Guelph cyclists are gearing up for the 13th annual Tour de Guelph on Sunday, June 28, 2026, with a goal to raise $230,000 for the Guelph General Hospital‘s new Speedvale Campus and local Rotary charities. The event kicks off from the University of Guelph’s University Centre and has already brought in $123,485, about 54 percent of its target, with 23 days to go.
Proceeds will help fund Phase 2 of the Speedvale Campus, set to open in spring 2027. That phase will bring endoscopy services and an orthopedic fracture clinic to the growing Guelph-Wellington region. Phase 1 opened on March 2, 2026, giving residents better access to diagnostic imaging, including a long-awaited second MRI machine. All patient care equipment and construction at the hospital are paid for through community donations.
The event welcomes riders of all ages and skill levels with six routes: 5/10 km, 25 km, 50 km on road, 50 km on mixed surfaces, 75 km, and 110 km. This year, the 25 km route is named in memory of Ross McKinnell, a Tour de Guelph Hall of Fame member who died in September 2025. McKinnell raised more than $60,000 for the event and rode that route each year. His family continues to fundraise as Team McKinnell.
Last year’s Tour de Guelph drew a record 850 riders and raised $226,500. Over its 12-year history, the event has generated more than $1.4 million for the hospital and community groups. In 2025 alone, funding supported 38 local organizations, including bike helmets for the Brain Injury Association, literacy and mental health programs through Action Read, and a spousal loss support group at Hospice Wellington.
The ride is co-chaired by Deb Allen of the Rotary Club of Guelph South and Liz Fisk of the Rotary Club of Guelph Trillium. Riders and volunteers will be treated to a free barbecue from Harvey’s Restaurants of Guelph. For more details or to register, visit tourdeguelph.ca.
