Board Members

GEOFF LOVE is a life-long cyclist, starting with daily rides to a one room country school north of Toronto. His cycling took a new turn when he and his wife moved to Stratford 10 years ago. His energy is high gear, but he loves being the slowest of the slow while sweeping the “experienced” group's Sunday rides and keeping everyone safe. Geoff is strongly committed to Cycle Stratford's ongoing advocacy work to make Stratford a more bike-friendly place to ride.

See an interview with Geoff Love here.

NADINE HAYES has been an avid Spin class cycler and mountain bike rider for many years. In 2019 she joined Cycle Stratford to expand her activity and knowledge to learn about outdoor road cycling, destination rides, and advocacy. Early morning rides on the weekend are a favourite. With a career in commercial banking and finance, Nadine is the Board Treasurer.

DAVE JASPER started cycling about ten years ago, mainly for fitness, through good weather and bad. He likes to cycle on rail trails or any other pathway where vehicles are not allowed. Since being bitten by the cycling bug (year-round!), he has purchased three bikes, all made by Giant: a mountain bike for off roading through Wildwood, a road bike for longer trips on shared roads and his “just around town” bike for errands and short trips.

ROSEMARY JASPER has been cycling for about ten years and is one of Cycle Stratford’s Ride Coordinators. She gets out on one of her three Giant bikes as often as she can depending on her schedule and weather. Working for an airline has made it possible to explore many places around the world, but her favourite place to cycle is anywhere she can enjoy fresh air, sunshine and interesting scenery.

MICHELLE CUTTS connected with Cycle Stratford in 2021 through the Perth County Cycle Tour event. She is passionate about creating a safe, healthy and connected community through a variety of local initiatives such as community theatre, shelter and social services, safe parks and community clubs. Michelle loves to get outside on trails and hikes with her dog Hugo! Michelle owns a stationary bike that currently functions as a purse holder.

LYLE BEAMAN is a lifelong cyclist, having discovered the freedom of going pretty well wherever he wanted to at a very early age in his hometown of St. Lambert, QC, back in the early 1960s. After many years in the property/casualty insurance industry in Montreal, Toronto, London UK and New York, Lyle is now self employed as an insurance consultant operating from his new home in Stratford, since 2009. Lyle loves Sunday rides, meeting new friends, and supporting greater engagement with cycling for all, in Stratford and Perth County.

PETE MCDONNELL has been riding on two wheels almost as long as he has been able to walk. A dedicated year round cycling commuter, when not on his way to work he can be found riding for exercise and enjoyment. Favourite routes take him all around Perth County on his road bike. Occasional trail rides, either in Wildwood or the G2G trail are another favourite pastime. For longer rides in the winter months, Pete coordinates rides in Zwift with fellow Cycle Stratford members. Ride On!

JENNIFER NICKEL started cycling with Vancouver MeetUp groups in 2005, and she and her husband David often rent bikes to go exploring while on vacation. Since moving to Stratford in 2019, Jen has enjoyed riding local road routes and rail trails on her hybrid Norco Indie. During the pandemic, she logged many kms indoors on a Bowflex spin bike and using Zwift (including riding virtually with other Cycle Stratford members.) Jen brings project management and organizational consulting skills to the Board and is the current Board President/Chair.

PAT RANNEY has cycled since she was a kid and has hit the road more frequently the last few years on her Liv Alight bike. She enjoys the exercise and people she has met through Cycle Stratford. Born and raised in Stratford, Pat lived in Toronto where she was a Project Manager and Strategic Planner. Retired now, she is a part time usher for the Stratford Festival and Returning Officer at election times. A seasoned traveller, she enjoys short jaunts around Stratford and multi-day cycling trips. Pat is the Board Secretary.

OPEN DIRECTOR POSITION

We will be looking to fill an open Director position in 2023. If you have interest in joining the Cycle Stratford Board, please contact us for more information.

WAYNE SJAARDA is a retired veterinarian who has lived in Stratford since 2008. He has been a Cycle Stratford board member and a Ride Coordinator since 2014. Wayne’s love of cycling started as a child but geared up while he and his wife lived in the Netherlands, where it’s very easy to get hooked on cycling!

Multi-day bike trips were favourite ways of spending their vacations, and that continued since coming to Stratford. Wayne can be seen pedalling a Dutch Batavus touring bike and a Cannondale road bike.

KATE SWIFT has been cycling for close to five decades, starting on the family’s hand-me-down kid’s tricycle. After moving to the Pacific NW in 1995, she enjoyed the paved shoulders and off-road trails of Washington State and the classic Seattle to Portland event hosted by the Cascade Cycle Club. Since moving to Stratford in 2017, she has enjoyed many rides with the Cycle Stratford club, including test runs of proposed PCCT routes. For her, a great day of riding includes an early start with a big breakfast, and a long ride somewhere scenic with a stop in the middle. Bonus points if there’s a swim at the stopping point and more bonus points if someone else cooks afterward!

She joined the board in April 2020 and is a member of the Safety subcommittee.