All In One Venue - The Toronto Weekend to End Women's Cancers

devmegsmum · Veteran Member

All In One Venue

Didds · Veteran Member

Where'd you hear about this?

I read up on it from cities that did it last year and I don't really like it...

devmegsmum · Veteran Member

I rec'd an email last week from the coaches. What did you read that made you not like the idea? This is the text from the email: See you at Downsview Park Join us this year at our NEW All-In-One venue! The Shoppers Drug Mart® Weekend to End Womens Cancers benefiting The Campbell Family Institute at The Princess Margaret will enhance your experience and increase the impact of the dollars you raise by hosting the event from beginning to end at Downsview Park. View a map of the location here. What does All-In-One mean? It means that Opening Ceremonies, Camp, and Closing Ceremonies all take place at the same location. While the route is still under construction, we promise it will be diverse, interesting, and beautiful each day. You will absolutely love the convenience of having your car and luggage in one place and, more importantly, you will appreciate the cost savings which means more funds available to invest in cancer research, care and treatment at The Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute at The Princess Margaret.

-- Edited by devmegsmum on Sunday 12th of June 2011 07:09:23 PM

Irish · Veteran Member

Good morning. My daughter, Noreen, and I finished our 60km Walk for this year in Ottawa, June 4 & 5. We have not done it in Ottawa before, so have no comparison to how they operated other years there.

All of Ottawa's Walk was done from one location....Carleton University. We began and finished each day at Carleton. Everything, including camping, was done at Raven's Field at Carleton. Free Parking (for the whole weekend) was on the university grounds, a very short walk from Raven's Field, allowing us to go from and to our residence (a 5 minute drive) at St. Paul University dorms without concern about retrieving our car at the end of the day.

Our dorm consisted of two bedrooms with desks and TV, bathroom, and kitchen for a bargain price of $129 for both nights and was quite nice with friendly staff.

One of the benefits of having one venue was that we reused many of the pit stops the second day, and they could leave up most of the directional arrows for the route. Parts of the route were the same area, but not exactly the same route. We did see a variety of areas and really enjoyed the scenery.

We had a shorter time to raise funds and train (we did Toronto in September), but all went well. The weather was fantastic...they forecast rain both days and expected a thunder storm, but nothing "rained on our parade" that weekend.

The walkers were smaller in number than we are used to (950), and leaving in the mornings was much better because we didn't have any "bottlenecks" like we had in Toronto last year on opening day.

All in all, we had a very successful Walk and one venue was great!

Good luck to all who will be walking in Toronto in September. Diane

devmegsmum · Veteran Member

Hi Diane,

Thanks for posting - it's so good to hear you had a positive experience with the "single" venue idea. I don't live in Toronto so for me parking and driving through the city has always been a pain and a very large expense. This way leaving my car in one spot and not having to worry about parking will be a great perk. I don't mind going through the same neighbourhoods - different streets - I think that is ok. Plus with the size of Toronto there is probably no need to repeat routes.

Take care and maybe we'll see you back in TO next year.

CB

Irish · Veteran Member

Hi Cheryl,

You won't know until it's over if it is an improved route or not....and that is subjective. The Walk is long, and sometimes arduous, and you only get out of it what you put into it. There have been moments for all of us that were less than we expected, and with humour and determination we do get through the whole Walk.....and life.

Parking at the same venue was a real plus for us as well. We didn't get any real information until the Cheering Stations flyer came out, and had to wait till almost the Walk time to get information on the starting place, so we did have some concerns about where to park and how to get back to the car on Saturday night.

Not being from the Ottawa area had us totally in the dark as to where the Walk would begin and end. At least you know far enough ahead this year that the Walk will be at Downsview for everything, and can make plans.

One Venue was the best thing for us!!! D

dforgeard · Veteran Member

First of all Devmegsmum how come you received this email from the coaches when it doesn't seem like anyone else did? (myself included).
Secondly I don't think I like the idea of using Downsview as the one venue because this will mean we will not be going by Princess Margaret Hospital.

SSM · Member

While I had not heard that this was happening before this posting - I am to say that I am open to the idea.

But I can speak to not walking by Princess Margaret - I have done the Ride to Conquer Cancer a number of times and that event does not go by the Princess Margaret, but you most certainly still feel connected to the hospital, IMHO. There are people from the hospital at the event, opening etc.

