AGM celebrates a year of success
On February 3, Youth en Route board members and partners celebrated the wrap of our fiscal year-end at our Annual General Meeting.
Despite the cold night, warmth and optimism reigned as the group heard of the many accomplishments of the Youth en Route team. YER programs reached close to 1300 students at 23 schools over the 2023/24 school year
Newly -elected Board Chair Carolyn Kury de Castillo opened the meeting, welcoming attendees and sharing her reasons for volunteering. “I remember being a kid in Calgary and riding a bike everywhere,” said Kury de Castillo, “It’s about health and resilience and the environment. It ticks so many boxes of the things that are important to me.”
Looking ahead
Executive Director Laura Shutiak reviewed activities for the year and shared new schools and new programs on that will come online in 2025.
First, the first maze gate-to-bike rack conversion will be unveiled at Father Lacombe High School in the spring. This proof-of-concept will provide schools with a low-cost option to expand secure parking at schools. The City of Calgary is removing many of these maze gates that block pathways and make them challenging to navigate on a bike or with a stroller. As the city removes them, we hope to install them as bike racks.
The cost-to-space ratio is very good, and could dramatically improve access to secure parking at schools.
Capstone students building prototype
YER is very excited to see the results of our partnership with the U of C’s Capstone engineering team work on improving the adaptive trikes we use with special education students.
Eric Yu and Tomas Beltran presented an overview of the work they are doing on the drivetrain, braking and ergonomics of the trike, to make adaptive biking more accessible for more students at more schools.
Eric said he was inspired by YER’s work and is thrilled to share his project with friends and colleagues. It’s inspiring and I’m so glad to be a part of it. The team is working on proto-type of each adaptation and will unveil the improved trike in the spring.
Youth Advisory Council report
Aleeana Jirav attended and shared some of the work that YER’s Youth Advisory Council has been working on, including the upcoming ABC Challenge Week in April. Aleeana shared that her collagues on the council are keen to advance YER’s mission and vision and appreciate the opportunity to contribute.
Special guests at the event included Merv Graham, leader of the Bike Shed, which works out of the Greater Forest Lawn 55+ Society, Adam Rhind of Bathtub Bikes, whose leadership supports YER’s re-furbishment of bikes.
Of course, it was also a time to celebrate the volunteers on the Board who work day in and out to help YER support youth.
