In this Newsletter:

1) Year of the Volunteer: Iron Spokes Club

2) July Squadra Stats

3) Volunteer Stories: The Best of Britannia Beach

4) Giveaways + Prizes

5) Whistler Volunteer Shuttle

6) Community Highlights

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:

Iron Spokes Club

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.

Squadra Stat for July 2026

• Total Spots Filled: 485

• Number of Volunteers: 381

• Capacity: 62.2%

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.

Volunteer Stories: The Best of Britannia Beach

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!"

Giveaways + Prizes

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

Helijet

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.

DU/ER

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.

Whistler Food & Beverage

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:

Whistler Volunteer Bus

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.

The Whistler Bus is currently at 8/35 seats filled, and going fast. Act soon to reserve your spot!

Community Highlights

Gravel Buddies

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.

Keep in Touch

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

A warm welcome back to our RBC GranFondo Whistler community newsletter! Squadra News is a space for our crew of wonderful volunteers to receive updates and stay connected throughout the season.

To returning volunteers - thanks for coming back! Your generosity and committment inspires us each year, and we're thrilled to see you again.

To new volunteers - welcome to the Squadra! We are always looking to welcome new friendly faces, and are excited to see you thrive in our community.

As we start to ramp up towards the big ride on September 12, 2026, keep reading for monthly updates, giveaways, tips, and more.

In this newsletter:

1. Meet your Volunteer Manager

2. Sqaudra Stats: Community Updates

3. Helijet Prize Pack Giveaway - Refer Friends for More Entries

4. Registration Discount Code

5. Need to Get to Whistler? Sign-up for the Volunteer Bus

Meet Your Volunteer Manager

If we haven't been introduced yet, my name is Lauren Poliquin, and I have the pleasure of serving as your Volunteer Manager for this year's ride. I recently graduated from the University of British Columbia, where I worked in program administration and the non-profit sector. I am also an avid volunteer, and I grew up helping at rest stops and package pick-up stations with my family.

I am excited to be part of the team, and aim to make this year's volunteer experience the best one yet!

If you have volunteered with us in years past, please visit the form below to share your favourite moments as a volunteer.

Many new volunteers are inspired by the stories of those who return year after year, and we love to hear from the wonderful folks who show up for our riders with such spirit! 

Squadra 2026 Progress

Squadra Stats | June 2026

• Total Spots Filled: 419

• Number of Volunteers: 322

• Capacity: 54.5%

As of today, we are just over halfway toward our volunteer registration goal, including over 200 returning volunteers. These numbers are fantastic, and we look forward to seeing them climb throughout the summer.

We have over 275 spots still available, and a wide variety of abilities are needed to make our event run! There is room for everyone on our team, and we encourage you to reach out if you have any questions regarding accessibility.

Families are also encouraged to come be a part of the event. We welcome young volunteers as long as they are accompanied by an adult (19+). Volunteering is a great way to spend time outdoors as a family and get kids involved in their community!

Helijet Prize Pack Giveaway

As our official air transportation partner, Helijet is giving away a free roundtrip for two to travel from Vancouver to Victoria. This trip boasts stunning views, an unforgettable experience, and a one-night stay in the beautiful city of Victoria. All volunteers automatically get one free entry into the raffle for this prize pack.

Additional Entries: Referral Bonus

Want a greater chance of winning? Every time you refer a friend to volunteer, you gain 1 additional entry into the raffle. There is no upper limit on referrals, so spread the word far and wide and refer as many as you can. Volunteers will receive:

• A 2026 Squadra T-Shirt

• A swag bag with goodies from our sponsors

• Meals and snacks throughout their shifts

• Entries to exclusive raffles

• And more!

  Volunteer Now

Make sure to remind your friends to indicate your first and last name in the referral box when signing up. More referral prizes will be announced throughout the summer, so start recruiting and stay tuned for more cool giveaways.

Registration Discount

Many of our volunteers are there to not only support the cycling community, but to cheer on their loved ones. As a thank you to those volunteers and the community that connected them to us, we are offering an exclusive community discount code.

Have your friends and family use the code 20GFWSQ to register for the 2026 RBC GranFondo Whistler and receive $20 off their registration.

This code is valid until June 14, 2026 at 11:59pm.

Need a Ride to Whistler?

If you are in need of 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 leaves Whistler in the early evening. Specific departure times will be shared in the coming months.

If you would like to reserve a seat on the bus, please email 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.

Stay Tuned for More

That's all for this newsletter, Squadra. More updates will be shared each month leading up to the event, and we look forward to seeing how our community grows. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out with questions!

Cheers,

Lauren 😎🚲