For the first time, the Lac La Biche Firefighters’ Society and Santa’ s Helpers are putting their helmeted heads together to host an event focused on bicycle safety.
For the first time, the Lac La Biche Firefighters’ Society and Santa’ s Helpers are putting their helmeted heads together to host an event focused on bicycle safety.
The groups’ first Bike Rodeo will be held on Saturday, June 13 at the fire hall in the hamlet of Lac La Biche.
The event is aimed at children and teaching them safe cycling practices, says organizer Carmen Semeniuk.
“Summertime is fast approaching. We want to make sure that kids that are out there riding their bikes are doing it safely,” she said.
The “rodeo” aspect of the event will be an obstacle course for kids who bring their own bicycles, but there will be other activities designed to promote cycling safety. A hot dog lunch will also be provided.
“We’ re going to have bike sizing and bike helmet sizing, as well,” said Semeniuk.
The first 60 kids to attend will receive free helmets. The groups hosting the event have also had multiple bicycles donated to them by other local groups and agencies.
In total, 40 bicycles will be given away to kids in the community.
“We had local agencies put in referrals for children they knew did not have bikes,” Semeniuk said, adding that organizers went through the list and picked out 40 recipients.
Two more bicycles will be donated to the local women’ s shelter, Hope Haven, and another four will be raffled off on the day of the rodeo.
The whole process is designed to supply local kids with outdoor, physical-activity-type entertainment while reinforcing safety concepts, Semeniuk says.
“We see a need for it and we want to provide for that need for local families,” she said.
The Bike Rodeo is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, at the fire hall on 102 St. in Lac La Biche.
