Friends of GranFondo Canada
Alex Stieda
Lead Ambassador
A native of Coquitlam, BC, Alex Stieda raced road bicycles for 15 years of his life, from age 17 to 32 years. He raced for Canada’s national team from 1979 until 1992, the last 7 years as a professional. He competed an average of 100 races a season, over his 15 year career including winning the Yellow Jersey in the 1986 Tour de France (first North American to do so), 3rd in the 1983 Universiade (Edmonton) and 1982 Commonwealth Games (Brisbane), and representing Canada at the Olympics (1984).
After retiring from professional racing in 1992, he immediately transitioned to Sales Manager for a bicycle manufacturer (Softride) based in Washington State. After 4 years, he re-located his family to Edmonton where he works in the Information Technology (IT) field.
Alex also operates his own bicycle touring company, where cycling enthusiasts can experience the Tour de France first-hand on exclusive trips to the Tour de France and other high profile events. Other cycling related activities include skills-based cycling camps, skills video production (The Smooth Ride), bicycle industry consulting, print journalism, as well as, colour commentating for television including CBC at the World Championships and Outdoor Life Network for the Tour de France.
He currently resides in Edmonton, with his wife Samantha and two children, Kalie and A.J. They enjoy a variety of activities together and have a large extended family there.
Dr. Sian Spacey
Medical Director
Dr. Sian Spacey is a clinician-scientist in the Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Spacey combines clinical practice with basic science research and has been the Director of the Clinician Investigator Program at UBC since September 2005. She's an avid athlete with a love for the outdoors and has competed in road and mountain bike races, adventure races and running events. She's heading up and implement RBC GranFondo Whistler's medical program.
Dr. Lawrence Klein
Medical Practitioner
Dr. Lawrence Klein manages a thriving general medical practice in Squamish at Elaho Medical Clinic, a multidisciplinary centre providing the best of both allopathic and complementary medical therapies. He occupies the remainder of his professional time practicing Emergency Medicine and consulting at the nearby Paradise Valley Wellness Centre. He moved to Squamish to better enjoy the multitude of outdoor recreational opportunities that the community's stunning location and proximity to the outdoors allows. Along with the development and execution of GranFondo Canada events, he tries to find time to road and mountain bike but has yet to beat Neil in a race!
Tiko Kerr
Visual Artist
Visual artist Tiko Kerr has devoted his life to painting and to his community for the past 30 years.
After living for many years in Australia and SouthEast Asia, he settled in Vancouver in the late 1980s and began a substantial body of work. vibrant wavering visions of the urban landscape and other settings would become among the artist’s most recognized. His public commissions for the Vancouver Sun Run, Celebration of Light and Vancouver Opera are just a few examples of this period.
An exclusive piece of artwork was commissioned by GranFondo Canada. The painting, depicting a peloton of cyclists, demonstrates the energy and vibrancy of the GranFondo events with bold colours, brush strokes and abundant movement.
View the painting here.
