Since the International Board reinstated the Grand Tour at the 1998 convention it has grown every year. In 1999 we had 32 members complete a Tour. After a note in the Newsletter in the spring of 2001, participation started to grow again with 31 members finishing a Tour in that year. Grand Tour participation has grown each year till 2007 when 274 members completed a Tour. In the years since 1998, 1032 members have earned a pin.

Have you participated in the Grand Tour? Plan to run the Grand Tour this year, either by yourself, with a few Red Knight friends, or with your Red Knights Chapter, and help spread the word to other firefighters about what a great organization the Red Knights are.

What is Grand Tour?

When the club was young, the easiest way to tell others about it was by word of mouth. This meant that the members had to get out to visit other firefighters in their areas, and one of the best ways to do that was to visit Fire Stations. Someone came up with the idea of rewarding members who made a certain number of visits with a certificate and a pin. Proof of these visits was needed and so the idea of Grand Tour was born.

In order to earn a pin a member had to supply a photo of him/herself and his/her motorcycle in front of Fire Stations whose names’ began with the first letters GRAND TOUR and that is basically the way it works for today's Red Knights except that now you have a little more variety! In the fall of 2006 the GT Committee with the blessings of the International Board decided to add 2 new rides to Grand Tour. The RED KNIGHT tour and the FIRE HOUSE tour were born in the spring of 2007.

How do I earn a Grand Tour Pin?

In order to earn a Grand Tour Pin you must first get an application form from the G.T. chairperson or download it from this page, then during the course of one (1) riding season you must visit nine (9) fire Stations whose names begin with the letters GRAND TOUR, RED KNIGHT, FIRE HOUSE or twelve Fire Stations beginning with any letter of the alphabet (this is for members who live in some of the more remote areas and may not be able to come up with Stations beginning with the required letters). You must have a picture of you and your motorcycle taken at each Station, with the name sign visible. Co-riders may also earn a pin and a rider and co-rider may have their picture taken together. Group photos are OK as well if you are doing the Tour as a chapter.

Please send hard copies of photos and applications to:

Grand Tour Committee

C/O Henry Heideman 
4926 County Road 45 - PO Box 83
Baltimore ON Canada K0K 1C0

Please send electronic photos and applications to: hheideman@cogeco.ca