FAQ

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What does a Team Captain do?

Team Captains are the backbone of our event:

  • They create their team online
  • They recruit other friends and family to walk on their team
  • They lead, model, and encourage their teammates in their fundraising efforts
  • They're the first line of communication if a walker has questions or needs help

On event day, Team Captains rally their team together, congratulate them on a job well done, and walk with those who need a pal. Team Captains recruit and cheerlead their team to raise funds for their charity.

I am planning to attend The Grand Parade with my family. Do we all need to register?

The short answer is yes. It helps us better prepare for how many participants to expect on Event Day.


Create a separate registration profile for each family member. You could use the same email address for all of them, or even post all donations under one family member's name for efficiency's sake, but each person should have their own profile.

What are processing fees?

When a donor gives online, we provide them with an opportunity to cover the 4.25% processing fees we pay to process each credit card donation. It's totally voluntary and helps TGP reduce its operating costs for the event.


  • Breaking down the processing fees:
  • 1.75% Fundhub cost
  • 2.75% + $0.10 per Credit card gateway transaction
  • Total: Approximately 4.75%
  • Tax Receipt: This extra amount is claimable and added to your overall donation total. For example, a donor gives $100 and covers the 4.25% processing fee - the tax receipt issued is for $104.25.
  • Does Blue Sea actually pay 4.5% on every verified gift regardless of size? Yes, we do.
  • Does Blue Sea charge the local charity if the costs aren't covered by the donor? No, we don't.

How do I add cash/cheques so they show up in my fundraising thermometer?

  • Click on Fundraising in the left menu
  • Click on Enter $$ and Cheques
  • Fill in the form below, including (where possible) the email of the donor, as well as the amount of pledge, cash, or cheque
  • Click Add Donation

The website refreshes every 15 minutes, so check back shortly to see your thermometer rise.

Can my kids participate without me?

No. All kids aged 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is walking with them and stays with them at all times (including helping them register and handing in their waiver form).


The routes are family-friendly, but not intended for children walking alone.


Important Reminder: All youth under 18 must have a waiver signed by their legal guardian.

How do I register for The Grand Parade?

If you want to start or join a team (or walk by yourself), you can register online by clicking the Register button on the homepage. The registration process will take you about 5 minutes, so you can do it while the coffee's perking.


Important: When setting up your username, please do not use spaces.

Where does The Grand Parade begin?

To find your TGP start location, choose the city you are walking in from the Locations page. Everything you need is on your location page, including start/finish location, address, map, contact numbers, emails, route descriptions, and most other location-specific details.

How long does it take to walk?

Depending on your fitness, the weather, congestion, and terrain, most walkers clip along at between 4-5 km/hour. That means...

  • 2.5 km should take 30-45 minutes
  • 5 km should take you 60-90 minutes

How long are the routes?

All TGP locations offer a single 2.5 km route - you may navigate it once, or twice to complete a 5 km walk.

TGP is over, but I don't see the cheques I mailed in reflected on my fundraising page yet. Why?

In the weeks following event day, we immediately go to work processing all the bundles of registration and pledge forms that come in. Verifying all those pledges takes us time - you should see your donation totals updated by mid-October.

When do donors get receipted?

Online donors who give securely with their credit cards get e-receipts within minutes of their donations.


Cash + Cheque Donors are receipted within 100 days of the event by email or post, provided their donation is $20 or over and we have received a full, legible mailing address for their donation.

Do I sign a waiver form?

Kids + Youth: All walkers aged 17 or under must submit a paper waiver signed by their parent or guardian in order to participate.


Last-minute signups: All walkers who signed up late (ie. on event day) are required to sign a paper waiver.


Adults: Walkers aged 18+ who have registered online by Friday night are not required to sign a paper waiver.

Where do I get a pledge form?

A pledge form is sent to you via email automatically when you register for TGP. Additional pledge forms may be downloaded from the Tools page.

