Support Welcome Wheels

Kickstand Community Bikes and Rainbow Refugee Society are proudly partnering to raise funds for our campaign called Welcome Wheels - where we will match refurbished bicycles, helmets, locks and lights to LGBTQI+ refugee claimants who are new to Canada.

Having access to a well maintained bicycle can bring a great degree of self-sufficiency, confidence and freedom. Welcome Wheels aims to make repairing, maintaining, and the ownership of a bicycle financially accessible to Rainbow Refugee Newcomers.

We need your support in raising $10,000 to provide 20 refugees access to active cycling transportation! With the money raised and through the help of our volunteers, Kickstand will match, measure and refurbish bikes for Rainbow Refugee Newcomers and provide them with the helmets, lights and locks necessary to get them safely on the road.

Here is some information about each organization:

Kickstand Community Bikes

Kickstand is a volunteer-run bike repair space where affordable bicycles and the tools to maintain and repair them are accessible to all. In addition to public open shop hours, Kickstand hosts public workshops, bike building parties, lectures, group rides, and weekly Women, Gender Queer and Trans (WGQT) access nights. Kickstand currently has over 40 active volunteers who staff the shop, govern the organization, and facilitate workshops.

Rainbow Refugee

Founded in 2000, Rainbow Refugee is a Vancouver-based community group that supports people seeking refugee protection in Canada because of persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics (SOGIESC) or HIV status.