By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
CALEDONIA—This past Saturday, roughly 250-300 motorcycle enthusiasts from across the province converged on Caledonia’s Kinsmen Park to celebrate International Female Ride Day, an annual event meant to bring together female riders from across the globe to celebrate the joy of riding and companionship.
The ride began 17 years ago with founder Victoria Gray, who organized the group’s first ride in Toronto in 2007. In the years since, on the first weekend of May female riders in locations around the world have taken part, including North America, England, The Netherlands, France, and 12 other countries.

CALEDONIA—This past Saturday, May, 6, 2023, roughly 250-300 motorcycle enthusiasts from across the province converged on Caledonia’s Kinsmen Park to celebrate International Female Ride Day, an annual event meant to bring together female riders from across the globe to celebrate the joy of riding and companionship. Ride organizer Jackie McGown snapped a selfie while the assembled group posed for a shot at Caledonia’s Kinsmen Park following their ride. —Haldimand Press photo by Randy Carter.
Jackie McGowan took over the southern Ontario leg a decade ago and has seen the event grow from “80 girls one year (weather was a factor)” to “over 500 girls another year (weather also being a factor). It truly is an exciting and supportive time for my fellow female riders.”
McGowan said it’s been great to see the ride grow in popularity over the years, adding, “I think I feel pride mostly – pride in how supportive my fellow women riders are. The energy in a room full of female riders is electric. I feel excited because some of these ladies who attend I only get to see this time of the year.”

CALEDONIA—On May 6, 2023, roughly 250-300 motorcyclists from across the province met at Caledonia’s Kinsmen Park to celebrate International Female Ride Day.
— Photo courtesy of Rick Grant;
McGowan said organizing the event is a labour of love, with many facets. It starts with getting the word out on social media, rallying people together through various motorcycle groups, and finding willing volunteers to act as road captains, who lead groups of riders along pre-planned paths to a central meeting place.
“They will take time at the beginning of their ride to have a ‘ride talk’ with their group explaining her expectations of each rider, talk about safety, and to express the importance of having fun,” said McGowan.
The event typically includes a charitable aspect. For 2023, the group raised funds for a young woman named Katherine, who lost both of her parents and has four younger sisters to care for.
“She has been caring for her younger sisters for quite some time since her mother passed away. With their father passing on Easter weekend, CAS has had to get involved, but Katherine is taking all the courses and necessary steps to become their ‘foster parent’. We are hoping to help make life a little easier and if there is any extra money, we will send them to Canada’s Wonderland or Great Wolf Lodge,” said McGowan.

— Haldimand Press photo by Randy Carter.
The participants had an additional goal in mind this year – an attempt to win a global group photo challenge against various groups around the world, with riders rocking their best red and white gear to represent Canada.
McGowan says she has been amazed by the influx in female riders in Canada in recent years.
“I have been riding for 26 years; there were hardly any women riding back then,” she recalled. “It may have something to do with women getting out and working better paying jobs and being able to afford motorcycles.”
She added, “Covid had people bored and stuck at home; now we are free to do what makes us feel great, riding offers a sense of power, freedom, and in most cases a sisterhood that is unexplainable.”
McGowan’s group started their ride in Ohsweken, winding along Highway 54 toward Caledonia, and reaching Kinsmen Park along the river where they gathered for the group photo. The group included riders from as far away as Sudbury, Windsor, Toronto, Ajax, and London.
McGowan said that in the past, the group has brought food trucks and vendors out, but this year was about taking it “down to basics, it is about riding together as sisters…. We are women hear us ROAR.”