We should all try to be open to changes for this great event - especially if those changes mean more money raised for PMH (the more money saved in operational costs means more to the bottom line of the PMHF)

devmegsmum · Veteran Member

Hi,

I don't think there's a need to be so angry with me - I didn't write the email nor did I choose who it went out to - I just posted a topic for discussion - which is what this forum is for. If you have issues with the email then I would suggest you follow up with the coaches.

You are entitled to your opinion - as I am to mine. No biggie and no reason to be so defensive.

Have a great day biggrin

-- Edited by devmegsmum on Monday 13th of June 2011 03:07:14 PM

devmegsmum · Veteran Member

Hi SSM,

I did hear a rumour (and it is only a rumour) that we may still go by PMH as it would be about 16km from Downsview, big walk first day, slightly easier second day.

I agree - an open mind is a wonderful thing.

Take care,

smile

Irish · Veteran Member

Dawn, you have some very interesting comments.

I just checked (on google maps) walking from Downsview (airport) to Princess Margaret Hospital and they gave three or four routes which were about 13-14km in distance, which would be a possibility of doing in one day.

Obviously and unfortunately, the walkers do not know what the route is until they see the arrows for the Walk in each city, on the day of the Walk. Most of us only ever had a general idea of where the Walk might go, by the starting and finishing points along with the Cheering Station locations. At this time, it appears as if the starting and finishing location(s) is/are undetermined to the walkers.

It is too bad that the general plans for the walk are not more transparent to the walkers who do so much to raise funds for this cause.

I wish you all good luck with your Walk in September. I hope to be able to ride past to salute you all in your efforts.

cindula · Newbie

Hi, I am a first time walker in TO, so have nothing to compare the single venue to. I am glad that when I arrive on day one, I may not have to move my car till I leave on day 2! There is no doubt that the walk has the potential to be very different each day, even starting and ending at the same place. I just hope we have good weather!
I did in fact get the email regarding the venue. Not sure why not everyone did.
Regardless of venue, city, or weather, the walk will be what we make it!! aww

Team: Johnny Reid's Pink Tartan Army.

-- Edited by cindula on Monday 13th of June 2011 04:42:01 PM

devmegsmum · Veteran Member

Here! Here! You are absolutely right.

Denise · Veteran Member

Hi,

Found this in the events calendar on the Downsview Park website.

Weekend to End Womens Cancers A 60-kilometre walk to raise funds for womens cancer research at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. This year the walk will begin and end at Downsview Park with many participants camping overnight in the Park.

Denise

BAM · Newbie

The other thing to consider is that these events may be having a tougher time getting people to sign up for Crew, normally Gear is the largest group for crew and now that we all start, camp and finish at the same location they can try to use those people in different areas. The people that been doing crew for years will continue to do it but its tough to get someone brand new to sign up to spend their entire weekend volunteering their time for the event.

Before we decide to Poo-poo this new venue and route, lets try it out and then we can comment. Ya never know we might just love it. I know for me and my wife (Team Caboose) we love this new venue as we won't have to bribe our family members to pick us up on Saturday night and then back in early Sunday morning.

Just my thoughts!

dforgeard · Veteran Member

To clear things up, I am not mad that anyone received such email just curious as to why anyone received it (did you ask, are you on a special crew detail), that is all that I was meaning. Releasing such information so early has never been done so I was just curious has to why it had.
Also I am not against one venue by any means it does have alot of benefits to it but I would be disappointed after all the years if we were not to go by Princess Margaret. I found when it was moved to the second day that going past gave you an extra boost to finish the walk.

devmegsmum · Veteran Member

I'm not on crew. Just a walker. Have you asked the coaches?

kady1999 · Veteran Member

for me the question is where to stay near there...i am from timmins so does anyone know of hotels near there for the first night? Or do we just cab it from where we stay further away?

branmor · Newbie

I'm really excited about the one venue idea! Granted, I've never walked before and I think this is a bonus as I will have nothing to compare it to but I would like to think that even if I had walked before, I would allow and invite the experience to be different every time. That which is different is not necessarily bad or wrong.

