What we do…

We envision a resilient community that connects youth with the tools they need to reach their potential. We support youth ages 12-24 in building life, leadership and employability skills and we do that using bicycles! Our programs use the bicycle as a vehicle for change in the lives of youth.

Build Belonging
Do you remember your first bike? Imagine earning a bike, lock and helmet of your own alongside a group of new friends that felt like you’ve known them forever. Our 10-week Earn-a-Bike (Bike Club) program creates a place where youth feel like they belong and environment that fosters teamwork and leadership. Youth, grades 7-12, make positive peer and adult connections, explore topics such as empathy, identity and responsibility while learning how to repair and maintain bicycles. This program is proudly supported by Family and Community Support Services (FCSS).

Create Connections
Connection is key to our human experience. Building strong connections with others take time, particularly if your upbringing lacked trust, support and consistency. Youth learn to build upon each other’s strengths, listen compassionately to each other’s struggles and be present to the needs of their community.

Provide Employability Support
Transitioning from life as student to a career can be an overwhelming path to navigate. Mentorship and real-world work experience support young adults as they enter their working life. Our GAP Employability Program, offered for the first time in 2019, engages young adults ages 18-24 in employment and life skills training, using bike mechanics as our focus. Participants receive ongoing mentorship through the program from members of our TWV team and gain practical experience. Our GAP curriculum includes educational partnerships with Momentum and Youth Employment Centre, recruitment partnerships with CBE Discovering Choices and The Alex and is supported by the City of Calgary Crime Prevention Investments Program.

Foster Community
At the end of the day, we all want to feel like our contributions are meaningful and making a difference in the lives of others. Our growing volunteer program is creating these opportunities for people of all ages and walks of life. We are so grateful to have this team of amazing volunteers help us keep the rubber on the road. TWV is honoured to welcome so many talented individuals through our doors that work together to weave the fabric of our community and give their time, energy and wisdom to those who can really use it – our youth .Two Wheel View programs increase youth resiliency and lessen risk factors of students through cognitive development, social competence, and emotional and physical wellbeing; thus increasing their likelihood of future success. We use best practices in youth development to inform our program curriculum and shape the way we form relationships with the youth, our partners and our community.

We do this through the following programs and opportunities:

• Earn-a-Bike (Bike Club)- our largest program serving hundreds of youth yearly.
• Gap – our employability program that build confidence and skills with young adults looking to make their way into the workforce.
• GEM – our Gender Equity Mechanics activities for non-male identifying youth and adults are contributing to greater gender equity in the bicycle community and building skills and confidence for participants.
• Continuing Cycles- We support other bike projects and social sector agencies with bicycles for members of the community and their clients in need.
• Volunteer Opportunities- Youth and adults have the opportunity to get involved at Two Wheel View and be a part of keeping the wheels turning.
• Social Enterprise- We fix and sell donated bikes at reasonable prices to ensure everyone gets the chance to ride.

There are many great ways you can get involved with Two Wheel View:

• Make a donation to support our programs that change lives two wheels at a time. https://www.canadahelps.org/dn/14978
• Adopt-a-Project! We have lots of great adopts available for adoption so you can support a particular item that means the most to you.
• Buy a bike at the TWV Workshop. The proceeds from our refurbished bike sales goes directly to support our youth programs and employment opportunities for youth.
• Donate your old bike to find a new life with a youth in your community. Bikes can be donated at our workshop at 907 9th Ave SE. Details about donating can be found here.
• Volunteer!  Gain skills while giving a youth a great bike though our regular Volunteer Mechanics Nights.
• Be a “Vehicle for Change” and attend our annual spring fundraiser.
• Organize your own fundraising event in support of youth programming at Two Wheel View
• Join our board! Use your skills to help build the future of Two Wheel View programming.