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 early July.
To find your WALK's start location, choose the city you are walking in from the Locations menu - everything you need is there, including start/finish location, address, map, contact numbers, emails, route descriptions, and most other location-specific details.
Registration opens at 9:00 am, opening ceremonies at 10:00 am and the walk right after returning back at most within 90 minutes.
Yes - everyone who joins a team selects their own 2, or 5km route distance during registration. You may have people walking multiple distances on the same team.
Once you register online, you can use the 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 face-to-face for support.
No, kids 0-10 are free
NOTE: Reg Fee increases to $40 effective Monday, May 28, 2018.
Reminder: the registration fee is non-refundable and will NOT generate a tax receipt
You don't have to but normally you would at least begin the WALK together if possible. Everyone walks at their own pace.
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/hand in their waiver form). The routes are family-friendly, but not intended for children walking alone.
NOTE: All youth under 18 must have a waiver signed by their legal guardian.
No - the $25 registration fee (which is required for adults over the age of 18 who raised less than $150, or youth aged 10-17 who raised less than $75) is NOT tax-deductible.
When a donor gives online we provide them with an opportunity to "opt-in" and cover the 4.25% processing fees we pay to process each credit card donation. It's totally voluntary and helps The Grand Parade reduce its operating costs for the event.
Processing fees:
Tax Receipt
This extra amount is 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.
Watch the weather online prior to the walk carefully. Layers of clothing are always good since you will certainly warm up during a long walk. Footwear is really important. If there is rain, you need to have water-proof boots or shoes.
If you receive cash or cheques made payable to YOU, please log in to the Fundraising Portal, click Fundraising and then "Enter $$ or Cheques" and enter the donor information there. You then have one of two choices:
Keep them safe till event day - that's when you will present them with your pledge sheet during check-in.
You can also add these pledges online on your personal page - log in, click the "Fundraising" tab at left, then click "Enter $$ or Cheques" and add each pledge one by one (you can print that whole list out and bring with you on WALK Day too!).
All post-WALK cheques can be mailed directly (with your completed pledge form) to:
The Grand Parade
C/O Blue Sea Philanthropy
260-659 King St. East
Kitchener, ON,
Canada, N2G 2M4
Absolutely! The purpose of The Grand Parade is to raise funds for our event partner charities. Walkers work hard to raise funds from friends, families and co-workers to support the charity they are walking for.
Most adults raise about $250 and kids $100 or so. Which is why we've set the fundraising minimums at $150 for adults and $75 for youth.
Having said this, we see lots of people raise much more. It depends on your network, age, and willingness to ask.
No way! You can have as many people join your team as you'd like! There is no limit.
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 Philanthropy
260-659 King St. East,
Kitchener, ON,
N2G 2M4
Attn: The Grand Parade
Depending on your fitness, the weather, congestion and ground cover, most walkers clip along at between 4-5 km/hour.
To edit your personal goal:
Log in to your FundHub, using the username and password you created during registration.
Once logged in, in the left-hand toolbar, click "Fundraising". You'll see a button next to "Your Goal" that says "Click to change goal" - and, you guessed it, clicking that button and entering a new value 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.
Once logged in, click "Team" at the left.
From the left-hand toolbar, click "Edit Team Info". Edit your team's fundraising goal as above, and then hit "Save"!
You can change your walking distance by:
1. Logging in to your FundHub
2. Clicking the "Profile" tab at the left
3. Clicking the "Edit User Survey Questions" tab at left.
4. You can edit your distance selection in this screen and hit the "submit" button to save.
Yes - this is a change that we need to make at HQ.
Contact us and we'll either
If you donate or pay your registration fee by credit card/Paypal, our charity's legal name, Blue Sea Philanthropy will appear on your statement.
First of all, don't hit "reply" to that notification email - that just goes to us (and we might giggle at you).
Second to thank your donors, log in to your fundraising page, click on "Fundraising", then click on "Thank Donors". 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.
For those who register and fundraise the minimum, there is no registration fee. (see below)
The short answer is: yes. It would help us get a better handle on how many participants to expect on WALK Day.
Create a separate registration profile for each family member. You could route them all to the same email address or even post all donations under one family member's name for efficiency's sake, but each person should have their own profile.
We have a FAMILY WAIVER form available for easy registration on event day where only the parent or legal guardian sign on behalf of kids.
Great work! To facilitate our processing of these donations, you must EITHER:
If you choose to enter all money under the Captain's account, when your team arrives on event day, just explain to the registration volunteer that your total is meant to help all members on your team reach their fundraising minimum. For example, if your team of 4 raised $1,000, it would be as if each of you had raised $250 - you've definitely met your minimums!
