Phil Shea - August 1999 Volunteer of the month

Thankfully, Phil Shea is a cycling volunteer who just won't give up! No doubt his years of experience as a high school teacher and long distance cycle tourist have helped develop his persistence. That's great news for Ottawa area and especially Kanata cyclists, who are benefiting from years of Phil's work as a cycling volunteer.

During the past seven years, Phil has made a variety of contributions to cycling. As past president and current Tour Director, he has helped organize and run the Kanata Nepean Bicycle Club (KNBC), a family-oriented bicycle touring and social club in the west end of our region. As an active resident of his Kanata community, Phil was a member of the Kanata Cycling Advisory Committee during its first term. There he helped develop the city's cycling network plan and identify other local improvements for cycling.

Phil has enthusiastically participated as a CfSC volunteer in a number of projects, particularly in support of the Regional Cycling Safety and Promotion Program. His involvement includes delivering Better Bicycling newspapers throughout Kanata, promoting safe cycling to children, and promoting the use of lights at night.

Phil doesn't just talk about cycling, he does it. He has been witnessed riding between meetings in CfSC's downtown office and his home in Kanata, when it would be all too easy to take the car for the 20 km trip. His actions speak louder than words.

Bringing his expert knowledge of bicycle touring and the Kanata area to the task, Phil has played key roles in the region's only bike tours to raise money for cycling. Phil coordinated and led the group of cycling marshals to ensure the safety of riders in the The Ride for Cycling -- after he first helped scout out and inspect the route. Despite low initial turnout in the early years of the ride, Phil continued to develop even better routes for the new Throop Photographic Harvest Ride running out of Kanata. Participants in the 1998 Harvest Ride gave consistently high marks for their enjoyment of its tours.

Phil Shea's ongoing determination to improve cycling has increased cycling enjoyment and introduced cycling to thousands of residents, and especially those in Kanata where cycling advocates have been few and far between.

Tailwinds, Phil!