Adaptive/Supportive Cycling Initiatives Across Canada
Click the button in the top-left to view as a list. See below for descriptions of initiatives in your region.
Edmonton, Alberta
Ages 3-20; conventional bikes, low-support bikes, high-support bikes, and handcycles
You Can Ride 2 (YCR2) is a charitable program of Goodwill Industries of Alberta. They maintain a fleet of over 200 adaptive bikes that are customized and loaned out every year to children with special needs. Courses on riding conventional two-wheeled bikes, professional development opportunities for therapists and mechanics, and commercial modification sales & service, round out the YCR2 programs, while various summer events encourage participation and community. YCR2 works together so that all children can experience the joy and freedom of riding a bike.
Calgary, Alberta
Medicine Hat, Alberta
Regina, Saskatchewan
Victoria, Langford, and Sooke
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Ages 2-21, low-support bikes, high-support bikes
Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation (CRF) raises funds to improve the lives of children/youth living with physical and/or developmental disabilities (birth to age 21) who access services through the Rehabilitation Centre for Children (RCC). Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation funds inclusive recreational programs, like The LIFE programs, such as the Therapeutic Recreation and Equipment Loan Pool (includes bikes) for children and youth with disabilities. Families can borrow bikes for three weeks at a time. Bikes are recommended by a therapist based at RCC or the child’s school. Once an appropriate bike has been determined for a child, the therapist can apply to CRF to have a custom built bike purchased for the child to use on a long term basis. Additionally, the Foundation funds a bike clinic which enables RCC clients to have commercially bought bikes modified for their use. The LIFE program also runs summer day camps and weekend / after school programs, including adapted yoga, music therapy, cooking clubs, bocce, gardening, and family festivals.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
The LIFE program at the Rehabilitation Centre for Children (RCC) in Winnipeg, Manitoba is a therapeutic recreation and equipment loan program (including bikes) for children and youth with disabilities. The LIFE program and bikes for short-term loan are funded by the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation (CRF). Families can borrow bikes for three weeks at a time. Bikes are recommended by a therapist based at RCC or the child’s school. Once an appropriate bike has been determined for a child, the therapist can apply to CRF to have a custom built bike purchased for the child to use on a long term basis. Additionally, the Foundation funds a bike clinic which enables RCC clients to have commercially bought bikes modified for their use.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Freedom Concepts was born over 30 years ago from one special request to build a bike for a child with cerebral palsy. That one bike was such a huge success that it opened the door to many new requests and the birth of a company. Freedom Concepts has evolved into a company dedicated to imagining, designing and building products that enhance the overall quality of life of its customers. From the beginning, every Freedom Concepts product has been tailored to the individual needs of the user. Throughout the years in the healthcare industry, Freedom Concepts has innovated over 18 different adaptive tricycle models.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Rehabilitation Centre for Children (RCC) supports children and youth in Manitoba and surrounding areas (including Nunavut and Northwest Ontario) in achieving their goals and participating in their communities. We are located in SSCY Centre, at 1155 Notre Dame Ave., in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. RCC provides services to children with physical and developmental challenges. Children from birth to eighteen (twenty-one if still in school) are eligible for services from the Centre. RCC receives its funding from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Manitoba Health, the Department of Families, a number of Manitoba School Divisions, and the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation.
Ontario
CTN supports over 26,000 kids and youth with disabilities and developmental needs. Through 110,000+ service visits per year, we provide intake, service navigation and coordinated service planning, assessment and diagnostic services, specialized clinics and rehabilitation services, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech language therapy. Our support reaches kids and youth in their homes, communities and schools, from birth up until their 19th birthday (or until completion of high school) through our network model of service delivery. Through the collective efforts of community partners, we provide and enhance services, champion system change and build capacity primarily in York Region and Simcoe County, as well as Central and West Toronto, Dufferin, Halton, Peel, Waterloo and Wellington.
Toronto, Ontario
Kayla’s Children Centre is a non-profit organization that provides cutting-edge education, therapy and recreational programs for infants, children and teens with developmental and physical disabilities, and support services for their families in the GTA (Vaughan). Since 2008, KCC (merger of Camp AIM and Zareinu Educational Centre) has been using bikes to empower children with special needs to develop life enhancing skills, self-esteem, and confidence. One-on-one instruction using a series of adapted and regular bikes and scooters, and consultation to adapt bikes to individual children’s needs is available at KCC’s school and Therapy Clinic, where we believe “Bikes are like wings for kids!”
Thunder Bay, Ontario
George Jeffrey Children’s Centre (GJCC) is a paediatric outpatient health facility located in Thunder Bay, Ontario. We have been meeting the communication, developmental, and physical needs of children for over 60 years; providing services to infants, children, and adolescents aged birth to 19 years.
Repentigny, Quebec
A Canadian team of passionate visionaries and world-class designers continuously pushing the limits of 3 wheel mobility design. We are known for our bold and creative approach. We are a team of 20, and growing. We are partnering with the best-in-class experts. Doing things that matter for the community, is our mission. We are based in Repentigny (Quebec), but our reach is international. We are able to grow as we do, because we put the right team in place.
Montreal, Quebec
With more than 150 years of experience in Montreal, the MAB-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre is a leader in providing care for children who are blind or visually impaired; deaf or hard of hearing; with motor impairments (limiting their mobility and motor function); or communication disorders. The centre’s mission is to provide the skills training and tools for children to achieve their full potential so they can enjoy a brighter future and enjoy a better quality of life.
Of the more than 1,300 babies, children and teenagers who receive therapy at the MAB-Mackay, most are cared for at home, or are able to attend mainstream daycare or schools. Some however require additional assistance due to their disability and cannot be integrated. The Mackay Centre School offers a safe, caring environment that empowers these exceptional children to achieve their maximum potential with a curriculum that is dynamic and responsive to their needs. Our specialized school serves 189 children between the ages of 4 and 21 years old with a variety of impairments, notably global developmental delays, cerebral palsy and related physical disabilities that limit mobility and motor function, hearing loss and deafness, as well as communications disorders that affect their ability to process language, produce speech and link concepts.
The magic of the Mackay Centre School is that the children receive intensive support for the rehabilitation and therapy needs throughout the day. All their needs are looked after by a multi-disciplinary team of health professionals to achieve their goals in one convenient location where their developmental needs are also met. The mission of Habilitas Foundation, formerly the MAB-Mackay Foundation, is to support the centre and the rehabilitation activities at the school by funding the programs that are not covered by the government.
Are you an adaptive or supportive cycling organization, therapeutic program, or similar?
You can apply to join the movement here.
All applicants will be listed on the map above, and selected applicants will qualify for equipment, training, or support, courtesy of funds raised by Matt & Nicole Devine’s Ride for Change in Support of You Can Ride 2.