Cyclepath Kelowna Community Involvement
We're committed to supporting the community that supports us
Since we opened in 1995, Cyclepath Kelowna has always supported local community events, charities, schools, and programs. Our amazing community in Kelowna and the surrounding regions gives so much to us so giving back is the least we can do.
In 2011, we made a decision to “step it up” and put a major effort into supporting the Ride to Conquer Cancer to raise money for cancer research.
We’re not sure if we’ll have a cure for cancer in our lifetime, but we feel strongly about trying to do something. In touring the local Kelowna Cancer Centre over the past decade, it’s amazing to see the significant advances that have been made during that time. There is world-class, cutting-edge research going on right here in Kelowna, specifically in prostate cancer research, that will benefit millions worldwide.
The Cyclepath Cyclotrons Team, with the support of many friends, relatives and local businesses, raised over $600,000 over 7 years!
Cyclepath Kelowna is proudly locally-owned and operated.
By supporting your local bicycle store, you're supporting your local community.
Cyclepath Supports The Okanagan's Trail Builders
Trail Sponsor: Vapour
Trail Network: Crawford
Vapour is a rough and rocky trail with some of the best tech in Crawford. Cyclepath Kelowna sponsors the lower section of Vapour via monetary donations and occasional trail days.
You too can support the trail maintenance at Crawford, by donating to or purchasing a membership from FOSS.
Trail Sponsor: Dear Santa
Trail Network: Smith Creek
When West Kelowna Trail Crew put the call out for trail sponsors, we felt compelled to answer. Cyclepath Kelowna has sponsored the Dear Santa & Santa's Revenge trails at Smith Creek. The WKTCS is doing phenomenal work over there, so we're thrilled to support it.
Trail Sponsor: Nip Tuck
Trail Network: Gillard
Nip & Tuck is rooty and techy with some flat sections and a number of smaller stump jumps. It's a fantastic warm up lap (right off the climb trail). It's also one of the easier blues from the top at Gillard so it's the perfect intro trail for anyone who is new to the area.
Trail Sponsor: Saint Ripper
Trail Network: Gillard
When West Kelowna Trail Crew put the call out for trail sponsors, we felt compelled to answer. Cyclepath Kelowna has sponsored the Dear Santa & Santa's Revenge trails at Smith Creek. The WKTCS is doing phenomenal work over there, so we're thrilled to support it.
Cyclepath Kelowna's Community Partnerships
Elevation Outdoors
Elevation Outdoors is committed to breaking down barriers and helping young people find a passion to help them lead a healthier happier life. They run multi-week programs for for youth, summer camps, as well as adult and women focused clinics in an effort to make the outdoors more accessible for all members of our community. Within the youth programs they provide full scholarship access for youth 12-18 that meet their eligibility criteria as well as partial scholarships for those who do not, but the cost is still a barrier. They deliver programs focused on hiking, rock climbing, snowboarding and of course mountain biking, which is where we come in.
Cyclepath is proud to be a long-standing partner of Elevation Outdoors. We provide them with discounted access to bikes and servicing and repairs, as well as introductory courses on bike repairs for program participants. We provide support volunteers for the Live to Ride Program and events and donate where we can to help out. Most recently, we assisted in the purchase of a second-hand van that is used to provide transportation to help participants get to and from the activities each day.
Click here for more information about Elevation Outdoors' Learn to Ride MTB Program from Kids. (Details to come for 2022 season)
Kelowna Bike Rentals
Kelowna Bike Rentals provides inclusive opportunities for outdoor recreation while creating meaningful impact within Kelowna's local community. 100% of profits go back into Elevation Outdoors and CRIS programs.
We provide Kelowna Bike Rentals with heavily discounted bikes for their amazing program, in conjunction with support from one of the brands we stock and support: Giant Canada.
"Cyclepath secured us bikes for our Kelowna Bike Rentals social enterprise in the hardest year ever to source bikes!!!! The team provides repairs and maintenance support for our fleet, too." - Mike Greer, Executive Director
By booking a bike through Kelowna Bike Rentals, you contribute directly to the incredible programs ran by Elevation Outdoors.
MTBCO
MTBco do amazing work managing and maintaining the trails across many of Kelowna's most popular trail networks, including Gillard, Knox Mountain, and Myra-Bellvue/Crawford (in partnership with FOSS). Anyone who is lucky enough to enjoy these amazing trails owes MTBco a debt of gratitude.
MTBco also engage in advocacy and community engagement on behalf of the extensive Central Okanagan mountain biking community.
If you wish to support them or thank them for the work they do, please consider purchasing an annual membership. Pricing is very affordable and your membership fee goes a long way.
WEST KELOWNA TRAIL CREW
West Kelowna Trail Crew perform crucial trail maintenance operations at Rose Valley and Smith Creek. These trail networks are incredibly popular with mountain bikers, and we all have WKTCS, and the tireless work of the directors, trail builders, and volunteers, to thank for the amazing, well-groomed trails in West Kelowna.
“If everyone volunteers for one Trail Day every season, you won’t believe how awesome the trails will be on all the other days when you get to ride your bike instead. A bunch of small combined efforts can produce huge results and we’ve seen this first-hand on many occasions since the formation of our society.” -WKTCS
You can view WKTCS's Trail Day & Event Calendar here.
If you wish to support WKTCS financially or thank them for the work they do, please consider purchasing an annual membership. Pricing is very affordable and your membership fee goes a long way.
Central Okanagan SEARCH & RESCUE
Cyclepath is proud to support COSAR, the oldest search and rescue team in BC. COSAR handles everything from technical rescues to searching for missing people. The organization provides free services via its 70+ volunteers. These incredible volunteers put in more than 20,000 volunteer hours each year to respond to more than 100 incidents and to aid anyone injured, lost, or in need of rescue in the Central Okanagan.
Cyclepath supplies and supports COSAR's e-bike division. This division supports those rescued along the KVR, which is considered one of the most dangerous locations in the Central Okanagan (based on the number of rescues, annually), as well as in other locations where eBikes are the fastest mode of transport to get there.But that's not all. Here are a number of other charities and organizations we have supported over the years:
- Dress for Success Kelowna
- Royal Canadian Legion
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- ARC Programs
- Hands in Service
- Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
- Canucks Autism Network
- Terry Fox Run
- Elevation Outdoors – a youth program
- Elizabeth Fry Society
- School District 23 – multiple school fundraisers, bike clinics & bike rodeos
- School District 23 – Work Experience Education Program
- Plan Okanagan
- UBC Okanagan – multiple school programs and fundraisers
- Okanagan College – multiple school programs and fundraisers
- Various Church Organizations
- Salvation Army
- Kelowna Minor Hockey Association
- Winfield Minor Hockey Association
- West Kelowna Minor Hockey Association
- Kelowna SPCA
- Okanagan Pride
- Big White Racers
- New Vintage Theatre Society
- B.C. Special Olympics
- Friends & Family, Kelowna
- Okanagan Gymnastic Centre
- Community Recreational Initiatives Society
- Numerous local cycling events, including annual support for the City’s Bike to Work Week Program