I wrote an article for the Vespa Club of Canada members magazine regarding the
First Canadian Vespa (World) Days, Kingston 2024 – a background story or a brief overview of how it came to be:
As you may know, the origin of the event was not an easy one. For me, it starts basely 2017. And in detail back in 2019 as I had a few discussions with Jeff (current VCoC President) and Ian (previous VCoC President) about the possibility to hold the first Vespa World Days at the American continent in Canada. Why (or how it came)?
Well, after my (at this time volunteer Vespa World Club officer) initiative and agreement with the responsible Piaggio top-management in 2017 to execute the Vespa World Days with a yearly rotation between our main regions (continents) Europe, Asia/Pacific and America, the VWC board and AGM agreed to do so.
With the implementation of the rotating Vespa World Days, we (the Vespa World Club) implemented the national Vespa Days with immediately effect and the Continental Vespa Days with start of the rotating VWD (2020 Indonesia).
Because of that, I started contemplating about the VWD in America for 2021. We (Uwe and I – both at this time VWC officers) had a good contact to Ian and Jeff. Jeff and Julie attended quite a few Vespa World Days in Europe (in addition to other Vespa events), therefore knew from personal experiences what Uwe and I were talking about. I was certain that Jeff and Julie could implement and "translate" this style of event into a sound local style event which meets the expectations and would excite the local as well as the international Vespisti.
With the South American Vespa Clubs we unfortunately haven’t had such a close contact that everyone in the VWC board could assume that we can handle such an event. And, from our point of view, the VC of US had to develop first Vespa Club wise his own "internal continent", as to execute Vespa World Days which at the stage are maybe to close in style to the AmeriVespa.
Needless to say, that in the beginning Jeff was not really happy to be a player in this game - at this time not an officer of the VCoC and knowing what it means regarding responsibility and work to do. But Uwe and I bothered Jeff with that topic every time we had contact, and, thanks to Julie, he really started to think about to run for it. He went in VCoC internal discussions and Ian send the application in 2020 for the Vespa Club of Canada as host for 2022, the first Vespa World Days at the American continent! The project was warmly welcomed in the VWC board and agreed by the following VWC AGM. But due the COVID pandemic, the VWD in Indonesia were postponed from 2020 to 2021 and finally to 2022. Subsequently the Vespa World Days 2021 in Europe (Swiss) and America 2022 (Canada) had to be shifted as well (Swiss 2023 and Canada 2024). Even under these COVID related difficulties, we were able to organise the VWDays in Indonesia and these VWD were by far the largest (by financial contributing[!] and personal attending participants >20.000) and most impressive Vespa World Days ever - a huge success for the Vespa Club community. That boost still till mid of 2023 our aims and efforts to head for Canada, even we know that the number of participants will be just a tenth of Indonesia – but size doesn’t matter, because the reason to hold this event is to learn about, meet in and simply “taste” another country!
However, in 2021 the VWC board changed and, much to my disappointment, the support for events outside of Europe vanished and finally stopped. Indonesia (2022) was already on track and all attempts to stop it were unsuccessful. Not as lucky was the Vespa Club of Canada.
Jeff, meanwhile VCoC President, reported during my private visit in autumn 2022 a lot of difficulties and problems in the communication with the VWC. He also voiced out his serious doubts about the possibility to execute such an event without the support of the VWC. Despite Uwes and my efforts at all levels plus all efforts of the remaining positive acting Vespa Club representatives in the VCW-board (Laurent, Bart and Rafael) to secure a minimum support through the VWC, the new VWC board de facto denied supporting VWD out of Europe. That culminated in an official statement of the VWC General Secretary during the VWC-AGM 2023 in Swiss, that - and I quote - "the VWC is not able to support VWD out of Europe" and an attempt of the members to dismiss the (responsible) VWC-President, which subsequently stepped back from his position. Under such conditions, Jeff, as VCoC President, had to public announce the cancellation of the Vespa World Days 2024 in Canada (which were given to the Vespa Club Pontedera [Italy] by the VWC board later on!).
That all was a huge disappointment for all Vespisti and a major hit for the Vespa Club community. We all were immensely frustrated and angry.
Adhering to my motto: “nothing good happens, unless you do it" - Jeff, Uwe and I started immediately began discussing possible solutions...
We all were very excited as Jeff signalised the VCoC think about to organise instead of the VWD the first national Vespa Days - my attempt to convince him to aim for the Continental Vespa Days, was rejected by him: "I have had enough of dealing with the VWC at the moment, let's make it within own borders!". A very wise and sensible decision for the time being!
The outcome was for some externals beyond imaginable (and exactly what I assumed 😉)! A wonderful event!
I am sure all attendees of the first Canadian Vespa Days will tell you that it was a fun, unforgettable and memorable event which led to new found friendships, new experiences as well as knowledge about nice places.
The whole organization was superb and the event staff outstanding supportive! A BIG THANK YOU to the team of the Vespa Club of Canada!!!!
It was the right decision to hold it, because as also intended, it personal connects the attending regional Vespa Clubs, it strengthens the Vespa Club of Canada and it encouraged all attending Vespa Clubs to also host such an or a similar event! It was a perfect presentation of Vespa Club, it perfectly demonstrated the values of the Vespa Club community in a friendly, open, positive and cosy manner!
I hope this event serves as a nucleus for the strong development of regional Vespa Clubs, fostering closer cooperation, mutual ride-outs, and possibly an annual regional main event.
Now, I’m looking forward to the Canadian Vespa Days 2025! Again, thank you for the opportunity to attend, to get a better, deeper impression of a tiny part of Canada and to meet you all!
And, from my personal perspective, I learned, beside that said above, that Canadians won't stop for coffee until they've ridden for at least 2.5 hours or covered 200 km, no matter how nice the place for stopping in between might be 😆😉...
