Active CommuteChallenge
Start by signing up!
First, create an account! Once you create an account, start recording your active commutes this June!
Active Commute Challenge 2026
Bring movement back into your daily routine with the Active Commute Challenge (ACC), a community initiative taking place throughout the month of June. In today’s world, long hours of sitting have become the norm—but your commute is one of the easiest places to reintroduce activity. Whether you walk, bike, roll, jog, carpool, or combine transit with short walks, replacing car trips with active options can have a meaningful impact on your health, energy, and the environment.
With nearly half of rush-hour trips under 5 km in Thunder Bay, many of us have simple opportunities to swap short drives for active travel. Even one active commute a week can help reduce sedentary time, boost focus, and support both physical and mental well-being.
By joining the challenge this June, you’ll be part of a workplace team competing with others across your community—tracking your trips, following your team’s progress, and climbing the leaderboard for a chance to win prizes. Build healthier habits, support a more sustainable environment, and be part of a growing movement toward active living, all while staying motivated and making every commute count.
Workplace champions play a vital role in recruiting participants and encouraging engagement in the Active Commute Challenge. To learn more, check out the What Is an ACC Workplace Champion Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
ACC Participation Requirements
Sustainable modes of transportation include walking, cycling, carpooling, and taking public transit. These options are significantly better for both the environment and personal health compared to driving alone. Any non-motorized form of transportation, such as rollerblading, skateboarding, unicycling, or canoeing, is also considered a healthy and sustainable commute.
Congrats on choosing an active and eco-friendly way to commute! You don’t have to participate every day of the Active Commute Challenge. To take part, simply complete one trip without your car. You could carpool with a coworker, ride your bike, or take the bus. See how it feels and decide if you want to continue. The more trips you make without using your car, the greater the impact you’ll have and the greater your chance to win prizes.
The goals of the Active Commute Challenge are to increase physical activity, reduce emissions, and mitigate traffic congestion. Driving an electric vehicle alone does not count toward this challenge.
The Active Commute Challenge is open to all residents of driving age in Thunder Bay and District. While it’s primarily designed for workplaces, individuals without a workplace affiliation are also welcome to take part by signing up on their own.
Yes, everyone needs to register again each year. It only takes a minute to set up your account.
You can register and log your commutes up until and including Monday, June 30, 2026. We recommend logging each commute individually—every time you choose a sustainable mode of transportation, you’ll earn a ballot for prize draws.
Individual Prizes
- Log your sustainable commutes
- Earn 1 ballot per trip logged
- The more trips you log, the better your chances
- Log each trip separately
Weekly Draw Prizes
- 25 total prizes of $50 gift cards
- 5 winners selected each week
Grand Prizes
- 5 grand prizes of $100 gift cards
Awarded to participants with the most kilometres travelled in each category:
- Walking
- Biking
- Transit
- Carpool
- Other
Participating local businesses:
- 3Ride Bicycle Co.
- Fresh Air Experience
- Play It Again Sports
- Rollin’ Thunder
- Sport Chek
To qualify:
- Register before June 1, 2026
- Log at least one active commute prior to June 1, 2026
- Bike tune-up voucher or 4 passes to the Canada Games Complex
Workplace Prizes
Prizes will be awarded to the workplace with the most km travelled in each size category. Workplace size categories are as follows:
- Extra small <20 employees
- Small 21-99 employees
- Medium 100-249 employees
- Large 250-999 employees
- Extra Large >1000 employees
Winning workplaces can choose 1 of the following workplace prizes:
- City of Thunder Bay Bike rack (valued at approx. $300)
- 5 U-locks for their workplace (valued at approx. $300)
- $150 in Waterfront District Gift Certificates
Workplaces that register before June 1, 2026 will be entered into a draw to win 1 of 5 prizes including:
- $100 in BIA bucks
- Swag backpack (includes a bike tune up, 6 passes to the Canada Games Complex, and bike safety gear)
- Guided Forest Therapy Walk and 6 passes to Canada Games Complex