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
There is one 5km route but walkers select either 2km or 5km as total distance.
This can only be performed by the participant who started the team (the Team Captain).
Be sure to click "Save" when you're finished!
WALK officials will monitor temperatures during the week leading up to the walk. If the temperature becomes extremely hot or there are threatening thunderstorms so much so that the safety of our walkers is in question - we may shorten or suspend the walk to safeguard their well-being.
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.
At the top of the page there is a 'Forgot Password?' link right next to the login button - click this to be taken to a password reset area, or just go ahead and click here.
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!
NOTE: those who register online on WALK day must sign a waiver form during check-in.
The waiver form means you understand the risk of walking in the event, that in the event of injury you release the event, the volunteers and the operators and charity partners of the event from any liability and, should your picture be taken on event day, you release the WALK to appropriately use your likeness in any future publications around the WALK.
Youth - all walkers aged 17 or under need to submit a waiver signed by their parent or guardian to participate.
Adult walkers aged 18+ who have registered online by midnight location time on June 1st are not required to sign a waiver.
All event-day, late walkers who register after that time (June 2) will require a signed waiver
No - the registration fee is non-receiptable and non-refundable = once a registration fee is entered into the system, it cannot be moved or converted into a donation.
However, each registration fee is forwarded to your local charity, just like donations are - and, it is reflected in your location's overall fundraising total
No - The Grand Parade is walk and while you can certainly walk at a fast clip, the pace of the event, in keeping with the 'parade theme' is not conducive to running. As well, our insurance coverage does not allow for running.
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:
Note: we cannot split individual donations (i.e. from a single $50 donation, give $25 to one walker, and $25 to another).
Yes there are - each 5km route will have a rest stop approximately halfway around the route.
Online donors who give securely with their credit cards get e-receipts within minutes of their donations.
Cash + Cheque Donors who give cheques or cash 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
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.)
Call or email us. We're happy to help!
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 and we'll fix it for you.
Team Captains are the backbone of our event.
On event day, Team Captains rally their team together, congratulate them on a job well done, and walk with those who need a pal to walk alongside. Your job is to recruit and cheerlead your team to raise funds for the charity that recruited you.
Email or call us and we'll take care of it for you.
Note: We'll need to know:
Yes it is! If you donate or pay your registration fee by credit card/Paypal, our charity's legal name will appear on your statement - Blue Sea Philanthropy - a registered Canadian Foundation.
Online donations of $20 or more with a valid email address will receive a charitable receipt within minutes of your donation.
Cash or cheque donations of $20 or more with a valid email will be receipted via email after the event.
Mail 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.
Add these pledges online on your personal FundHub page - log in, click "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 if you have it).
Definitely! Once you've recorded your cash donations online, you can pay them through our website with your personal credit card to avoid lugging an envelope of cash around.
If you'd like to pay with a personal cheque, be sure to enter your cash pledges online and then total your cash donations. Write out your cheque to "The Grand Parade". Bring this with you on event day with your completed list of pledges, and you're all set.
If you want to start or join a team (or walk by yourself), you can register online by clicking the Register to fundraise 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.
Unfortunately, pets are not permitted at TGP except for approved, 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 being bit, nipped or tripped, or your pet being kicked, poked or provoked so please, leave your pet at home.
1. Print the waiver form, sign it (or have your parent/guardian sign it if you are 17 and under) and have it ready to hand it. Waiver forms are available in TOOLS.
2. Print the "My Results" form under the "Download Forms" section of the FundHub to bring with you on WALK Day.
3. Gather your cash and cheques together, and be sure the amount of cash/cheques you have matches what you recorded on your pledge form.
4. Review all your cheque donations to ensure they are:
5. Indicate any donation that remains uncollected on your pledge form by highlighting and noting it on your form.
6. Go to your event location and hand in your cash (keep the loose coin in sealable baggies or even better - convert to paper money), cheques, and pledge form, and then get walking!
Please make cheques payable to 'The Grand Parade'and write the name of the walker or team you are supporting on the memo line.
Please bring cheques, pledge forms and any cash you collect to registration on event Day.
If you collect donations after event Day, please mail to us and include your pledge form or "My Results" form.
The Grand Parade
C/O Blue Sea Philanthropy
Unit 260-659 King Street East
Kitchener, ON
N2G 2M4
You can print your My Results Form by:
1. Logging in to your FundHub
2. On the left, click "Fundraising"
3. Beneath "Fundraising", click "Download Forms"
4. Then, click the option to have the My Results Form sent to your inbox. It should arrive within a few minutes - be sure to check your email's junk/spam area in case it gets filtered there inadvertently.
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.
Ask us! Visit the contact page to get in touch with our friendly customer-service team.