Tune up that bike and get ready for the 2021 Commuter Challenge!

The Commuter Challenge is an annual event that encourages Canadians to green their commute by choosing (or continuing to choose) sustainable transportation. This year the challenge runs from May 30 to June 5 and we’re celebrating not just sustainable commuting but all of the sustainable and active ways we get around. So, on top of logging your sustainable commute to work (yes, telecommuting counts!), you can count your walk at lunch, your family bike ride around the neighbourhood, walking your dog (or cat), taking transit to get groceries – any and all ways you travel sustainably during the week.

The Commuter Challenge at RRC last year encouraged you to reconnect with your commute, this year we’re encouraging you to reconnect with each other. It’s been a long 14+ months for many of us away from the office, away from colleagues, away from students, and away from our friends and family. While we still can’t get together in person let’s challenge ourselves to find new ways to connect, to stay active and to have fun. See below for some ideas on how to reconnect during this year’s Commuter Challenge.

To participate REGISTER HERE, log your sustainable trips over the week, and be entered to win great prizes (more on that later).

Join as a team

One thing we learned from the Jack Frost Challenge this year is that teaming up makes things more fun and helps create connection. So, this year we are encouraging you to form a team with your RRC colleagues for the Commuter Challenge. You and your team can check in on each other, support each other, challenge each other, even have a friendly competition – and of course win prizes together!

Here’s How it Works:

• Form a team: A team can consist of 2 to 5 RRC Staff and Faculty Members (you do not have to be in the same department or even based at the same campus)
• Register as individuals: Each person on the team should register as an individual on the Commuter Challenge site (as part of the Red River College team)
• Send your team info to the RRC Sustainability Team: Fill in this form to send us your team name and the names of your team members
• Participate in the Commuter Challenge May 30-June 5: Challenge each other, inspire each other, cheer each other on all week
• Log your trips: Each team member should log their own sustainable trips throughout the week on the Commuter Challenge website. You don’t need to log your team’s kms, our Sustainability team will do that for you.
• Celebrate and Win: Celebrate all of your wins over the week and be entered to win a lot of great prizes – including one for the best RRC team (see below)!

Don’t feel like joining a team? No problem, you can still join the Commuter Challenge as an individual.

Inspire Others and Get Inspired by Others

Inspire Others: Do you have a favourite place to walk, roll or ride? Has your team found a fun way to get everyone moving? Are you an expert cyclist, runner, kayaker, etc? Have you recently tried something new? Do you have tips, tricks or just a great story to share with others about a sustainable way you get around? We want to share stories and tips from our College community on Instagram and in this blog to help inspire our College community to have a fun and successful week traveling sustainably. If you want to share your experience, please fill out this form.

Get Inspired: Are you tired of walking the same path everyday? Do you want to try something new but aren’t sure where to start? Follow us on Instagram and check back on this blog to read stories, tips and tricks from your colleagues to help get you going.

Prizes

As always, the Green Action Centre has lined up a lot of amazing prizes for Commuter Challenge participants this year. But to add a little more incentive, we are offering three great prizes to Red River College participants only:

• Top Traveler: The RRC participant who logs the most kms over the week
  • $50 Gift Certificate to Jardins St-Léon Gardens
• Lucky Winner: One RRC participant selected by random draw
  • $50 Gift Certificate to Le Marché Saint-Norbert Farmers’ Market
• Most Traveled Team: The RRC Team with the most average kms per participant
  • 2 x $25 Gift Certificate to Black Market Provisions
  • 2 x $25 Gift Certificates to Le Marché Saint-Norbert Farmers’ Market 
  • 1 x $25 Gift Certificates to Jardins St-Léon Gardens

Participants have to log at least one sustainable trip for the week to be eligible for prizes. The last day to enter KMs after the challenge is June 10th.