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Cycling offers a wealth of benefits, especially for young riders. Not only does it improve physical health, but it also boosts mental well-being, builds confidence, and teaches vital life skills.
Learning to cycle enhance motor skills, coordination, and focus, while fostering independence and a sense of achievement. It also encourages outdoor activity, promotes social interaction, and contributes to better stress management.
Cycling provides an excellent cardiovascular workout, strengthens muscles, and can reduce anxiety. The joy of cycling builds positive habits and provides kids with the tools to succeed both socially and mentally.
The Youth Spokes program, which began in 2020 with the Lambton Kent District School Board, has grown in response to overwhelming feedback. This year, the program will run for six Sundays from June 22 to July 27, 2-4 pm, offering a structured curriculum designed to teach kids safe, fun cycling skills.
With experienced leaders and assistants, the program aims to instill confidence and self-reliance while fostering healthy habits and fun.
The Youth Spokes program includes:
Pay what You Can
Pay what you can (PWYC) is a non-profit business model which does not depend on set prices for its services, but instead asks customers to pay what they feel the service is worth to them. At the Bluewater Cycling Organization we are committed to keeping our programs as accessible as possible. Utilizing the PWYC model will help to ensure everyone can participate no matter what they can afford, while building in sustainability for years to com
For this program to run without sponsorships or donations, each youth would need to pay $120.00 for the summer.
Sunday June 22 | 1:00-3:00pm
All rides start & finish @ Strangway Center – 260 East Street N, Sarnia
Jordan Colquhoun is a local entrepreneur in the renovation and construction industry. He has been an avid cyclist, mountain biker, adventurer and he is always looking to be in the outdoors. He loves working with youth and giving them opportunities to expand their minds and experiences.
A mainstay in the local cycling scene, Mike Fitzjohn’s passion for bikes began as a youth riding at our local bike/skate park bowl. When not at home or at work he can be hard to pin down as his passion for cycling takes him from daily cycling commutes to work, riding singletrack, to multi-day, self-supported bike-packing adventures. Mike is thrilled to once again to give back to the community by being a part of the Youth Spokes program for a second season.
Michelle is a local psychotherapist with more than 17 years of experience working in children’s and youth mental health. She has been active in all kinds of sports and exercise since early childhood and has more recently begun participating and training in endurance sports like tri-athalons. She loves outdoor adventures and is passionate about promoting both the physical and mental health benefits of nature, movement, and connection, especially among young people.
Victoria (Vic) Racine played basketball at Fanshawe College in London and completed her degree in architecture from Ontario College of Art & Design University. Since returning to Sarnia she has been volunteer coaching and working as a project manager – mostly overseeing all the new construction happening at Lambton College. She has been very active her whole life but more recently has been getting into cycling. Vic loves working with youth and is a talented young coach who is a great addition to our team.
Kendel Ross played basketball professionally overseas in Portugal and Spain as well as with various levels of the Canadian Women’s Natonal team program (2002-2014). She competed at the University of Dayton (NCAA D1) where she completed her master’s degree in health sciences. Since returning to Sarnia she has been high performance and wellness coaching as well as teaching at Lambton College. She is a certified nutrition coach and started Growth Mindset Co (www.growthmindsetco.ca) offering customized coaching services. Her most favourite thing is helping people accomplish things they didn’t know they were capable of. In her free time, you can find Kendel on a bike or hiking in the woods.
Jake Simrak was born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario. He went to St Patrick’s Catholic High School and graduated from the Child and Youth Care program at Lambton College. Jake is enrolled in the University of Windsor’s Bachelor of Social Work Program starting September, 2024. He is a supervisor at the new activity centre in downtown Sarnia called Weir Active funded by the Mike Weir Foundation. He has been active through numerous sports including football, basketball, volleyball and has also played soccer competitively since he was 8 years old with Galladev’s United. Jake is a recreational cyclist and loves working with the youth in the community to help them to experience how beneficial being active is to the body and mind.
Mya Williams is a 20 year old Sarnia local who loves all things on two wheels. Her love for bike riding stems from her childhood, having two parents who certainly encouraged riding as a means of transportation and fitness. That love grew with age and now Mya has started to learn the ropes of being a bike technician. Now working at Blackwell Cycle, you can find her feeding her lust for learning, and certainly getting her hands dirty. Whilst setting goals and spreading advocacy for more inclusivity and diversity within the cycling community, Mya tries to remind others that cycling is not just a competitive sport, but for everyone regardless of age, gender, capability, and of course your average speed.
Connor Loeven is a Union Electrician who spends most of his free time on two wheels. Whether it’s tackling a 200-mile ride in a single day or racing down a mountain trail, Connor is always up for the next cycling adventure.
Although he played a variety of sports growing up, it wasn’t until his early twenties that he discovered his true passion for cycling. Reflecting on the limited cycling opportunities available to him as a kid, Connor is now committed to getting more people—especially youth—on bikes. He hopes to inspire the next generation of riders to find the same joy, freedom, and challenge that he’s found through cycling.
Demetrius is a scientist and community advocate who believes active living changes lives on and off the bike. With a background in neuroscience, physics, and data science, he focuses on listening, analyzing, and prioritizing the dignity of people and communities. He works with the UN protecting vulnerable children globally and serves locally on the Bluewater Trail Committee and Sarnia Tennis Club.
As a triathlete, Demetrius is passionate about the Spokes Youth Project’s mission to get more kids cycling, believing every young person deserves the freedom, community, and lifelong benefits that come with an active lifestyle.
Avery BM is a proud Sarnia native with a passion for health, wellness, and youth development. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology and Health Science from York University, as well as a Certificate in Office Administration from Lambton College. A former varsity athlete, Avery competed with both the York and Lambton Lions Women’s Basketball Teams, earning an OCAA Championship and a CCAA National Silver Medal with Lambton in 2024.
She currently works as a Medical Receptionist and Physiotherapist Assistant at a local clinic, supporting patients through their rehabilitation journeys. In her role as a Youth Cycling Program Leader, Avery combines her athletic background and clinical experience to help youth build confidence, develop cycling skills, and stay active in a fun, supportive environment.
