Happy Summer, Squadra!

The sun is out and spirits are high as we head into the peak of summer activities, with everyone getting outside to run, hike, swim, and of course, cycle. To all those celebrating, a very happy Canada Day!

As we all get outside and get involved, we'd like to highlight that 2026 is officially recognized by the United Nations as International Volunteer Year. This is a call to acknowledge and celebrate all that volunteers across the world achieve, and while it's hard to put into words just how much we appreciate our volunteers, we thought we'd show you instead by introducing our new recognition program:

The hard-working, unstoppable volunteers who have completed a volunteer shift at the RBC GranFondo Whistler for at least five years will now inducted into the Iron Spokes Club.

Members of this club will receive:

• Their name on our 'Hall of Fame', featured permanently on the RBC GranFondo website

• A specialized pin on the year of their induction to display their status

• A personalized letter of thanks from the RBC GranFondo Chief Enthusiast, Neil McKinnon

• Priority choice of volunteer shifts

We look forward to sharing more about this program as it evolves, and can't wait to recognize those who keep coming back and demonstrating what it means to be a volunteer. Stay tuned to meet the inaugural inductees in the next newsletter.

Our numbers are steadily climbing as we gear up towards the big ride, and we're thrilled to see our Squadra come to life. Compared to our June Squadra Stats, we have filled 64 more spots.

We still need 238 spots filled, especially up in Whistler and at our rest stops. Refer your friends and family to come out and volunteer with us, and earn additional entries into our volunteer raffle.

We've added some new roles to our sign-up page recently, including Eco-Enthusiast for the environment-minded volunteer, and Bartender for the volunteers who want to keep the energy flowing at the finish line.

Meet Rob and Gord, the Co-Captains behind the Britannia Beach rest stop. Rob and Gord have been part of the GranFondo since the beginning, creating themed experiences each year. Rob shared some of his Fondo highlights with us:

"It is amazing to believe, that it has been 16 years of volunteering at the GranFondo! Gord (SuperGordo) and I met while volunteering at the 2010 Olympics on Cypress. The Olympic volunteer experience excited us, and we ended up volunteering at Rest Stop #2, Britannia, that same year.

At the GranFondo we work to recreate that volunteer experience. We have always tried to make our Rest Stop unique for the riders. Be it a western themed “Watering Hole”, complete with my wife painting a huge banner, to last years’ “Welcome to Canada” theme. Where we had posters painted by my grandchildren on the porta potties and of course Canadian flags everywhere. Best of all is the appreciation of the riders, for everything we do as volunteers!"

If the fun had isn't quite enough to entice you, we also have amazing prizes to give away for our volunteers.

Our official air transportation partner, Helijet, is offering a once-in-a-lifetime trip for two. One lucky volunteer and their chosen guest will fly roundtrip from Vancouver to Victoria, enjoying stunning views and a one-night stay at one of Helijet's accommodation partners.

This prize pack, valued at $2700, will be given away to the volunteer with the highest number of referrals.

Want to win this trip? Ask your friends, family, and colleagues to sign up now.

The fantastic team at DU/ER, Vancouver's favoured performance denim brand, is giving away vouchers for a few lucky volunteers to receive a wardrobe upgrade capable of keeping up with their busy lives.

DU/ER pants are designed with activity in mind, perfect for the on-the-go volunteer. Add another shift or sign up today to get one step closer to stepping into a great pair of pants.

Looking for a great meal or a sweet deal while in and around Whistler? We're giving away four $50 gift cards, redeemable at Hunter Gather, Mile One, or Cranked Espresso Bar. Click below to get one shift closer to winning:

If you need a ride up to Whistler, sign up for the volunteer bus! The bus departs from downtown Vancouver at Concord Pacific (88 Pacific Boulevard) in the early morning, and returns in the early evening, allowing for a full day of volunteering and some time to explore Whistler Village. Specific departure times will be shared with reserved guests in early August.

If you would like to reserve a seat on the bus, please send an email to volunteer@rbcgranfondo.com to save a spot. Note that the bus has a limited capacity and seats are given away on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Part of our volunteer network is made up of some awesome community groups. This month, we'd like to highlight Gravel Buddies!

Gravel Buddies community was founded in April 2022 with the purpose of creating an environment where women, gender-diverse, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people of any ability can share their love for gravel riding and bikepacking.

Gravel Buddies’ mission is to build confidence, empower, create connections, and explore beautiful places in a supportive setting. 

Check out Gravel Buddies on their website gravelbuddies.ca or on Ride w GPS.

We look forward to seeing some of the Gravel Buddies volunteering with us in the Fall! To get involved in their awesome outings, visit the website above.

If you are part of a community organization that would like a shout-out in our newsletter, please send an email to volunteer@rbcgranfondo.com to talk about how your group can get involved.

That's all for this newsletter, Squadra. As usual, more updates will be shared each month leading up to the event, and questions are always welcomed.

Cheers,

Lauren