaders: Barbara Langton and. Lynn Kobierski from Saanich Municipal Hall and Betty-Joan Traverse and Berken Feddersen from Ogden Point.
