We’re Hopping on with Cycling Canada!
Youth en Route is grateful to the Alberta Bicycle Association and Cycling Canada’s Hop On program for funding delivered through the Community Sport for All funding stream in April.
This allowed YER to reach 4,600 youth, an almost 400% increase 2023/24 when we taught 1,300 kids. There are close to 5000 young people exposed to cycling as transportation – which can lead to other interests, including competitive cycling.
Finding program funding continues to be a challenge, so these additional funds were a welcome surprise. While Youth en Route doesn’t think about cycling as a sport, we consider it transportation, recreation and a life skill, we were happy to find a fit with Cycling Canada, who recognizes that more people riding bikes, means more people interested in cycling as a sport.
Funding comes with training and support
Youth en Route staff, what we call our Cyclists in Residence kicked off the spring riding season with a training session with Hop On Instructors at the Canmore Nordic Center. Staff learned some new games and drills to help get youth on the right path to successful riding. Hop On is targeted to kids younger than what we normally see in our schools, the key skills of balance and control are needed, no matter the age.
The Hop On course augmented the training we have from other funders, including Canadian Tire Jumpstart Foundation, providing our staff with a well-rounded set of skills to support youth learners.
Our long-tern vision is that every Grade 10 student in Canada gets the opportunity to learn to cycle safely in an urban setting to understand how they can get around by bike. We know this delivers freedom and autonomy to youth, empowering them to be part of community.
We’ve already been able to leverage our new connections with the Alberta Bicycling Association into support for an event in June 2026 and a shared employee who works as an ABA coach and YER Cyclist in Residence.
We look forward to an ongoing partnership between our organizations as we look toward our shared vision of more Canadians using two wheels to go places!
