1958 – Andre Riopel is born. 

 
1958 – Andre who????

 
1958 – Cuban Revolution.  Fidel Castro overthrows the corrupt Battista regime and frees the Cuban people from poverty and oppression.

 
1981 – Andre moves to Sault Ste. Marie where he starts his physiotherapy practice and where he averages 10,000 commuter km a year on his bike.  

 1989 – Fall of the Berlin Wall and Collapse of Russian Economy.  is left without a reliable source of oil.  Castro solves the energy crisis by buying a million bicycles from for the Cuban people.  This act is called the Cuban velorution (velo is French for bicycle).  Overnight, becomes one of the most bicycle-friendly countries in the world.

 
1989 – The Cycling Advisory Committee in Sault Ste. Marie is formed to advocate for improved cycling conditions in our city, including the creation of the HUB Trail.

A new non-motorized HUB trail is being created around the City (20 km) so that walkers, rollerbladers and cyclists (snowshoeing and cross country skiing in the winter) can enjoy the beautiful and convenient circle tour around town.

                                                  - Wikipedia

2006 – The City of Sault Ste. Marie opens the first segment of the HUB Trail.  

2006 – Andre Riopel opens Velorution:  Sault Ste. Marie’s only dedicated cycling shop.

2006 – Andre receives two awards from the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce:  Entrepreneur/Business of the Year and the Environment Award. 

 Why now in Sault Ste. Marie?  Victor Hugo said it best:

            Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.