Rebuilding, Remembering, and Rosy Pussytoes: A Week of Community and Growth

Every week brings its own beautiful rhythm, and lately, ours has been a mix of deep community roots, national innovation, and a little bit of backyard biodiversity. As we move into mid-June, we are reminded of how deeply interconnected we all are—whether through urban safety, local history, or our shared environment.

Rebuilding with Chinook Kiwanis (Join Us!)

Our long-standing partnership with Chinook Kiwanis remains a massive source of pride for us. Week in and week out, we have been busy in the shop rebuilding and refurbishing bicycles to ensure they stay out of landfills and get into the hands of those who need them most. The workload is heavy, but the reward is unmatched. Several of our incredible Alberta Bike Swap volunteers have already stepped up to cross-pollinate and help Kiwanis with these mechanical builds. Want to get your hands dirty and help out? Please DM us directly so we can put you in touch with the team. There is always a wrench with your name on it!

Commemorating Neighbor Day on June 20th

This Saturday, June 20th, marks Neighbor Day in Calgary—a beautiful annual reminder of the incredible spirit of neighbors helping neighbors during the 2013 floods. To help keep local community events green, active, and accessible, our specialized Alberta Bike Swap mobile bike racks are heading out to several community celebrations across the city. Choosing to pedal to your local block party or community event keeps emissions down and neighborhood connections high.

Innovation, Education, and… Big Paws

Beyond the workshop, it has been a week of incredible diverse achievements:

• Judging Startup Canada: Laura had the immense honor of serving as a judge for Startup Canada this year. Listening to brilliant, forward-thinking Canadian entrepreneurs pitch their world-changing ideas is incredibly inspiring and a testament to the innovation driving our country forward.

• CAN-BIKE Progress: Chris has been spending a significant amount of time on the tarmac, teaching various levels of CAN-BIKE cycling education to highly engaged participants. Building a safe cycling culture starts with giving people the practical skills to ride predictably and confidently.

• Backyard Biodiversity: When we aren’t working on bikes, we are avid gardeners! Our yard is completely dedicated to a native landscape designed to support bees (a nod to Laura’s parents, who were avid beekeepers).  Laura wrote a carbon offset on native over manufactured landscapes in grad school 20 years ago.

Speaking of the garden, we have a vital question for you. We managed to get a photo of our 10 kg cat, Bob, next to a native Rosy Pussytoe flower. Look at those toes… Who wore it better? (We think Bob makes a strong case, but the flowers are a close second).

Thank you for being the best neighbors we could ask for. Let’s keep sharing the bikey goodness, supporting local innovation, and keeping our communities moving safely!