Do all donors get a charitable receipt?

Online donations: All donations of $20 or more with a valid address and email will receive a charitable receipt within minutes of their donation.


Cash or cheque pledges with email addresses: All donations $20 or more with a valid address and email will be receipted via email after the event.


Cash or cheque pledges without email: Cash or cheque donations of $20 or more will be receipted with a valid legible donor name and mailing address by post after the event.

Can I bring my pet to The Grand Parade?

Pets are not permitted at The Grand Parade, except for approved and trained service animals.


We love pets of course, and believe you when you say your pet is super-well-behaved. But, we can’t (and won’t) run the risk of any walker (particularly children who are often at eye level), being bitten or tripped, or your pet being kicked or provoked. So leave your adorable pet at home.

What do I bring with me on event day?

  • Signed Waiver Form if you are under 17 years old. Please have your parent/guardian sign it and have it ready to hand in. Waiver forms are available in tools.
  • A cell phone for emergencies (recommended but not required)
  • Your walking shoes
  • Snacks in case you get hungry
  • Your own water bottle
  • Warm layers with moisture-repelling clothing in case it's cold or windy

What about bad weather?

TGP officials will monitor temperatures during the week leading up to the walk. If the temperature becomes extremely hot, if there are threatening thunderstorms, or any other sort of dangerous weather, we may shorten or suspend the event to safeguard their well-being.

Can I run the route instead of walking?

No - The Grand Parade is a walking event. While you can certainly walk at a fast clip, the pace of the overall event is not conducive to running. It's a parade after all! Also, our insurance coverage does not allow for running.

Are there rest stations along the route?

Yes there are! Walkers will find a rest stop halfway through either their 2.5 km or 5 km route. There will be water, snacks, and a high-five or two, to celebrate and cheer you on!

What if I receive a cheque that's made out to me and not to The Grand Parade?

If you receive cash or cheques made payable to YOU, please login to your Fundhub, click Fundraising, then Enter $$ or Cheques, and enter the donor information there. You then have one of two choices:

  • Option 1: Pay the donations online with your credit card and keep the cash/personal cheques. By doing so, you deem your donations "complete" and nothing else needs to be done or sent to us.
  • Option 2: Bank the cash and personal cheques. Write a personal cheque to The Grand Parade for the amount you received in cash/cheques. Mail this cheque and a completed pledge form to The Grand Parade head office.

How do I get my hands on one of those nice TGP event shirts?

Simple - by fundraising $150 or more (adults 18+) or $75 or more (youth 17 and under). In fact, it's a win-win situation: when you hit those minimum fundraising amounts to get your TGP shirt, your charity benefits from all that amazing fundraising you did!

Where can I find a route map?

Choose the Location you'll be walking from the Locations page - if your location's route map has been finalized, it will be there. (If not, be patient, it'll be there soon.)

Can people on my team walk different distances?

Yes - everyone who joins a team selects their own 2.5 km or 5 km distance during registration. So, you may certainly have people walking multiple distances on the same team. You'll all start together but end a little bit later the farther you walk.

How do I change my walking distance?

You can change your walking distance by:

  • Clicking the Profile tab at left
  • Clicking the Edit Survey Questions tab at left
  • You can edit your distance selection on this page and hit the submit button to save.

When does The Grand Parade begin?

Check out your location page to find the most up-to-date event details.

When do I check-in?

Check out your location page to find the most up-to-date event details.

My team gathered all of our pledges as a group. How do I add these to our fundraising total/hand these in on Event Day?

Great work! Here's the tricky part: TGP can't assign cash/cheque pledges to a team, we can just assign them to a participant. So, you've got 2 options:


  • Option 1: Divide pledges up between team members in advance of Event Day. Each participant should post their pledges in their Fundhub account. (This is the best option, because it will also count toward your fundraising minimums so you can all earn your shirts!)
  • Option 2: Enter all money you gathered as donations under the Captain's personal account. This is much simpler, but it can mean that all the other team members won't earn their TGP shirts if they don't meet their fundraising minimums.

