Looking ahead to September, I’m calling on all motorcycle enthusiasts for a charity ride I’m co-hosting on Saturday, September 17, when we hope the weather is a bit cooler.

Join me in a ride throughout the area while supporting the great work that Hamilton-based Liberty For Youth does in prevention and intervention with at-risk youth.

All are welcome. The start and end point is the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (at the Airport in Mount Hope). Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. with the ride beginning at 10 a.m.  The ride will include a stop at the Dutch Mill in Flamborough.  Early bird registration is $25, going up to $35 in the week before the ride. However, if you raise a minimum of $50 for Liberty for Youth, your registration fee will be waived.

A barbecue dinner and door prizes are included. Plus, a demonstration and opportunity to test your skills will be conducted by John Mason, former Commander of the Golden Helmets (or another member of this OPP precision riding team). It’s sure to be a highlight of the day.

To view the poster, click here and to download the information brochure, click here.

Please mark your calendars and click here for further information or to register now!! www.libertyforyouth.org/eagleride.

I hope to see you at the starting line on September 17th. I appreciate your support for this worthy cause.

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Last week, I joined Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Science Minister Gary Goodyear at McMaster University to announce the recipients of the 2011 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, including six McMaster recipients. These are prestigious scholarships, valued at $50,000 per year for three years of doctoral study, were started by the federal government in 2008 to strengthen Canada’s ability to attract and retain the world’s top-tier doctoral students, and to brand Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning.

It’s always a pleasure to welcome Prime Minister Harper to Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale and particularly when recognizing researchers whose doctoral work helps keep the Canadian economy at the forefront and helps make us a global centre of excellence in research, innovation and higher learning.
 
The McMaster recipients and their areas of study are Carolina Alba (cardiology), Sarah Dickin (geography), Paul Johnson (chemistry), Jonathan Lai (neuroscience), Frances Lasowski (biomedical engineering), and Vinh Nguyen (English and cultural studies).  Congratuations!