For all event organizers, the year 2021 has been marked by a certain ambivalence, the joy of getting together for popular activities, but also the many challenges to be overcome in order to bring projects to fruition. Health uncertainties, the need to «reinvent» all modes of operation to be able to present events in compliance with public health measures, the shortage of manpower - these are just some of the factors that have made the work of our entire team over the last few months much more complex.
Despite a strong headwind, Vélo Québec chose to hold four major events - Défi métropolitain, Grand Tour, Tour la Nuit and Tour de l’Île de Montréal - requiring great organizational resilience and an innovative approach to deal with the various constraints of the current context. I'm very grateful and above all proud of the entire Vélo Québec team, who helped each other out, surpassed themselves and reinvented themselves to bring thousands of cyclists of all ages together for festive and safe events.
I would also like to express my gratitude to you, dear members of the Vélo Québec ecosystem, and to all our partners, sponsors, volunteers and participants, who have continued to support us during this uncertain period. Your participation and loyalty have touched my heart.
More than ever, I remain convinced that our events contribute to the creation of a stronger cycling culture. The Tour la Nuit and Tour de l'Île are activities that allow many cyclists to ride freely and discover the city from a new angle. And what can we say about the joy of seeing novice cyclists and children take advantage of these opportunities to discover cycling in the city, and to cover a greater distance than usual thanks to the enthusiasm of a large cycling peloton.
I like to repeat that 2021 will be a unique and memorable year. For my part, I keep in mind the thousands of smiles I saw this summer, people happy to be able to celebrate the joy of cycling together. All this gives me a lot of energy and ambition to pursue Vélo Québec's mission and plan a year 2022 that will be just as memorable. A huge thank you for your support.
Jean-François Rheault
President and CEO, Vélo Québec