Who do cheques get made out to?

Please make cheques payable to The Grand Parade, with the name of the walker or team you are supporting on the memo line.


After you have entered the cheque donation in your personal Fundhub account, please mail cheques and the corresponding pledge form to The Grand Parade head office.

What do I do with money that comes in after the event?

Donations can be made to the Grand Parade until October 31.


All post-event cheques can be mailed directly (with your completed pledge form) to:


Blue Sea Foundation

attn: The Grand Parade

260-659 King St. East

Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

N2G 2M4

How do I post pledges of cash or cheques?

Add these pledges online on your personal FundHub page:

  • Log in and view the Fundraising tab at left
  • Click Enter $$ or Cheques, and add each pledge one by one
  • Carefully type in the details of your donors' gifts or pledges, including their email address
  • Note: No donor is ever contacted or solicited by TGP after the event. The only emails they'll receive are donation confirmations, charitable receipts, and responses to any questions they personally send to us. Entering their email address saves time and resources which we appreciate greatly.

I'd like to pay my cash donations by personal cheque or credit card. Can I do this?

Definitely! Once you've recorded your cash donations in your Fundhub, you can pay for them with cheque, personal credit card or Paypal.


Credit Card:

  • Sign into your Fundhub and click on Fundraising
  • Click Enter $$ or Cheques and scroll down to your list of pledges
  • Click the 'pay' button next to the pledge you'd like to pay by credit card - this will take you to a payment page to complete the payment

Cheque:

  • If you'd like to pay with a personal cheque, be sure to enter your cash pledges online and then total your cash donations
  • Make cheques payable to The Grand Parade

Is there a deadline for submitting TGP donations?

Yes - we must have all donations submitted to us online or by mail by October 31. Be sure cheques are made out to The Grand Parade and include the participant's name in the memo line.


Mail cheques with corresponding participant and donor information to:


Blue Sea Foundation

Attn: The Grand Parade

Unit 260-659 King Street East

Kitchener, ON

N2G 2M4

What does the waiver form mean?

The waiver form means you understand the risk of walking in the event. You understand that, in the event of injury, you release the event, the volunteers, the operators, and the charity partners of the event from any liability. Should your picture be taken on event day, you release TGP to appropriately use your likeness in any future publications related to the event.

I'm looking for my donation on my credit card statement, but can't find it. Help!

If you donate or pay by credit card or Paypal, our charity's legal name, Blue Sea Foundation, will appear on your statement.

I see a charge from Blue Sea on my credit card statement - is that you?

Yes it is! If you donate or pay by credit card/Paypal, our charity's legal name will appear on your statement - Blue Sea Foundation - a registered Canadian Foundation.

What should I wear?

Watch the weather prior to the event. Layers of clothing are always good, since you will certainly warm up during a long walk. Footwear is also really important - if there is rain, you need to have waterproof boots or shoes. You may want to bring along an umbrella, just in case.

Oops... I accidentally donated to a team instead of an individual participant (or gave to the wrong participant). Can you move my donation?

Email or call us and we'll take care of it for you:

  • Tel: 1.877.743.3413

We'll need to know:

  • Your name
  • The amount of the donation
  • Who you gave to originally (participant or team name)
  • Who you would like the donation moved to

Is this a fundraiser?

Absolutely! The purpose of The Grand Parade is to raise funds for our partner charities. Walkers work hard to raise funds from friends, families, and co-workers to support the charity they are walking for.

Is there a limit to how many people can join a team?

No way! You can have as many people join your team as you'd like - there is no limit.

Is there a deadline for registering online?

No - you can register online at any time leading up to event day. But, we recommend you register early so that you can use the weeks before event day to raise lots of funds for your TGP charity!

Is my information secure?

We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure, we have put in place physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.

