Director of Community Services Jayne Jagelewski (left) and Recreation Supervisor Lisa Billing (centre) join Saugeen Shores Council members April 8 to celebrate their newly designated Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community from Share the Road Cycling Coalition.

Hub Staff

An exciting achievement was presented by Director of Community Services Jayne Jagelewski at the Saugeen Shores Committee of Whole April 8 in Port Elgin. The Town of Saugeen Shores has been recognized by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition as a Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC). The application process was largely overseen by Recreation Supervisor Lisa Billing and described by Jagelewski as “the biggest application we’ve ever had to apply for as far as depth." Jagelewski said the process took several weeks, if not months, to gather the information in order to become a bronze status.

Towns are evaluated on criteria including engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, evaluation and planning. Applicants must demonstrate adequate performance in each category to be considered for the award.

Saugeen Shores is not only the first town in Bruce County to attain the BFC designation, but also the first along the Lake Huron shoreline. The Bronze award was presented to the Town April 1 at the Ontario Bike Summit in Toronto where many congratulations were extended from MPPs to Mayor Luke Charbonneau, Jagelewski and Billings

It was over four years ago that then Councillor Don Matheson first made the proposal for Council to consider making Saugeen Shores a BFC. The appointed committee took on the challenge and in January 2018 were given the Honourable Mention status. The team continued peddling towards their goal, recruited even more committee volunteer members and eventually crossed the finish line.

See: Honourable Mention for Saugeen Shores as a Bicycle Friendly Community

In Council Chambers Deputy Mayor Matheson said, “A bronze is nice, but silver and gold are much better." He then volunteered to continue on this journey to take Saugeen Shores from Bronze to Silver.

For more information on cycling in Saugeen Shores including our interactive cycling map, partnerships and upcoming events, visit SaugeenShores.ca/Cycling.

The Town of Saugeen Shores received a Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community designation April 1 in Toronto. From left, Teresa Di Felice, CAA; Jamie Stuckless, Executive Director, Share the Road; Mayor Luke Charbonneau, Town of Saugeen Shores; Jayne Jagelewski, Director, Community Services, Town of Saugeen Shores; Lisa Billing, Recreation Supervisor, Town of Saugeen Shores; Lisa Thompson, Huron-Bruce MPP; Justin Jones, Manager Bike Friendly Program, Share the Road. Photo submitted

Last updated: April 11, 2019