Wayside Fallen Riders Memorial Service 2020

Travel in 2020 and the changes that COVID-19 has brought to our world has made hosting events a challenge.

One has to get creative if there is to be any joy being spread! Here in Northwestern Alberta COVID-19 is a topic that has sucked the oxygen out of the room, just like it has everywhere else.

 

Alberta has entered stage two re-opening and has started to allow gatherings of up to 200 people out of doors. You have to be physically distanced, temperatures have to be checked and they want you to control the flow of human traffic to avoid people coming into contact with you. 

Some of our cities have made masks mandatory, others are not getting into the great mask debate so far.  

 

It was under these odd circumstances and the rather restrictive guidelines that one of Alberta's largest grassroots motorcycle rallies was able to host one of it's most integral ceremonies. 

Bob Ross, President of the Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association and one of the founders of the Wayside Fallen Riders Memorial Park jumped through a lot of hoops to make the Fallen Riders Memorial service happen.

 

The Run to the Hills Memorial Rally would normally have been held July 17-19, but of course, large gatherings are still a no no, and music is a definite forbidden fruit. 

 

On the Saturday of the rally, there is always a memorial service and roll call to remember the fallen in the motorcycle community.  Never before has there been a need to have approval to host a memorial service. Thankfully Alberta Health Services approved the memorial ceremony with up to 200 people.

 

2020 has been the one thing I wished the Cancel Culture would CANCEL!

Mother Nature is obviously having some kind of episode with PMS, she is one cranky old bag!!!

In spite of the mixed bag of weather that swirled around me as I rode from Grande Prairie to Two Hills, a 7 hour ride, I managed to stay dry only getting rained on as I pulled into the event.

 

 

100 riders came out to remember their fallen. 

 

It was an emotional ceremony with many sobbing as they paid their respects. Sadly we have lost a lot of riders in the last year here in Alberta.   As Pastor Wes read out the roll of our fallen, the sun started to break through and the rest of the day was beautiful.

 

 

If you ever find yourself in Alberta (if they ever reopen our border), you need to visit Two Hills Alberta, and spend some peaceful moments in the chapel, or on the wrap around deck looking out over the rolling farmland and the Two Hills Golf Course.  

 

Wayside Fallen Riders Memorial Park in Two Hills Alberta is a place to remember and reflect, for friends, family and motorcycle family members alike.  It is a tranquil and unique spot built by riders with rider's families in mind.  Find them on Facebook

 

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

The Grand Opening of Wayside Memorial Park in Two Hills Alberta

Mother Nature provided a picture perfect day for the Grand Opening of Wayside Memorial Park in Two Hills Alberta on July 16th, 2016.

Wayside Memorial Park, a place of peace and reflection is situated on just under 2 acres of land and was formerly a provincial rest area.

Located on highway 45, it’s only a short half-kilometer putt into Canada’s MOST Rider Friendly Community of the 2015-riding season, Two Hills Alberta!

An enormous amount of work has gone into the park with trees having been planted, the old cook house converted into a chapel replete with a wrap around deck for hosting BBQ’s, meetings and memorials.

There are two outhouses on the property, both of which have had a facelift. One has been made wheelchair accessible. All of the existing buildings have new roofs and fresh paint. A new storage shed holds enough tables and chairs for 100 people, over and above the seating available on the deck.

A new gravel driveway wraps around the chapel, and it is anticipated that the driveway could be paved by next year when the Fallen Riders Monument is unveiled during the 10th Anniversary Run to the Hills Memorial Rally in 2017.

Bob Ross, coordinator/cofounder of
Run to the Hills Memorial Rally and
Wayside Memorial Park

Bob Ross and his cofounder Mark Kussmann were both on hand for this very special dedication, however Bob is the one who spoke about the park and it’s meaning with Mark preferring to stay behind the lenses of his camera.

Pastor Wes and his wife performed the dedication and then Town of Two Hills CAO Elsie Howanyk served as the emcee introducing the dignitaries who were on hand to commemorate the park and congratulate Bob for this impressive accomplishment.

Acting Mayor of Two Hills, Sonny Rajoo

Acting Mayor, Sunny Rajoo made a very emotional and moving speech where he welcomed all of the riders and spoke of Bob’s determination and hard work and the support that the community, both its residents and businesses have offered to the accomplishment of opening the park.

He thanked Bob Ross, Mark Kussmann and the volunteers that are involved with the Run to the Hills Memorial Rally, those who got in on the voting for Canada’s MOST Rider Friendly Community and those who have stepped up to embrace the riding community.

Town of Two Hills CAO Elsie Howanyk

As Sonny expressed it has been a win – win situation for all. The businesses benefit from the traffic, the community benefits from the beautification of a park that was once an eyesore, not to mention other supports the rally has paid for like toilets at the Ag Society grounds and a defibrillator for the arena. And lastly the riding community benefits because it has a welcoming community and a gorgeous park to remember our fallen.

The Reeve of Two Hills County, Allen Sayler 

The Reeve of Two Hills County, Allen Sayler mirrored Acting Mayor Rajoo’s sentiments suggesting that the benefits of having more riders coming to Two Hills more frequently has benefited the entire county and region.

MLA David Hanson

MLA Brian Hanson of the Wildrose Party said that he was proud to have been born in Two Hills and was glad to see that it has finally gotten recognition for its friendly and accepting ways.

Conservative MP for the region, Shannon Stubbs is strongly tied to Two Hills with an office there, not to mention Shannon also lives in the Two Hills region. She too expressed her gratitude to Bob, Mark and the riding community for embracing the Town of Two Hills as the special place it is.

MP Shannon Stubbs

The very attractive chapel and memorial park are ready and waiting for riders and their families alongside riding clubs to come out and use them.

You can call Bob Ross at (780) 603-3008 or email him at runtothehillsrally@yahoo.ca to have the chapel opened for you or to discuss your needs for tables, chairs, camping etc. for a memorial you may wish to host.

The Fallen Riders Monument that will be the focal point of the park will be unveiled during the Run to The Hills Memorial Rally, July 14th-16th, 2017.

To see more photos of Wayside Memorial Park, the gorgeous little chapel and the dedication ceremony visit: https://plus.google.com/+BeltDriveBettyMC/posts/LDJi7cypbKm

If you are blessed enough to be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you, and PLEASE consider dressing for the slide and not the ride...

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider

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