I've lost my password/username/email - how can I retrieve it?

Open up the login box at the top of the page - there's a Forgot Password link there that will take you to a page where you can reset your password or username. (We've also got a team of friendly customer service people you can contact for help.)

I'm trying to give a donation from a country outside of North America, and the system is requiring a postal code (which my country does not use). How can I proceed?

Simply add in five zeroes (00000) as the postal code, and the donation page should allow you to continue. If you're still having trouble, contact us and we'll be happy to help you out.

I received a notification email that someone donated to me. How do I thank them?

Firstly, don't hit "reply" to that notification email - that just goes to us (and we might giggle at you).


Secondly, to thank your donors:

  • Click on Fundraising on the left menu
  • Click on Thank Donors on the left menu
  • Follow the instructions there to send them a quick thank you note. It's good etiquette (your Grandmother would be proud!) and a great way to connect with your donors on a personal level.

I need to cancel my registration as a participant in TGP - how do I do that?

Email us at info@thegrandparade.org and we'll take care of it for you.


Note: If you have collected cash or cheque pledges, please ensure that all donor names and addresses are carefully posted online in your FundHub.


Don't send cash in the mail. Pay for cash with a personal cheque from you (or pay by credit online). Send all cheques with your pledge sheet (if applicable) to:


Blue Sea Foundation

attn: The Grand Parade

260-659 King St. East,

Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

N2G 2M4

How much do people fundraise usually?

Most adults raise about $250, while kids raise around $100 or so. This is why we've set the fundraising minimums at $150 for adults and $75 for youth.


Those minimums are totally beatable, you can do it! We see lots of people raise much more. It depends on your network, age, and willingness to ask.

How do I raise money?

Once you register online, you can use your online FundHub to email your friends and family a link to your personal fundraising page. There, they can give to you securely online by credit card or PayPal. Alternately, you can download a pledge form, print it out and ask people for support face-to-face.

How do I change the captain of my team?

This is a change that must be made at the TGP Headquarters - if you'd like to switch your team captain, please email us at info@thegrandparade.org. When you do, tell us your team name and who you'd like your new captain to be - we'll fix it for you.

How do I change my team name?

This can only be performed by the participant who started the team (the Team Captain):

  • On the left, click the Team tab
  • On the left, click Edit Team Info
  • Be sure to click Save when you're finished!

How do I change my fundraising goal?

To edit your personal goal:

  • Log in to your FundHub using the username and password you created during registration
  • In the left menu, click Fundraising. You'll see a button next to "Your Goal" that says "Click to change goal"
  • You guessed it: clicking that button and entering a new number will change your goal

To edit your team's goal (Team Captains only):

  • Log in to your FundHub using the username and password you created during registration
  • In the left menu, click Team
  • In the new left menu that pops out under Team, click Edit Team Info. As above, you'll see a button that says "Click to change goal"
  • Change that goal number, hit "Save", and you're done!

Do I have to walk with my team?

You don't have to! But normally, teams begin walking in TGP together and spread out once they get moving. Everyone walks at their own pace!

Can you move me to a different team (or remove me from a team so that I can start a new one)?

Yes - this is a change that we need to make at TGP Headquarters. Contact us, and we'll either:

  • a) Remove you from the team, so that you can start or join a new one by yourself, or
  • b) Move you to a new team (if you know which one you'd like to join).

Can I share or split my donated dollars with other members of my team who haven’t met their minimum yet?

If you'd like to transfer one or more of your donations from your account to your teammate's, email us at info@thegrandparade.org with:

  • The donor's name
  • Donation amount
  • Name of the teammate you'd like us to move the donation to

Note: We cannot split individual donations (e.g. dividing a single $50 donation amongst two different walkers).

Don't see your question here?

Ask us! Visit the contact page to get in touch with our friendly customer-service team.

Got questions about The Grand Parade?
info@thegrandparade.org | 1.877.743.3413