STAGE 1: Victoria to Calgary | 1465 km | 27 days | May 15 – June 10, 2021
The Trans-Canada Mile 0 Marker in Victoria is located at Dallas Road and Douglas Street. Dip your wheels in the Pacific Ocean at nearby Holland Point Park. We will leave Victoria and follow the Lochside Regional Trail, a regional multi-use bike trail stretching along the Saanich Peninsula-Victoria to the ferries at Swartz Bay.
Landing at Tsawwassen, we will avoid both the City of Vancouver and the Trans-Canada Highway, travelling through the Fraser Valley on smaller roads. From Hope, we will take the southerly route that travels mostly along Highway #3. It is a circuitous route through the mountains of British Columbia, with wild rivers, forests and several small towns along the way, where we will meet interesting people and resupply. There are several mountain passes to cross; each one with their own degree of challenge, amazing views and breathtaking downhills. At Castlegar, we will veer north to Nelson, follow Kootenay Lake and head down to Creston for an easier ride – albeit with a few more mountain passes. At Cranbrook, we will veer north again toward Invermere and Radium and then over to Castle Junction on Highway 93.
The Bow Valley Parkway will take us to Banff where we will catch the Legacy Trail to Canmore. Avoiding the Trans-Canada, we will follow Highway 1A from Canmore to Calgary, where we can travel on bike trails and dedicated bike lanes. Calgary is home to the ConnecTour team and we will certainly have a welcome-to-town-event planned with pancakes, craft beer, music and local fun – maybe not all at the same time.
The day-to-day route below is for planning purposes. Bike travel requires some flexibility for weather, road conditions, suitable camping and other factors outside our control. As much as possible we will stick to this itinerary, but please use the information below only as a general guide. Frequent updates will be available for each stage of the tour as we travel along the route. If you are planning to join us, please allow a few days on either end of the date range when making plans.
| Date | Route | KM |
| Saturday, May 15, 2021 | Sooke to Victoria (Mile 0) to Sidney | 76 |
| Sunday, May 16, 2021 | Sidney to Mission (ferry Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen) | 84 |
| Monday, May 17, 2021 | Mission to Harrison Hot Springs | 58.4 |
| Tuesday, May 18, 2021 | Harrison Hot Springs to Hope | 41 |
| Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | Hope to Manning Park | 66.3 |
| Thursday, May 20, 2021 | Manning Park Resort to Princeton | 68.4 |
| Friday, May 21, 2021 | Princeton Rest Day | – |
| Saturday, May 22, 2021 | Princeton area event day | – |
| Sunday, May 23, 2021 | Princeton to Keremeos | 62 |
| Monday, May 24, 2021 | Keremeos to Osoyoos | 54 |
| Tuesday, May 25, 2021 | Osoyoos to Midway | 69 |
| Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | Midway to Grand Forks | 55 |
| Thursday, May 27, 2021 | Grand Forks to Nancy Greene Provincial Park | 75.7 |
| Friday, May 28, 2021 | Nancy Greene Provincial Park to Marsh CG | 57.1 |
| Saturday, May 29, 2021 | Marsh Creek Campground to Nelson | 64.3 |
| Sunday, May 30, 2021 | Nelson Rest day | – |
| Monday, May 31, 2021 | Nelson area event day | – |
| Tuesday, June 01, 2021 | Nelson to Kootenay Kampground, Sanca | 73.4 |
| Wednesday, June 02, 2021 | Kootenay Kampground to Yahk | 77.4 |
| Thursday, June 03, 2021 | Yahk to Fort Steele | 81.5 |
| Friday, June 04, 2021 | Fort Steele to Canal Flats | 66.2 |
| Saturday, June 05, 2021 | Canal Flats to Radium Hot Springs | 61.6 |
| Sunday, June 06, 2021 | Radium Hot Spring Rest Day | – |
| Monday, June 07, 2021 | Radium Hot Springs to Kootney Park Lodge | 63.6 |
| Tuesday, June 08, 2021 | Kootney Park Lodge to Banff | 72.1 |
| Wednesday, June 09, 2021 | Banff to Ghost Lake Recreation Area | 80.2 |
| Thursday, June 10, 2021 | Ghost Lake Recreation Area to Calgary | 57.7 |
| Total Distance Victoria to Calgary | 1465 |
The over-reaching goals for each event are to restore a sense of community, heighten visibility and support the ConnecTour movement, which is all about learning how to be good neighbours in a post-pandemic world. We’ll seek out and engage with people, and share their stories with the rest of Canada. We will invite Canadians to tell their own stories in unique and compelling ways. We will also seek out new Canadians and members of the Indigenous communities in our ongoing effort to support Truth and Reconciliation.
These events will take form over the next few months. We are reaching out to each of the communities listed below to help us organize and deliver these special events. Ideas for events include:
- Bike clinics. These could be pop-up repair stations for basic repairs, or we might ask citizens in advance to donate old bicycles which we can fix up on the spot and give away.
- Presentations at community centres or local businesses: about our trip and why we’re doing it, by local immigrants on their experience in Canada, or on Indigenous or environmental issues.
- Discovery tours with “local” ambassadors.
Community Action Events and Locations
Friday, May 14, 2021 | Victoria area event day |
Saturday, May 22, 2021 | Princeton area event day |
Monday, May 31, 2021 | Nelson area event day |
Saturday, June 12, 2021 | Calgary event day |
The weather in British Columbia is influenced by latitude, mountains, and the Pacific Ocean. Temperature, average precipitation, and hours of sunshine can vary over short distances, but in general, temperatures are starting to warm up in May and June. Days can be warm and pleasant, nighttime temperatures can drop to close to zero depending on the elevation. Daytime temperatures—particularly in southwestern BC and the southern interior—can allow for shorts, short-sleeved shirts, and dresses. But, be sure to pack sweaters, trousers, and a light jacket as well for the evenings and nighttime. Always be prepared to dress in layers, and bring your rain gear.
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