A bicycle safety camp has been made possible thanks to a partnership between police and Indigenous youth.
The Windsor Police Service is teaming up with organizations and sponsors to present an All Wheels and Bike Safety Camp at the Safety Village in Windsor. Over the course of this week from Monday to Friday, some 40 youngsters of First Nation, Inuit and Metis descent, aged four to 18, will learn to ride bicycles safely and how to develop responsible riding skills.
Elayne Isaacs, camp partner from Can-Am Urban Native Homes, says the kids are getting a unique opportunity to experience cycling.
"They are learning the rules of the road, how to ride properly on the road," says Isaacs. "They're learning how to repair and take care of their bike, and make sure their tires are inflated properly. They're learning how to wear their helmet properly. Just having a helmet on their head doesn't mean it's going to keep them safe."
Funding for the camp was provided by Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, which provided almost $9,000 for the purchase of new bicycles and equipment for the campers. In addition, other partners included the University of Windsor Aboriginal Education Centre, Metis Nation of Ontario, the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre, and others. Sponsors and donors have chipped in almost $4,800 to cover the cost of skateboards, rollerblades, and scooters.
Oliver Swainson of Bike Windsor Essex, another partner, says organizers have ridden the extra mile to make sure the campers had safe bicycles to ride and equipment to use.
"We came in and made sure that all the bikes were safe and up to snuff," says Swainson. "I spent several hours the past couple of days going over all the bikes, making sure that they're safe to ride."
Bike Windsor-Essex and the Windsor Police Service worked together to provide certified instructors to teach these safety techniques to the campers.
