Merv Graham – The Bike Shed That Builds More Than Bikes

When I started the Bike Shed in Calgary, I didn't know how far it would go. It was before the pandemic, and I searched for purpose like many others. A friend, Gina, had been giving bikes to Syrian refugee families, and I thought there was something more we could do. That small idea rolled forward, and before long, we found ourselves part of something far bigger than we ever imagined.

A few Shedders from Calgary Men's Shed, the first one in Calgary, joined me in fixing up bikes for Gina and refugee families in a shed on the patio of Confederation Park Seniors Centre. However, we eventually lost our original space during Covid when the Centre was closed permanently. After COVID, I contacted the Greater Forest Lawn 55+ society. Their Executive Director, Jenna Jepson, welcomed us in, and we started sharing space with the GFLS Men's Shed (they also had a woodworking shop). "We'll set up a bike shop space for you to continue your good work," she said. And just like that, the Bike Shed found a new home in the center's basement.

We started with five volunteers, a few donated bikes, and some salvaged parts from the landfill, but we were driven. We built partnerships with YER or Youth en Route, Bike Calgary, Two Wheel View, and even the city landfill, which let us salvage usable bikes. Once we linked up with Youth en Route, everything accelerated. Volunteers joined in people like Glen Bishop, who showed up after seeing our story on the news and never left. Soon, our storage needs outgrew our space, and we rented a C-Can for extra bike storage capacity.

YER found that 30% of high school students in Calgary had never owned a bike or even learned how to ride one. That stunned us. So, we got to work. Through YER, we first partnered with five Calgary high schools, Lester Pearson, Forest Lawn, Bishop O'Byrne, and others, giving away over 500 refurbished bikes in just three years. Each school received 40 bikes for training and teaching maintenance purposes, so each bike represented a student learning freedom, mobility, safety and confidence on bikes in the school. A bike may seem small, but it can change everything for a teenager without access. Once male and female students have graduated from the bike program, we attempt to match them up with a free bike.

We even donated bike parts to the Men's Shed in Olds so its members could refurbish bikes, helping them stay busy, build skills, and give back at the same time. That's the kind of ripple effect we never saw coming. Their shed has quickly grown to 40 members and provides the community with help on projects making picnic tables, benches and, of course, bikes.

One of the most beautiful offshoots of our work has been partnering with Cycling Without Age, a program that offers seniors, even those no longer mobile, the joy of riding again. We use bench-seat bikes, take part in local parades, and now there's even a film being made in the U.S. about it. Watching couples who haven't been able to move freely in years take a ride together is something I'll never forget. 

We're a small crew, but our impact is huge. From high schoolers to seniors, refugees to longtime Calgarians, this bike program has reminded us that building something simple can spark something powerful.

Delivering that 200th bike for YER was a milestone, but truthfully, every delivery feels like one.