| WRC Mandate – To Promote and celebrate female riders in Canada. |
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2010 Council Activities |
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| 2010 marked the fourth year for the Women Riders Council as it continues in its efforts of promoting and celebrating women riders in Canada. The Council consists of six women from six different provinces who met on a monthly basis via teleconference over the year for planning of the first International Women Riders Congress & Festival (IWCF), held in August. |
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Though we had many challenges in organizing and hosting the event, we also reached many achievements and consider the IWCF to have been a sucess, particularly for a first-time event by: - promote and celebrate the achievements of women riders from Canada and around the world
- foster a sense of community and camaraderie
- enhance rider safety (through skills training, educational seminars)
- create an environment that welcomes new riders to the sport
- encouraged existing women riders to grow their involvement
- contributed to building relationships with rider groups, nationally and internationally
- brought together industry, riders (especially the largest-growing market -- women), and MCC
- the program set a solid standard for subsequent events
- increased awareness of MCC nationally and internationally
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2009 Council Activities
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| 2009 was another busy year for the Women Riders Council as it continues in its efforts of promoting and celebrating women riders in Canada. |
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| Monthly teleconferences were held throughout the year to discuss plans on the best way for the council to build on its 2008 successes as well as address ideas around the WRC survey results. With their mission in mind the council added more women rider profiles to the website and searched for additional women & motorcycle related websites to add to the Women Riders Council resource page. |
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| A great opportunity to promote women & motorcycling was presented to the council with involvement in the 2009 American Motorcycle Association’s (AMA) Fifth International Women and Motorcycle Conference scheduled for August 19-22, 2009 at the Keystone Resort and Conference Centre in Keystone, Colorado. This was a resounding success with 6 provinces being represented by Canadian attendees and more than doubling the Canadian presence from the 2006 AMA conference held in Athens, Georgia. |
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| The council members took on the role of hostess for the International Street Party and with the help of Canadian keynote speaker (Deborah Grey), Canadian entertainers (Johnny Rev and the Pushrods) plus Canadian delegates a true Canadian flavour was introduced for all to experience. The council would like to thanks its many sponsors that made this event possible to participate in. |
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| To promote and celebrate Canadian women riders the council profiled 6 Canadian women at the AMA conference on their Wall of Fame. These ladies have also been added to the profile page of the Women Riders Council website. |
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| Enthusiastic feedback from women riders who participated in the AMA Conference was to host an International event of this type in Canada. After discussion at the council level and the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada’s (MCC) level the idea of an International Women Riders Congress & Festival was born. This will be held August 11-15, 2010 in Deerhurst, Ontario. |
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2008 Council Activities |
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| 2008 was another busy year for the Women Riders Council as it continued in its efforts in promoting and celebrating women riders in Canada. The Steering Committee is a diverse group of women from across Canada whose riding skill level and experience varies but whose love for the sport have brought them together with a common goal of empowering women to ride. The Steering Committee is pleased to announce that it has expanded its membership to Atlantic Canada with representatives welcomed from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Monthly teleconferences were held throughout the year to discuss ways of building on its successes of 2007, its inaugural year. |
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| In 2007, the WRC focused on finding out what the needs of women riders are and how these can be addressed through its survey. 2008 was the year of communication and getting the word out!! |
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| The Steering Committee spent a great deal of time this year enhancing its website – recognizing the value of the internet as an effective communication tool. Each month women riders from across Canada are showcased on the WRC’s website. By profiling women with diverse backgrounds such as Audrey Alexandre, Doris Marion and Regine Rimbault, the WRC is reaching out to women from all walks of life. The Steering Committee recognized the value of Facebook as an effective communication vehicle and has created a group for WRC. |
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| Although members of the Steering Committee come from all over Canada, members attended and participated in many of the regional motorcycle shows. These personal contacts are perhaps one of the most important ways in which the WRC’s mandate is accomplished. From answering questions like what size of motorcycle to how to sign up for a rider’s training course, Steering Committee members take very seriously their role as ambassadors in promoting WRC and MCC. |
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| In late 2008, the Steering Committee began discussions with the AMA as it prepares for the Fifth Annual Women and Motorcycle Conference scheduled for August 19-22, 2009 at the Keystone Resort and Conference Centre in Keystone, Colorado. The WRC is exploring ways with AMA in which Canadian women riders’ participation at the Conference can be highlighted. Several members of the Steering Committee are planning to attend this event and are excited about connecting with their counterparts from all over America. |
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| Perhaps the most important event for the WRC in 2008 occurred in October when Audrey Alexandre was inducted into the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame. In 1999, Audrey Alexandre was recognized by Harley-Davidson, Inc., for her 50 continuous years of owning and riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Audrey was the first Canadian member of Motor Maids, the oldest female motorcycle riding club in North America and celebrated her 50th year as a member in 1999 as well. For the WRC, Audrey’s love of riding is what motivates us all and serves as an example for all women. |
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| The Steering Committee looks forward to an exciting year of riding in 2009! |
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| 2007 Council Activites |
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| The Women Riders’ Council was established to promote and celebrate Female Riders in Canada and held its first monthly meeting on January 17, 2007. In order to establish priorities, a web survey was launched seeking input from riders and consequently from which WRC committee could initiate meaningful projects. The survey was created in both English and French; launched on February 9, 2007 and closed on March 31, 2007. This was responded to by almost 800 women. |
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| “The average respondent was a licensed rider between 40 and 49 years of age, rides a cruiser and rides between 1,000 and 15,000 km/year. Their responses fall under three general priorities: opportunities for further training, resources for information and networking with other women and thirdly, availability of apparel and motorcycles that fit them and suit their riding style.” |
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| The responses gave the WRC committee an unmistakable message on how to proceed. The WRC will be assembling a repository of resources on the MCC website, profiling women who exemplify the committee’s intention to Celebrate and Promote female ridership (in Canada) and a second, more focused survey was on launched June 6, 2007. |
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