MINDEMOYA—Steve Redmond, a constable with the Manitoulin detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) took part in the 2024 Ice Road challenge from Red Lake to Pikangikum First Nation.
“It is a unique event,” said Constable Redmond. “I see it as a true adventure, raising funds for, and to get youth involved in bicycling.”
“On January 25 participants flew from Toronto to Winnipeg and took a bus to Red Lake,” said Constable Redmond. On January 26, riders embarked on a 128-kilometre fat bike ice road ride with the goal of raising money for youth cycling initiatives in Pikangikum.
“Because of you (participants), we were able to raise over $55,000 (in fact $55,690.68),” a press release states. “Funds raised will be used to winterize Pikangikum’s community bike shop, track repair and teach mechanical skills to the youth, and contribute to youth employment to manage the shop in the colder months of the year. Additional funds will be designated to help initiate similar cycling initiatives in other remote Indigenous communities.”
“The school in the community has a bicycle club,” said Constable Redmond, who was participating in his second Ice Road Challenge, having taken part in 2023 as well. “There are 1,178 kids in the school and for instance in the primary division there are four grade one classes, four senior kindergarten classes etc. All the students up to Grade 12 attend the one school.”
The youth of Pikangikum First Nation in partnership with New Hope Community Bikes of Hamilton, and the OPP all work together to put on the event. Moose Bicycles donated 10 fat bikes towards the youth cycling initiatives in Pikangikum, the OPP facilitates the transportation and movement of equipment and riders, and Eenchokay Birchstick School supports the youth organizers in coordinating a winter festival in the community.
From January 26-28 we biked 128.74 kilometres, said Constable Redmond. “About six of us on the ride work for the OPP, and there were other riders from Toronto and Hamilton as well as one gentleman from Red Lake who took part. “There was also a bunch of students who met us on the way to the community and biked with us for the last 35 kilometres.”
Cyclists navigated snow, ice, and cold temperatures in support of the youth cycling initiative. On Saturday, January 27, cyclists took part in Pikangikum’s winter festival.
To participate, cyclists must be in condition to ride in the cold temperatures over the mixed frozen gravel road and frozen bush and lake.
Riders stopped every 20-30 kilometres along the long ride, with rest stops along the way. The bicycle route road, “looks like Highway 542 in the winter,” quipped Constable Redmond. “The weather conditions were about minus eight with the wind chill making it minus 20. The folks there were saying that it has been a milder winter this year and they have about two feet less snow on the ground this year.”
To take part in the challenge participants have to raise a minimum of $500. Constable Redmond raised $1,500.