I think it's a great idea to cut down on as many costs as possible so that PMH, the cause we work so hard to support, will get more money to spend on more amazing research. I believe, and please don't quote me on this, that in the Get in Step Session, they mentioned that the starting point would be changed but we would still get to walk by PMH.

As for being in the know, I think they sent out this e-mail in an effort to help people better plan their weekend as some people probably do many things far in advance. They can't post routes until the day of in case of road closures and safety.

Looking forward to my first walk and hoping to see you all there!!!

B

devmegsmum · Veteran Member

Hi Branmor,

You will love the walk, it is an amazing experience. You meet so many wonderful people while walking the route and the volunteers are the best I've ever "worked" with.

Good luck with your first year - if you are like a lot of us - it won't be your last biggrin

CB

SSM · Member

The two 'host hotels' seem like weird locations to me - a downtown property and an airport property, especially if the one venue is Downsview. I would be looking at hotels in North York, specifically Holiday Inn Yorkdale or anything around there.

In the past we have stayed at the hotels on Interchange Way in Vaughan - there are a couple of suites hotels there that have been good. The cab ride is a bit more (maybe $25-$30??) but we have always found it worth it.

Luckily with it being one venue a lot of ppl will have their cars at the venue and being able to save cab fares.

For us one venue means we will have our car to drive home and sleep in our own bed!

devmegsmum · Veteran Member

Hi All, One of the coaches (sorry I do not remember her name) called me today to confirm that an email was sent to everyone. She suggested that the people that did not get an email should check their spam and/or ensure they have the correct email address in their profile settings. She said if anyone still has concerns they should contact the coaches directly. The good news is that she also told me we will be going by PMH! I voiced my concern about the lack of visibility about the one venue, not on website, not on Facebook etc and she agreed. Didn't sound like anything was going to be done though. I also asked about the "Online Check-In" button in the Participant Centre - it didn't work for me. I was told it won't be active for about a month. I again suggested they may want to work on their communication. They need to let us know these things. It seems to me we share more on this board than they do anywhere else

-- Edited by devmegsmum on Wednesday 15th of June 2011 07:40:05 PM

Denise · Veteran Member

Thanks for the info Cheryl,

I will be in touch with the coaches as i did not recieve an email. I have double checked by in box & "junk" --- nothing.

They do have my correct email address as I have received other emails from them.

Thanks again,

Didds · Veteran Member

Denise, I agree, I got no email. I wasn't just spam filtered and I recieve all other communications from them. I think they made a mistake when sending it out.

devmegsmum · Veteran Member

Hi Didds, I kind of thought of that as well. The office seems really disorganized. When I mentioned the comments on this site and Facebook to the coaches her response was "yeah, we should check that out". That was a little alarming. If I was running an event of this caliber I think I'd want to know what my stakeholdders were thinking and concerned about. Don't get me wrong, I love the walk and nothing can change that I just want know the people making decisions on my behalf care what I think.

Denise · Veteran Member

Kind of makes me wonder what other important info I'm missing. My team mate & I had decided to stay in a hotel on Friday night so we could get a little extra sleep (every little bit helps smile ) -- I'm so glad I saw this discussion before making our hotel arrangements (getting a hotel in downtown Toronto really wouldn't help ).

I have sent a note to the coaches inquirying why not everyone received this email or better yet why wasn't it posted on the website.

Denise

JulieK · Senior Member

Wow, that is a big change. I didn't get an email either!

Some of my fave parts of the walk were starting at the Ex (sunrises @ the gates), along the waterfront, through humber valley, and rosedale, and some of my least fave parts are those dry industrial stretches by downsview... so I'm not sure what I think of this.

That said, I totally get that they're trying to save $ by not having us in the Ex last year at the end, which really was a whole lot of nothing.

I hope the parking @ Downsview is secure enough to leave for the duration.

I remain open-minded. I hear this is the last year for the Ottawa walk... is the end near for Toronto as well?

Wellak · Member

I certainly am open to change and if it reduces costs so that the PMH gets more from this event - then I say ABSOLUTELY!

I think the spirit of the walkers and the crew is really the driving force of this walk.

Although I agree that the industrial trek last year was not a lot of fun, it sure made for quite a welcoming relief arriving at Downsview Park on Sat evening. What a party!

Just hoping to meet more walkers and keeping my fingers crossed for a lovely day 'weather' wise.

Good luck everyone!