Event Day Details

Thank You! Your commitment to fundraising supports the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s mission to create more survivors by preventing disease, saving lives and promoting recovery. Keep fundraising right up to June 10th to help us reach our $6.8 million goal.

Participant Packages

Packages include bike plates for riders and bibs for runners and walkers. Plates and bibs provide access to the cycling, running and walking routes. Participants age 18+ must achieve $100 ($1,000 for VIPs) in fundraising before event day in order to participate in the event and receive a Participant Package.

You may receive your package by:

• Mail if you achieve your fundraising minimum by May 1
• In-person at the Check-in Centre or on event day if you achieve your fundraising minimum after May 1

Check-in Centre

June 2, 3 & 4 in the Queen Elizabeth Building*, Exhibition Place. ^{* Please note this is a new location, opposite the Better Living Centre}

If you did not qualify to receive a Participant Package by mail, you must visit the Check-in Centre to get it. You may also submit pledges and get your VIP jersey/shirt.

• Thursday June 2: 4:00 pm 7:00 pm
• Friday June 3: 12:00 pm 7:00 pm
• Saturday June 4: 9:00 am 4:00 pm

FREE PARKING FOR CHECK-IN CENTRE! Participants may park for free while at the Check-in Centre, in Lot 2 just south of BMO Field.

VIP Rewards

Participants who raise $1,000 or more online by May 1 will receive their VIP cycling jersey or VIP technical shirt in the mail as part of the Participant Package. Otherwise, participants must visit the Check-in Centre to collect these items. Qualifying participants will be invited to select a gift card reward of their choice in August.

More information about fundraising incentives

Location, Transportation & Parking

Road closures
Gardiner Expressway all ramps closed from the Humber River, east to the Don Valley Parkway from 2:00 am. Don Valley Parkway all ramps closed from Lake Shore Blvd north to Highway 401 from 2:00 am. All Roads will re-open by 2:00 pm

Parking
Event Day access to all parking lots at Exhibition Place and Ontario Place Lot 2 is by pre-purchased parking pass only. Event Day Parking at Exhibition Place and Ontario Place Lot 2 is now sold out.

Cars without parking passes will not be allowed to access Exhibition Place on June 5, except to drop-off.

If you do not already have a parking pass you cannot park at these lots on event day and should make alternate parking arrangements. Please note that the suggested alternative options are not official Ride for Heart parking, we recommend double-checking to ensure they will meet your specific needs.

Please also consider carpooling, riding, running or walking to Exhibition Place if this is feasible.

Please call our Ride line at (416) 486-RIDE or email ride@hsf.on.ca if you need more information.

Public Transit
TTC
The 310 Bathurst South, 316 Ossington South, 329 Dufferin South TTC bus lines operate during early morning hours on weekends with stops at Exhibition Place. Call 426-393-INFO or visit ttc.ca for further details.

GO Transit
Exhibition Station is on the Lakeshore West line. Please consult the schedule here. Please note the Sunday schedule.

Accessing Exhibition Place on Event Day
By vehicle (with pre-paid parking pass only):

• Enter just north of the Princes’ Gates at Strachan Ave/Fleet St. to park at Exhibition Place. Pre-paid parking pass is required to park at Exhibition Place
• Enter Princes’ Gates at Strachan Ave/Lakeshore Blvd. to park at Exhibition Place. Pre-paid parking pass is required to park at Exhibition Place
• Park at Ontario Place in Lot 2, walk across the East Bridge to Exhibition Place. A pre-paid parking pass is required to park at Ontario Place Lot 2

Event Day Schedule & Start Times

Cut-off times will be strictly enforced for safety and to ensure the highways are cleared to be opened to vehicles within the time frame provided.

Wheelchair Information

Participants requiring the use of a wheelchair may register for the 5km walk route.

The paved 5km Walk route is mostly flat, with the exception of the on-ramp to the eastbound Gardiner Expressway start line. This is a 180 degree arcing right turn on a slightly downhill on-ramp, so participants must take the necessary precautions to ensure their own personal safety and the safety of others while on this ramp. All participants will start the 5km walk at 10:30am. A wheelchair accessible vehicle will be available along the route for participants that require assistance or do not complete the event by 12:30 pm.

To register as a participant that requires the use of a wheelchair:

• Select participant type Individual, Group or Corporate Challenge
• Choose “Walker” for how you are participating
• Select “wheelchair” when prompted to make route selection

RIDE Routes & Safety

Safety & Rules Whether you’re an experienced cyclist or casual rider please learn and adhere to the following:

• Please be courteous to fellow participants
• Walk you bike to the start chutes
• Helmets are mandatory
• Participants who weave, pass at high speeds or cycle at high speeds in a group/peloton are considered unsafe and will be removed from the event by Toronto Police Services
• Pass on the left. Slower cyclists and children must stay to the right of the road.
• Do not attempt to pass the pace vehicles.
• Obey the route marshals and ambassadors of the road
• Use extreme caution on the downhill portions of the DVP & Gardiner Expressway
• Stopping anywhere other than a rest station is for emergency situations only
• In the event you must stop, let the people around you know and go to the far right of the road

RUN/WALK Routes & Services

The Run/Walk event is new to the Ride for Heart and is a 5km or 10km out-and-back loop routed along the eastbound lanes of Gardiner Expressway.

