January 24/13 10:29 am - PwC Epic Tour Halton Announced

Posted by Editoress on 01/24/13
 

Southern Ontario is getting another GranFondo-style event this year, with the announcement of the PwC Epic Tour Halton, to take place on September 8th. Sponsored by PriceWaterhouseCooper for a reported five years, the event will offer multiple distances, ranging from 20 kilometres to 140 kilometres, as well as a Festival. The start/finish and the Festival will be centered around the Kelso Quarry Park. The event will take place the day after Steve Bauer's recently announced CanFondo, and within 20 kilometres of the CanFondo.

The Epic Tour Halton will raise money for a variety of causes, including Halton Healthcare, and the Share the Road campaign. However, it should be noted that this is not a charitable event - such as Ride to Conquer Cancer. An undisclosed portion of the proceeds to go to the aforementioned causes. The event is run by the company High Performance Cycling Inc.

For more information about the PwC Epic Tour Halton, visit www.epictour.ca.


Press Release:

Three-time Olympic cycling medalist Curt Harnett was on hand Tuesday (January 22nd) to announce the PwC Epic Tour Halton, a GranFondo-style mass participation cycling event featuring some of the most spectacular cycling terrain in the GTA. The first annual event is scheduled for September 8th.

Halton Region provides the impressive backdrop for Epic Tour’s four feature routes - GranFondo 140K, Aspire 80K, Fit 40K and Family 20K. These routes incorporate parts of the Niagara Escarpment - a UNESCO World Biosphere - and the scenic forests and rolling rural farmland of the Town of Milton, the City of Burlington and the Town of Halton Hills.

All riders will be begin and end in the magnificent Kelso Quarry Park, part of the Kelso Conservation Area up on the escarpment off Steeles Avenue in Milton. Family riders are also invited to participate in the Halton Region Museum’s third annual Alexander Farm Day and learn about one of Halton’s original farming families, participate in fun-filled games, visit a petting zoo, listen to live musical performances and enjoy a wagon ride through the park. The Museum is located in Kelso Conservation Area at the foot of the Glen Eden ski hill.

Also announced today was a long-term partnership with Halton Healthcare. A portion of the proceeds from PwC Epic Tour Halton will go to the Hospital Foundations in Oakville, Milton and Georgetown to support hospital equipment campaigns in this rapidly growing part of the province.

"An event of this scope and scale would not be possible without the support of corporate partners," said event organizer Michael Merrall, President of High Performance Cycling. "PriceWaterhouseCooper has shown uncommon vision by committing to this sport, this event and this Region for the next five years. We are thrilled to be working with one of Canada's most respected companies. Their business expertise and acumen will be invaluable as we strive to build a world-class experience for cyclists and a signature event for Halton Region”.

“Participation in cycling is on the rise in Canada. I've even heard it said that it is the new golf,” said Raj Kothari, PwC’s Managing Partner for the GTA. “PwC is pleased to be the title sponsor of this exciting event because it is a great way to support a growing community in the GTA and to support the amazing work of the Hospital Foundations of Halton.”

“It also is a wonderful way for us to signal the arrival of our new office to the region in September. PwC is committed to being an active participant in communities across Canada. The PwC Epic Tour Halton promotes our values of excellence, teamwork, and leadership while allowing us to foster collaboration between our firm, the people of Halton Region and the broader GTA community.”

“Halton Healthcare Services and its respected Foundations are very excited to be a part of PwC Epic Tour Halton. This event will showcase not only our amazing region, but our three hospitals - Georgetown, Milton and Oakville. Each of our respected Foundation’s are very committed to funding essential medical equipment, which allows for the very best healthcare experience close to home.”

“We have had an unprecedented level of support throughout the Region,” said Merrall. “The leadership of Regional Councillor Jane Fogal and the support of Milton Councillor Colin Best and Burlington Councillor Jack Dennison have been the key to building a broad coalition of regional stakeholders who are all working together for the benefit of the entire Region. “We have working closely with the traffic authorities and Halton Region Police to determine lane and road closures that will offer participants a riding experience that is both enjoyable and safe.”

“We see this event as a great way to attract visitors to our Region,” said Councillor Fogal. “Halton has long been the epicentre of cycling in the southern Ontario. This event will attract scores of cyclists to our Region and we believe many will want to stay and come back again-and-again once they discover the other terrific opportunities the area offers for recreation, entertainment, relaxation and fun.”

“As a province-wide organization that is based in Burlington, and works on behalf of municipalities, regional government and at the provincial level to raise awareness of the positive benefits of cycling, we are delighted that this exciting event PwC Epic Tour Halton is coming to our Region. We would like to thank the entire team for making Share the Road a beneficiary of the day’s events," said Eleanor McMahon, CEO Share the Road Cycling Coalition. “Raising awareness of cycling’s benefits, and promoting safe cycling for all are an excellent fit for the leading health care providers in our communities as well,” McMahon noted.

PwC Epic Tour Halton has been designed as a complete lifestyle experience for the participants and their families. The start/finish will host a Festival & Expo with a stage and live entertainment, kid’s activities including riding and water sports on Kelso Quarry Lake, full food & beverage operations, cycling displays from leading manufacturers & retailers, and interactive displays from participating sponsors.

To learn more about PwC Epic Tour Halton, please visit www.epictour.ca.

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