Ottawa’s Annual Bicycle Festival Celebrates National Health and Fitness Day With Canada’s Governor General David Johnston and Mayor Jim Watson

Capital Vélo Fest and the Kidney Foundation of Canada are excited to announce Ottawa’s 3rd annual bicycle festival and Tour la Nuit on the first weekend in June, June 1-2, 2013. The June 1st activities will commence at 1pm with a Bicycle Rodeo at Marion Dewar Plaza, Ottawa City Hall. At 1:30pm, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will officially open the festival in celebration of National Health  and Fitness Day in Ottawa. Following a welcoming speech by encouraging Canadians to increase their levels of health by incorporating physical activities into their lifestyle, the Governor  General will participate in the Bicycle Rodeo skill challenges. Designed to develop cycling skills, the Rodeo challenges include Bike Limbo, Newspaper Boy Toss, Cone Swerving, Bumpy Riding, and a bike polo game on the Rink of Dreams ice pad. The festival also features seminars and information with hands-on learning activities related to bicycle safety, bike maintenance and cycle commuting provided by Ottawa’s leading bicycle retailers, clubs and advocacy groups. Saturday afternoon at 3pm, Mayor Jim Watson will welcome festival goers in a ceremony to announce the winners of the annual Bruce Timmermans and Bike to Work Month awards, presented by the City of Ottawa and the EnviroCentre. The daytime Bike Rodeo will be immediately followed by the Tour La Nuit at 6pm. Featuring cycling themed movies, a vintage and classic bicycle display, and Ottawa’s most unique night ride along city streets that have been opened to people on bicycles for a ride under the stars without any cars. The Tour La Nuit is a fundraising event for the Kidney Foundation to raise funds to help children with kidney disease. On Sunday, June 2nd, the festival will reach out into Ottawa communities with more cycling games, safety education, and family cycling with Capital Vélo Fest Community Spokes. From 10:30am-12:30pm, Brantwood park in Old Ottawa East will feature a bike rodeo and a community ride along the canal bikeway. Vanier Vélo Fest, from 10:00am-2:00pm at the community centre on Dupuis Street, will include a bike rodeo and community rides though the neighbourhood. Capital Vélo Fest Inc. is an Ottawa-based non-profit corporation whose mission is to “Inspire people of all ages to ride a bike more often” by organizing events that provide education and cycling fun in partnership with governments, the cycling industry and cycling advocacy groups. For further information about Capital Vélo Fest, visit www.capitalvelofest.ca . The Kidney Foundation is a grass-roots organization with volunteers and employees working together to reduce the burden of kidney disease. The foundation provides kidney patients and their families with education and emotional support. For further information about the Kidney Foundation, visit www.kidney.ca