Revamped Forest City Velodrome reopens
The Forest City Velodrome has climbed back from the brink.
The track cycling venue, once one of few in North America, briefly closed last year after 20 years of operation.
But now, a new group of volunteers has taken over the facility to continue the vision of its late founder.
Many Londoners over 30 know the velodrome as the former home of the London Knights. But the Knights left in 2001.
Four years later, The Forest City Velodrome replaced the ice rink.
A hidden sports gem: The Forest City Velodrome reopens (Sean Irvine / CTV News London)Heading in for some laps Saturday, long-time member David Bee reflected on the challenges of keeping the track open.
"The fact it survived this long is a small miracle itself," said David Bee.
The Forest City Velodrome was originally the vision of an 86-year-old Tillsonburg man.
CTV London followed Albert Coulier as his plan went from a paper dream to reality in April 2005.
"It’s here. It’s done, and it is ready to ride. Come and see it," told CTVs Sean Irvine at the time.
And since then, many have.
Still, the Velodrome has long struggled to sustain itself.
Last spring, the facility shut down, and it appeared the dream was over.
But members rallied. A new board has reopened the facility.
Scott Matthews is a member of the board of directors of the Forest City Velodrome (Sean Irvine / CTV News London)"We still have a lot of work to do," confesses Scott Matthews. He sits on the board of directors
But there is not a lot of time to do it.
Unless more members join, Matthews says it will be a struggle to continue beyond the spring.
But new events and new faces are helping.
Greg Buragina is among them. He joined late last year.
"I was speaking with another member, and we were both surprised there is not a line-up at the door."
But those already inside include all age groups, from the young to seniors.
83-year-old Jim Gilchrist joined ten years ago.
Jim Gilchrist, an 83-year-old retired physician joined the Velodrome 10 years ago (Sean Irvine / CTV News London)The retired physician was encouraged by a former patient.
"He was cycling here at 94, and he said, 'why don’t you start?' I thought why not"?
Like many, Jim admits it was frightening at first.
"When I first started on the track, I was petrified. But it just looks intimidating, it isn’t."
The velodrome has offered learn-to-ride programs since its inception.
Now, it needs more cyclists to sign up to ensure its future and Albert Coulier’s legacy.
"We’re cautiously optimistic that a lot of people are still excited to see Albert’s dream fulfilled."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
DEVELOPING Alberta's request for federal assistance approved after fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on social media that Ottawa has approved Alberta's request for federal assistance after a fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday.
BREAKING Loblaw, George Weston to settle class action over bread price-fixing for $500 million
Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and its parent company George Weston Ltd. say they have agreed to pay $500-million to settle a class-action lawsuit regarding their involvement in an alleged bread price-fixing scheme.
EXCLUSIVE One address, 76 foreign currency dealers: Inside Canada's money service business 'clusters'
An IJF and CTV News investigation has found dozens of cases across Canada where multiple money services businesses (MSBs) are incorporated at the same address, sometimes without the knowledge or consent of the location's actual occupant. One money laundering expert calls it an 'abuse of the system.'
U.K. police officer suspended after video appears to show a man being kicked in head
A British police officer was suspended from all duties Thursday after a video was posted on social media that appeared to show an officer kicking and stamping on the head of a man lying on the floor of a terminal at Manchester Airport.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Jasper mayor says alert system to be reviewed after message 'glitch'
More than 25,000 people have been displaced from Jasper National Park since wildfires started to threaten the picturesque corner of Alberta Rockies on Monday, but the mayor of its namesake municipality says not everyone received an evacuation alert when it was sent out.
Unclaimed bodies are piling up in Newfoundland. A funeral director blames the government
A funeral director in St. John's says the bodies piling up in freezers at Newfoundland and Labrador's largest hospital likely belong to people whose loved ones couldn't get enough government help to pay for a funeral.