High school students earn free bikes, learn life lessons through 10-week course
It's an extracurricular class where students learn how a bike works and how to fix it when something goes wrong.
Two Wheel View's 10-week Earn-A-Bike program has operated in Calgary since 2006.
"Lots of people can remember the first bike that they've ever had and the memories and the freedom that gave them," said Laura Istead, the program’s executive director.
"In our program, which we do all over the city, it's a first bike for a lot of young people and that's really freeing and allows them to ride to the places that they want to go and sometimes ride away from the things they need to get away from, too."
Istead says about 90 kids will graduate the program before Christmas.
The program graduates more than 250 kids annually.
Istead says participating schools are seeing higher attendance levels.
"We know that youth are getting more days at school, we know that youth are getting more physical recreation, we know that they have the ability to get to jobs," Istead said.
"We know that they have the ability to explore the city and are gaining lots of things like confidence, employment skills, lots of other kinds of things that you can't even measure."
As the program name implies, the students receive a refurbished bicycle, helmet and basic tools to maintain their new ride.
Vann Dueck is a 15-year-old Grade 10 student at Crescent Heights High School who says the bike he earns will be used to commute to school, and explore the city.
"I love biking and this is my first year in the school, so I thought it'd be a good way to get to know people and it has been," he said.
"I know a lot about working on bikes already but I've still learned more in this program."
Devin Whidden has a bike at home but it's too small for him now.
He didn't know much about fixing bikes when he started the program in September and says during the course he's learned about leadership and how to work in a group environment to solve problems.
He's glad he signed up.
"I feel like it's just like a basic skill that you need," Whidden said.
"I didn't really know anything about bikes or how they worked. I kind of just gave it to my dad and hoped he'd make it better."
In addition to a new bike, the graduates will also receive Lori Beattie's new book, Calgary's Best Bike Rides.
She's a fan of Two Wheel View and the way it empowers young people to explore their surroundings.
"I thought this is a great organization to partner with to give a bunch of books so that these kids can have a starting point," Beattie said.
"Once they earn their bikes, then they have this book to reference and some curated routes and some ice cream stops (to) get them excited because that's the way I approached my books is to get people excited about being self-propelled in the city and I'm all about connecting communities."
Jenna Seagrove is a Crescent Heights High School outdoor pursuit teacher and says she sees a mix of students taking the course – some who ride bikes but have never maintained them and others who have never ridden a bicycle.
"So I've heard from administration that outdoor pursuits is the course that gets the students in the door," she said.
"It's the one they want to come to and then since they're here, they go to their other courses. I think socializing with their peers at school, they really meet a lot of people in the class they become friends with and that all contributes to overall learning."
Learn more about Two Wheel View online, at twowheelview.org.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.