HCF funds the YOUth Create after-school program in the McQuesten neighbourhood. Its focus is on fitness, nutrition, health, well-being and the arts. Read about their activities in Canadian Cyclist magazine.

Grants

Great Grant Stories

Bike Co-op: Gearing Up a Social Enterprise

Tyler Gorr, the New Hope Bike Co-op has taken him “light years” from where he was. The co-op launched last year with the goal of becoming a self-sustaining social enterprise. It sells refurbished bikes and low-cost parts, offers free access to tools and provides volunteer and employment opportunities to disadvantaged youth. The approach is making a difference.

“ It’s a good safe place for kids to be,” says Andrew Hibma, a co-op staff member. “We’re able to help youth who might not have a social group or activity to feel part of something.”

Which brings us back to Tyler. Tyler was 17 when he first visited New Hope. Two years and hundreds of volunteer hours later, he is an experienced mechanic and a proud ambassador for the program.

While free tools and low-cost parts are important to him, it’s the friendships and chance to share his skills that keep him coming back. When Tyler graduated from high school, the co-op closed for an hour so everyone could attend. When he talks about seeing someone riding a bike he’s helped to fix, the pride shows through.

Sandra Penner, co-chair of the Crown Point Community Planning Team, calls the co-op at Main and Kenilworth a real asset. “It’s well-used and it gives people a sense of ownership.”

A Tackling Poverty Together grant from HCF provided funding for year-round core staffing, allowing the co-op to keep up with the demand for bikes and repairs, develop strong community partnerships and get creative about other revenue-generating enterprises, like a mobile bike repair shop and pedalpowered lawn care company.

Funding from the Foundation has taken the bike co-op to the next level, says co-founder Jeff Neven. “It gave us credibility so others could support us with confidence.”

So far, the co-op has received support from Service Canada, Mountain Equipment Co-op and area churches. But the co-op’s ambitious five-year plan is to be financially self-reliant. “We want to become a community asset without requiring significant donations and grants,” says Neven.

So far, their hard pedaling is paying off: sales are up and there’s a storage room full of bikes ready to roll.