Kitchen Tables, Film Crews, and a Vintage 1980s Eddy Merckx for the CBC Food Bank Auction!

If you walked were at the Calgary Food Bank main office last week, you might have spotted an unusual scene: lights, cameras, a videographer, and the two of us posing alongside a pristine, vintage 1980s Eddy Merckx road bike.

While it might look like an unlikely spot for a bicycle non-profit photo shoot, it actually tells the story of how Alberta Bike Swap operates behind the scenes.

Why Film at the Food Bank?

This Friday is the Calgary Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Gala, and Alberta Bike Swap is deeply honored, and frankly surprised, to be named a finalist for the Social Enterprise Award.

When the Chamber asked to film a video spotlight on our operations, we had to make a quick tactical decision. Everything we do—from running our proprietary Bicycle Swap Software™ and mentoring app dev to organizing CAN-BIKE safety modules and ordering meals for 200 volunteers  and logistics and debottlenecking — happens right at our kitchen table.

While our kitchen table setup keeps our overhead costs practically non-existent, fitting a full commercial video production crew, lighting rigs, and a classic Belgian-designed racing bike into our kitchen was a stretch.

Highlighting Our Strategic Alliances

Filming at the Food Bank gave us the perfect opportunity to feature one of our 106 strategic alliances across Alberta.

When bicycles are donated to Alberta Bike Swap, they enter a purpose-driven ecosystem. Many are inspected, repaired, and provided to newcomers, youth programs, or local charities for direct transit. But special, rare assets—like this classic 1980s Eddy Merckx—are utilized to generate maximum community impact in ways other than transportation security.

We are proud to announce that this vintage Eddy Merckx is being donated to the upcoming CBC Calgary Food Bank Auction, where 100% of the proceeds will go toward supporting food security for local families.

Wish Us Luck This Friday!

Being recognized as a Calgary Chamber Social Enterprise Finalist is a testament to our volunteers, strategic alliances, and the community that supports our events year after year.

Thank you to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, the Calgary Food Bank, CBC Calgary, and everyone who keeps our wheels turning. Wish us luck at the Gala this Friday—and get ready to place your bids on a collector item for a fantastic cause!