The Art Of Cycling: Cycling For Diversity From Mission To Victoria May 18 -21

Submitted. A four-day cycling expedition May 18-21 from Mission to Victoria will showcase the need for harmonious cultural diversity in the area, and Abbotsford-Mission Times columnist and advocate Ken Herar will lead his team for some 200 kilometres.

The trip, dubbed Cycling for Diversity, celebrates the United Nations World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (May 21), and shines the spotlight on the area’s diverse ethnic populations and the need for inclusive communities.

Ken Herar

During the trek, Herar will be riding a Devinci Oslo Hybrid road bike loaned from Wentings Cycle & Mountain Shop in Mission. Herar hopes to raise funds to purchase the bike and donate it to someone in need.

“By creating awareness, we are making a difference,” said Herar. “But we should never stop building cultural bridges.”

On the first day of the trip, the Cycling for Diversity team visits Griner Park in Mission at 8:15 a.m. for a diversity tree planting. The tree is a Ginko Biloba, an evergreen native to China which has potential medicinal properties. The District of Mission has also declared May 16 to 21 as Cultural Diversity Week.

From Griner Park the squad will make five stops at Mission schools and the Mission Indian Friendship Centre where they will share in discussions about diversity and the cycling trip.

From there they travel to Dasmesh Punjabi School in Matsqui Village before they speak to a Grade 12 Law class at W.J. Mouat Secondary at noon.

Next stop is Gordie and Colleen Howe Middle School where the team will be heralded by cheering students waiting on the school track.

A second tree planting is set at 2:30 p.m. at Old Yale Road and South Fraser Way. Three maple trees will be planted to celebrate the ride.
Canada Safeway in Abbotsford is the next stop at 3:30 p.m. for an hour-long diversity celebration featuring entertainment by Korean drummers and snacks provided by the grocery store.

At 5 p.m. that day the team will also make a quick visit to the Abbotsford Heritage Sikh Temple to pay their respects to the historic building which is celebrating its centennial.
By nightfall the cyclists will make their way to Langley for more diversity activities the next day.

The schedule for the next three days will include more school and civic visits, the details of which will be released shortly. Details can be obtained by calling Herar at 604-615-2499. Interested riders can also contact him.

The trip concludes in Victoria at the Legislature.

An ongoing journal of the daily activities will be posted on the Cycling for Diversity Facebook page or @RickRake on Twitter. Donations for the bike Herar will be riding can be made to Envision Financial, account #4577128 (Mission branch).

Ride supporters include Canada Safeway, Envision Financial, Mission Rotary Club, Fraser Valley Indo-Canadian Business Association, Peter Warkentin,

CONTACT INFO:
KEN HERAR 604-615-2499