EVENTS and ACTIVITIES
We are thinking globally and acting locally.  Many of our activities involve fundraising - all for the purpose of supporting the Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation. We also reach out into the community by speaking in schools, churches and retirement residences. Since 2006 Grassroot Grannies have raised $1,119,433 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation.  In 2023, we raised  $80,545 through our annual Ride To Turn The Tide event and an additional $7,325 through the Plant Sale and Marketplace. Our Books, Crafts and Coffee event on October 27th raised $4,284.

HomeNewsletterEventsAdvocacyProducts




We are always very grateful to our community supporters.





Canadian grannies 
supporting
African grannies
Fundraising Events for 2024

The Grassroot Grannies
14th Ride to Turn the Tide
September 6th-7th 2023
Why we ride – to raise funds for the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign
of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, supporting African grandmothers raising their
grandchildren orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Sahara Africa. To learn
more, please visit https://grandmotherscampaign.org
The 2023 Ride to Turn the Tide raised $80,545!

The Ride to Turn the Tide has raised over $880,000 for the Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign for the Stephen Lewis Foundation since 2010.
Grassroot Grannies  
Plant Sale and Market Place

The Grassroot Grannies would like to thank all our generous supporters and sponsors 
for helping to make this event so successful."
Ute Webb in front of the decorative garden stones.
All three groups together in Almonte 
Two-day longer route riders
Shorter route riders and support van members
One-day riders enjoying a stop.
Carleton Place picnic lunch with the 70 km group.
Merrickville lunch on day one with the 113 km group
provided by the Merrickville Anglican women.
Once again the Grassroot Grannies planned a two-day ride through the Ottawa Valley on September 6th and 7th. The Ride started in Stittsville at Bushtukah and the longer and shorter distance rides both ended in Perth. 
The one-day riders cycled to Almonte where this group met the other two groups of cyclists returning from Perth at Naismith Memorial Elementary School for the educational component of the ride. All 15 cyclists had lunch together afterwards. 

Café on the Tay at Diana Bracegirdle's home.
Former Mississipi Grannies provided lunch in Almonte on day two for all three groups of riders.
The Almonte "String Cats" serenaded riders at lunch. 
Cyclists chat to students at Naismith Memorial Public School who came out to greet riders and cheer them on. They asked lots of interesting questions.
​Beating the heat with a swim in the Rideau River. It was at least 33 degrees and these riders really needed to cool off!
Dinner in Perth
At the start 
Lunch stops and refreshment break
A welcome swim

The Grassroot Grannies would like to thank Elizabeth Dilvert of the Unrefined Olive in Kanata for donating two gift packs of olive oil and balsamic vinegar as gifts for our sponsors. The support is greatly appreciated.
Books, Crafts and Coffee

Friday, October 27th,2023
St Isidore Church, 1135 March Rd

Education and motivation at Naismith Memorial Elementary School
A warm welcome in Almonte
We are thrilled to announce that this year's event generated $4,284.00 to be submitted to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. This is the highest ever for our book and craft fund-raiser. Congratulations to the organizing committee!

​The venue was spacious, bright and inviting.
Feedback from guests was overwhelmingly positive.
Coffee was donated by Equator, home baked goods were provided by the Grannies.
This year The Grassroot Grannies chose a new venue, a new format and a new name for our book
exchange and craft event. 
Participants enjoyed a casual atmosphere where they could catch up and socialize with friends while enjoying coffee and home-baked goodies. 
The church was delighted to have our event there and have invited us back next year. Stay tuned!
Perennials, vegetables & herbs
The Market Place
Note Cards
Pretty pots
Garden art and gardening books
Fundraising Events for 2023


Sweet 16!  The Grassroot Grannies are excited to hold our sought after spring garden event.  The Plant Sale and Market Place has always been held on the Saturday of the Mother’s Day weekend in May. This year, our 16th year, the date is Saturday May 11, 2024, from 8:00 am to noon at 65 Knudson Drive, Kanata. 



This year we are making a special emphasis on the Market Place part of the event. We will be offering many previously used, and in good condition, garden tools, gardening books and art. Also included will be a plethora of garden art hand crafted by the grannies, such as beautifully painted mandela rocks, whimsical garden gnomes, concrete stepping stones, tea cups and saucer feeders on stakes, wooden hanging garden planters and spring burlap garden wreaths. Our popular note cards will be also available. And to top off the sale there will be a raffle of gift baskets full of all sorts of interesting items.

Take note that there will be two master gardeners on hand to answer all your questions dealing with your garden. Come prepared with your questions as this is the perfect opportunity to get free advice from the experts. 

We will be offering hardy perennials from our gardens as well as herbs and vegetable seedlings. In addition, there will be many colourful Pretty Pots, special flowering plants made just for Mother’s Day gifts. They sell out fast so be an early visitor and you won’t be disappointed.  
You definitely won’t want to miss this year’s event. There will be something for everyone. Look forward to seeing you there