The Ottawa Valley Cycling and Active Transportation Alliance (OVCATA) holds its third Annual General Meeting on Saturday, November 23 at 12:30 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion in Eganville. Shown above OVCATA activists celebrate at 2018 AGM – Bob Peltzer, Pat Krose, Ron Moss, Ish Theilheimer, Debbie Fiebig, Kathy Eisner, Pat MacGregor (Photo submitted)
The meeting features presentations from Renfrew County Warden Jennifer Murphy and from Margo Johnson of Gearheads and the choosing of a winner for the $5,000 e-bike, donated by Gearheads, that the organization has been selling tickets on all year.
OVCATA was launched in 2016 to promote self-powered transportation such as cycling, walking, running and paddling and has grown to include approximately 500 members. It has been involved with major cycling events such as the Tour de Bonnechere and the Tour de Whitewater. The organization works with the County of Renfrew and local municipalities to help them make Active Transportation safer and attractive to more local people and visitors.
This fall, OVCATA members are reaching out to local municipal councils, encouraging them to develop Active Transportation plans in
their communities. They have been in contact, so far, with Petawawa, Renfrew, McNab-Braeside, North Algona Wilberforce, Bonnechere Valley, Killaloe Hagarty Richards, Madawaska Valley and the City of Pembroke.
“We are very pleased with the response we’ve received and the cooperation we’ve had from local government,” says the organization’s co-chair, Ish Theilheimer. “People are realizing the benefits and potential of Active Transportation. It makes people healthier and happier. And promoting it can attract a lot of business to our communities.”
Theilheimer,I. Ottawa Valley Cycling and Active Transportation Alliance (OVCATA) (2019,Nov.15) OVCATA marks three years of progress on Active Transportation at Eganville AGM November 23 [media release]
