Engage and empower youth grades 7-12, using the bicycle to foster change, leadership and teamwork.
Using social-emotional-learning principles, Earn-a-Bike aims to:
We believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive environment in our organization and programs, celebrating all identities, and continuously learning to be better allies. TWV believes in fostering a community that respects individual identities and supports participants living authentically.
Our Youth Advisory Council supports and advises our Gap Employability Program and it's alumni activities. Each member of our council is a graduate of our Gap Program.
Meet our incredible council members below!
Hi! My name is Chloe, I’m 24 years old. I graduated from the Gap Program in the Fall 2024 cohort. I believe strongly in doing work that positively makes the world a better place through building community and intersectionality.
To that end, I have previously volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and MEOW Foundation. I started volunteering with Two Wheel View in August of 2024. Since then I’ve taken the Gap Program and regularly volunteer with the Gender Equity Mechanics program, as well as attending Gap Alumni Nights.
My time at Two Wheel View has helped me develop many new skills and friendships. I am thrilled to be joining the Gap Youth Advisory Council. This opportunity will allow me to share my passion for this community and desire to see it continue to grow. In my free time I love to get out into nature. I am particularly fond of birding and I go out any chance I have to add new birds to my life list! I dabble in photography, mostly of birds I see on my adventures. Something people are always surprised to find out about me is that I love Jumping Spiders!
I’m also passionate about cooking and baking, always finding new tasty things to make. I have recently been exploring vegan dishes and have enjoyed the new ideas and flavours this cuisine has to offer.
My name is Tristen, and I am a twenty-two-year-old from Calgary and went through the Gap Program in 2024.
Growing up in an aging home with a handy father meant that I often found myself helping my dad with fixing just about anything that broke down around the house. Because of this, and a preexisting proclivity to work involving my hands; a love of all things mechanical, be it bicycles like at Two Wheel View, or a furnace broken at home, began to develop.
However, it is not just the enjoyment of working with my hands that brought me to Two Wheel View. I learned about The Gap Program through an autism support program.
As soon as I began, I found myself almost instantly clicking with the work and culture and so, as I completed that program, Two Wheel never left my mind. And so with that life changing experience, I wish to help do whatever I can to potentially give others just like me that same feeling of acceptance and contribute to the Gap Program in whatever way I can.
My name is Jamie and I am 24 years old. I'm super happy to be a part of the Gap Advisory Council!
I was in one of the first few groups to have gone through the Gap program (that was at the beginning of the Pandemic in 2020) and have seen it grow and flourish ever since! I love keeping in touch with the awesome people here and would love to see the program grow.
I have spent the past couple years at a job working on cars, I think the car people around me would regret to hear that I'm passionate about a walkable city, one that is planned around bikes and walking, not cars!! I value having love and compassion for everyone and always being authentic.
There are so many things to look forward to in life, so I hope to never gain a dull outlook and always work toward something good.
My name is Timothy, I am 22 years old, and I went through the Gap Program in the fall of 2024.
I enjoy meeting new people, hanging out with my friends, and playing video games along with watching some hockey and “enjoy” watching my team not make the playoffs. An interesting fact about me is I know how to play guitar and find it’s a good way to pass the time. I currently work at a thrift store, which is my first time working in retail.
I consider myself to be an open-minded person when it comes to gaining new skills and or expanding on ones I already have. Which leads me to why I am excited to join the Gap Advisory Council: to know ideas I got will in some way matter and or be considered along with understanding what it’s like to be on a board of open-minded individuals like myself. I’m also excited to gain more experience on collaborative work and building that sense of community.
The connection I have with Two Wheel View is through the Gap Program, where I was able to see how great of a work environment they’ve built and how the staff care about its programs and the people a part of it.
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Hi! I’m Patrick. I’m 24 years and a member of the Gap Advisory Council. I first became involved with Two Wheel View in June 2022 as a member of the Gap Program. With a lot of hands-on experience, I learned about bike mechanics and how to fix used bikes. I cleaned and fixed many donated bikes weekly and learned how to pick out the ideal bike for a customer.
After completing Gap, I was part of the inaugural Alumni Nights meeting for graduating Gap students, and I’ve been attending them ever since. This is my first time being in a leadership role, which I am very excited to try.
Outside of work, I enjoy biking and gaming. I also spend my free time socializing with friends, watching movies and visiting the Arts.
I am looking forward to using my skills and training in the Advisory Council to bring new ideas and inspire others.
Hi name's George, I'm 25 and I attended the first Gap Program in 2019. I am a U of C alumni and currently working in the aviation industry.
My connection with Two Wheel View dates back to Earn a Bike when I was still a kid. Later on, unbeknownst to me, I came back to Two Wheel View (or it came back to me) for the Gap Program. It is only when I took a personal bike in for some wrench time did I realize that I've already crossed path with Two Wheel View many years ago. Ever since, I've been in and out of the shop attending Gap Alumni Nights and events.
It is apparent that joining the council will be just the right opportunity for me to be part of what’s going on in the shop and bring forth positive contribution.
Outside of work, I like to tinker and design, be it 3D modelling/printing or mechanical systems such as bicycles. When the weather allows I like to check out events around the city and the outdoors with my girlfriend, and gardening.
of participants feel they got to know their Bike Club facilitators
of participants report feeling more confident fixing things on their own
of participants reported feeling better about themselves
This program would not be possible without the support of our partners.