Participants will enter the starting chutes by the Princess Margaret Fountain which will be designated based on course selection. Then follow in the chute, down the on-ramp to the start line on the Gardiner Expressway, just west of the Dufferin Bridge.

10km runners will begin followed by the 5km runners then the 5km walkers will fill in behind. A 10:30 am hard cut-off will be imposed to ensure participants have sufficient time to complete the route within time available. Vehicles will sweep the course to pick up participants who may require assistance or are unable to complete the course within the time available.

Course Conditions The paved course is mostly flat, with the exception of the on-ramp to the Gardiner Expressway eastbound start line. This is a 180 degree arcing right turn on a slightly downhill on-ramp, so all participants must take the necessary precautions to ensure their own personal safety and the safety of others while on this ramp. Participants will use this same ramp, going uphill, to exit the course.

After crossing the Finish Line, participants go back up the on-ramp and follow a dedicated chute to the finish area General participants to the refreshment tent and then to Heart Park, and Corporate and VIP participants towards Heart Park and the Better Living Centre.

Wheelchair Information Participants requiring the use of a wheelchair may register for the 5km walk route. The paved 5km Walk route is mostly flat, with the exception of the on-ramp to the eastbound Gardiner Expressway start line. This is a 180 degree arcing right turn on a slightly downhill on-ramp, so participants must take the necessary precautions to ensure their own personal safety and the safety of others while on this ramp. All participants will start the 5km walk at 10:30am. A wheelchair accessible vehicle will be available along the route for participants that require assistance or do not complete the event by 12:30 pm.

Aid Stations will be positioned at the 5km turnaround, the 10km turnaround and a water station will be available just beyond the finish line

Timing Services will be provided by SportStats (https://www.sportstats.ca/events.xhtml). Runners and Walkers will be timed by way of bib tags attached to their bibs. Bibs are distributed through mail for participants that have raised $100 online by May 1 or in-person at the Check-in Centre. Do not remove the chip from the bib. Do not fold the bib or excessively bend or twist the chip. Wear bib on chest/abdomen.

Bag Check Services will be in the Queen Elizabeth Building for General run/walk participants and the Better Living Centre for VIP and Corporate run/walk participants.
A clear bag with a drawstring will be included in the Participant Packages for runners and walkers and is sized so that all bags checked will fit in the bag check areas, ensuring efficiency at both check-in and pick-up. These bags must be used to check-in belongings no other bags will be accepted. A sticker will be included with your bib that corresponds to your bib number. The sticker must be attached to the bag in the spot indicated. It is strongly recommended that valuables be left at home. The Heart and Stroke Foundation is not responsible for lost or stolen property, including any and all property checked in the Bag Check areas.

Strollers Participants with an accompanying stroller may register specifically for the 5km walk route only. The paved 5km Walk route is mostly flat, with the exception of the on-ramp to the eastbound Gardiner Expressway start line. This is a 180 degree arcing right turn on a slightly downhill on-ramp, so participants must take the necessary precautions to ensure their own personal safety and the safety of others while on this ramp. All participants will start the 5km walk at 10:30am. A vehicle will be available along the route for participants that require assistance or do not complete the event by 12:30 pm.

Volunteer

Whatever position you choose, whatever time of day, you’ll be an important part of the Ride, run and walk and you’ll help create more survivors of heart disease and stroke in Canada. From pre-event check-in to the excitement of the finish line, volunteers make the Ride possible. Each year, we have over 600 enthusiastic, dedicated, and committed volunteers. And we need even more this year to help with the first ever run/walk we look forward to you joining us!

View volunteer opportunities and Volunteer Form

Chalk and Cheer

Invite your Family and Friends to Cheer you on!

Supporters can decorate the finish line area using brightly coloured chalk. Write riders, runners and walkers commitment to raising funds for life-saving Heart and Stroke Foundation research. Decorating takes place from 6:00 am to 7:00 am. After decorating, supporters can cheer people on as they cross the finish line with homemade signs and noisemakers.

Heart Park

After you cross the finish line you’ll enter Heart Park where you’ll have the opportunity to unwind and celebrate your accomplishments. Heart Park will be full of exciting health and wellness experiences hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and event sponsors. We’ll be sharing more details about the activities with you as the event gets closer.