Thursday, March 12, 2020
VOLUME 2 I ISSUE 37
MERIDIANSOURCE.CA
SEE PAGES 19-38 FOR OUR 2020 AGRICULTURE WEEK FEATURE | CHECK INSIDE FOR YOUR 2020 SHOWCASE GUIDE
Pedal for a Purpose a joy ride GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. A novel Lloydminster educational experience using smart bike trainers could spin itself into an annual event for all Lloydminster Public School Division (LPSD) schools. That’s the word from Rendell Park Elementary School principal Sheldon Gallagher, as a cycle relay to ride virtually across Canada to raise funds for local Lloydminster charities rolls on. Five other LPSD schools will carry on similar rides until the end of the school year with College Park School next in line, followed by Jack Kemp, Winston Churchill and Barr Colony schools. “It’s a pretty cool project. They are learning about Canada, about the community; they are learning technology, it’s all-encompassing,” said Gallagher on March 9. Gallagher says he is hoping it can expand to all 10 LPSD schools next year given the outstanding reaction from his students, teachers, guest riders and partner charities and sponsors. “It’s kind of a one-of-akind thing. It’s very unique. The other schools, they heard about it and I said ‘does anyone want to challenge us’ and
we had five other schools join in,” he said. The Pedal for a Purpose program is a partnership with Grindin’ Gears Bikes n’ Boards and First General Services in Lloydminster, who are providing the smart trainers and bikes. They can change resistance on hills, flats and downhill using Zwift software to track the distance they ride displayed on TV monitors. “It was all about getting kids on bikes; that’s what I’m all about. I just want to get involved in that,” said Jim Taylor, owner of Grindin Gears, who was thrilled to help out. He found the right hardware and the right bike that’s going to fit the age of the group that is riding at Rendell. “It’s awesome; these kids are loving it,” he said, with a small kids’ bike connected to a Kinetic trainer. Rory Christie, general manager of First General, contributed a high-tech Wahoo Kickr smart trainer. “We really feel strongly about having kids being active and being involved to have a direction for their energy,” said Christie. “I’ve got kids who cycle and I cycle myself, so I’d like to
Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Hayden, a Grade 1 student at Rendell Park Elementary School, takes a short ride on a smart trainer in a unique Pedal for a Purpose virtual cycling ride across Canada for Lloydminster charities.
share it with everyone and let everyone have fun.” Shelley Merth, an LPSD educational technology consultant, says the idea is for each kid to ride up to 15 minutes throughout the school day for charity. “Basically, we want kids to ‘Give to Ride’ and ‘Ride to Give’,” said Merth. “We will also track our progress online using Google Earth Tours and students will learn about the geography and culture of the provinces, towns, and cities along our
Trans Canada route.” Merth says LPSD has added a Read Across Canada challenge, whereby authors from each province will be highlighted so students can read along as they ride along. “It’s got the whole package; we have technology, geography, fitness, literacy all built into one program and supporting charity behind it— pedalling for a purpose,” said Merth. She notes Zwift donated two free accounts when they heard about the community-
based program. The Rendell Pedal for a Purpose kids cover about 300 kilometres a day on the smart trainers. “The love it. They can’t wait to get on here,” said Merth, with everything set up in the school foyer. Grade 6 student Connor Frerichs helps to time younger kids while keeping in mind the disabled people who use the Border City Connects wheelchair accessible bus they are raising money for. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4