Keeping active in every season

East St. Paul

Northeast Winnipeg

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/11/2023 (956 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What started in the spring as a means of getting mature women together to explore the city by bicycle has grown into an active community for all seasons.

In May, Sarah Gravelle-MacKenzie launched Cycling With Sarah, a group bike ride for women over the age of 55. The group really took off, and when autumn came around, Gravelle-MacKenzie was encouraged to keep the gang together and start planning guided hikes in and outside of the city. Now that the winter weather looks to be here to stay, she and co-organizer Rose McDonald have begun planning activities for when the snow flies.

“Winter can be six or seven months long,” Gravelle-MacKenzie said. “Getting together to do something outside is such a good thing. There’s something to look forward to, you meet new women. Getting outside is safe. It also helps to have someone lead.”

This winter, Gravelle-MacKenzie and McDonald have a series of winter hikes planned, as well as outings to try snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

“We’ve partnered with the Winnipeg Trails Association, for winter, for cross-country skiing, which has generated a lot of interest,” Gravelle-MacKenzie said. An introductory info session will be held on Saturday, Dec. 2 at Kildonan Park at 1 p.m.

“Manitoba Parks are doing two events in January and two in February: interpretive snowshoeing, and interpretive hikes,” Gravelle-MacKenzie added.

While the info session on Dec. 2 is open to anyone, those who wish to take part in the regularly scheduled group events will need to register ahead of time, via the RM of East St. Paul’s recreation department, which is another new partnership for the group.

“It’s great, they have access to snowshoes, Nordic walking sticks, and facilities, as well,” Gravelle-MacKenzie said. “That has also increased our membership; we have 47 members signed up for fall and winter.”

New partnerships, with Pine Ridge Hollow, for example, are also in the works.

“They would like to support what we’re doing, the community of what we’re trying to build,” Gravelle-MacKenzie said. “That’s what it takes, is a lot of people to make this happen. It all makes a difference and helps make this a success.”

Those who wish to register, or for more information, can email cyclingwithsarah@gmail.com or follow @CyclingWithSarah on Instagram.