Cancer Research Support
Alectra's 10th Annual Ride Raises Over $1 Million for Cancer Research
Alectra has crossed the $1 million mark in fundraising for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, hitting the milestone in its 10th consecutive year of participation in the Ride to Conquer Cancer. This year, a 66-member team cycled more than 200 kilometres from Toronto to Niagara Falls, raising $193,500 to push the decade-long total over seven figures, according to The Whig.
CEO Brian Bentz called the achievement a sign of employee dedication. "Reaching the $1 million fundraising milestone is a testament to the incredible determination and compassion of our employees," he said. "For 10 years, our team has ridden with a shared purpose: to support the life-saving work of The Princess Margaret."
A Decade of Pedalling Toward a Million Dollars
Alectra's roots in this ride go back before the company even existed. Legacy utilities Enersource, Horizon Utilities, and PowerStream each participated separately. When those three merged to form Alectra in February 2017, their cycling efforts merged too. Team Alectra has competed every year since, including during the COVID-19 pandemic when the event shifted to a virtual format, according to Ottawa Sun.
The 2024 ride marked the 10th straight year. The team departed Toronto on June 8 and arrived in Niagara Falls on June 9. That $193,500 haul was enough to clear the cumulative million-dollar mark, The Province reported.
Where the Money Goes: Personalized Cancer Medicine
The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is ranked among the top five cancer research centres in the world. Funds raised through the ride support what researchers call "Personalized Cancer Medicine." That means doctors sequence a patient's tumour DNA to tailor treatment specifically for that person — rather than using the same chemotherapy for everyone, according to Calgary Sun.
Bentz said the team rides with a clear goal in mind. "We're proud to contribute to the breakthroughs that are changing the future of cancer care," he said. One in two Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime — a statistic the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation uses to underscore the urgency of the research.
66 Riders, 200 Kilometres, One Shared Purpose
The 66-member team included Alectra employees from across departments — line workers, engineers, and office staff — along with friends and family. They completed the two-day, 200-kilometre route together as part of the larger Ontario Ride to Conquer Cancer, which drew roughly 3,000 total participants in 2024 and raised about $20 million across all teams, according to Goderich Signal Star.
All money raised by the Alectra team came from voluntary employee donations and external sponsorships. None of it came from electricity ratepayers, the company has confirmed. Alectra serves more than one million customers, making it the largest municipally-owned electric utility in Canada.
Alectra Signals No Plans to Stop Riding
With the million-dollar milestone now cleared, Alectra is already looking ahead. The company has signalled plans to begin raising funds for the 2025 ride immediately, according to Stratford Beacon Herald. Internal employee newsletters have framed the next phase as building toward "the next million."
The initiative falls under Alectra's "AlectraCARES" community support program. CSR analysts note the effort also serves an internal purpose — helping unite employees from four different legacy corporate cultures into a single shared identity, built in part around this annual physical challenge and the cause behind it.
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