Mission
Bike Winnipeg engages with citizens, community organizations, and governments to create a healthy, sustainable, and equitable city where year-round cycling is accessible to all. We work towards a Winnipeg that embraces everyday cycling through our outreach, education, and advocacy.
Vision
We envision a Winnipeg where cycling is equitable and accessible for everyone. A place where every road is safe for children and grandparents to ride, planning a route is as simple as knowing where you want to go, and doing the weekly grocery shop by bicycle isn’t just possible, it’s preferable!
Board and Members
The Bike Winnipeg board is elected by members at the Annual General Meeting held in the spring each year.
Current Board of Directors
Co-Chair: Benjamin Meek
Benjamin Meek (he/him), B.Sc. (Hons), M.A., is an passionate cyclist and a daily bicycle commuter who works as a Research Coordinator at the University of Manitoba. Ben and his family have always been passionate about cycling and regularly turn to the bike as their primary means of transportation. With Bike Winnipeg, Ben hopes to encourage wider adoption of cycling for both recreation and transportation by advocating for better cycling infrastructure, promoting ease and accessibility of use, and fostering a welcoming cycling community. Besides cycling, Ben loves soccer, hockey, board games, camping, canoeing, and disc golf.
Co-chair: Corey Dyck
Corey Dyck (he/him), CPA, CA, is an accountant who resides in Winnipeg. He specializes in developing audit methodologies and policies for a mid-size professional services firm and has spent 10 years in the accounting/auditing industry including a 3 year work rotation in NYC.
Corey has previously served as treasurer of another Winnipeg not-for-profit organization. He also previously participated in an EarthWatch expedition in which he and a group of other volunteers used their business experience to help a group of organic farmers in Mexico City market their goods to local customers.
Corey believes that more connected bike networks and more bike infrastructure will increase the livability for all Winnipeggers and contribute to a better functioning planet. He enjoys biking for pleasure and for commuting and is a big fan of the Southwest Transit Corridor Bike Path. He and his partner love fostering dogs. He also enjoys playing hockey and soccer and enjoys a good craft beer or two.
Secretary: Zach Rempel
Zach Rempel, M.A. Natural Resources Management, is a climate change policy analyst and a lifelong Manitoban. Zach supports climate policy that makes our lives better by creating beautiful public spaces with bike lanes and efficient transit. Zach is passionate about urban design and wants to see Winnipeg fulfill its potential as a hidden gem of a prairie town.
Zach is a board member of the Manitoba eco-network and is inspired into organizing from a visit to co-operatives in Barcelona. He writes and presents on economics and climate change policy.
Zach has been commuting around Winnipeg on bicycle for his entire life. He also loves a good bike jam. In his spare time you can find Zach reading books, playing sports, and daydreaming about permaculture.
Treasurer: Luke Lorentz
Luke Lorentz (he/him), CPA, BA in Finance from Carleton University. Luke currently works as a Controller for a Canadian owned grain company. While living in Ottawa, Luke was an active member of the local Polish community and the club manager of the White Eagles Soccer Club.
In 2011, Luke and his now spouse, decided to spend a few years exploring the world. After returning to Canada, Winnipeg became home. Now living in Fort Garry, Luke is blessed with the large number of parks, greenways and cycling opportunities. His cycling commutes to and from work are one of his favorite times of the day.
Luke believes that Winnipeg has so much potential to further expand its cycling network, to make cycling more inclusive and to ensure all of the city residents are able to safely commute year-round throughout the city.
Director: Leslie Parisien
Leslie (they/them), a two-spirited Indigenous individual, serves as a co-manager at Marymound School, seamlessly integrating bike education with traditional teachings. Their passion for cycling and bike repair stems from years of experience, beginning with their journey at Ralph Brown Community Centre. As a senior mechanic at The WRENCH, Leslie honed their skills, eventually co-managing the flagship program, Abinoojiuk Abi, at Marymound School. Here, they mentor Indigenous youth in the school’s bike shop, embodying a spirited champion of people through teaching and hands-on repair work. Leslie’s dedication extends beyond the workshop, as they are an active volunteer at music festivals and various community events. They believe in leaving the world better than they found it, advocating for safe transportation and accessibility to all communities. Notably, in 2023, Leslie transformed an old pedicab to support Marymound’s bike program and contribute to environmental sustainability during Bike Jams. Known for their organizational prowess and interpersonal skills, Leslie has earned admiration for their operation of repair stands at community events, fostering rapport with members of the community. Their mantra, “Les is more,” epitomizes their pragmatic approach to bike repair and their commitment to making a positive impact. As they aspire to join Bike Winnipeg’s board, Leslie seeks to amplify their advocacy for marginalized bike enthusiasts and contribute their expertise to the organization’s mission. With a broad experience base and a heart dedicated to building a more inclusive city, Leslie is indeed a cargo bike pragmatist and a champion for all who share their love for cycling.
Director: Patty Wiens
Patty has a varied background in software testing, photography and office administration. From the creative side of visual storytelling to the versatility of managing a post secondary private institution, she brings a passion for creating community, the technical skills for streamlining business and the experience for effective social media marketing.
Patty is a mom to two beautiful women and partner to Ian McCausland, a passionate and brilliant visual storyteller in his own right. Whenever Patty isn’t cycling, you could find her knitting, roller skating, Stand Up Paddleboarding or baking sourdough bread.
Patty (she/her), works as an Executive Assistant to University of Winnipeg VP of Finance.
Director: Julia Schroeder
Julia Schroeder (she/her), B.A., B.Ed., PBDE, joined Bike Winnipeg’s board in 2019. She works full-time as a grade one/two teacher in Winnipeg, and is a passionate advocate for cycling, particularly as a means of year-round transportation. Julia has chaired the outreach committee since 2021. She has been volunteering with Bike Winnipeg since 2017, both as a ride marshal and with Bike Valet, and became a member of the outreach committee in 2018. Julia is also the secretary for the Glenelm Neighbourhood Association.
She brings her teaching, coaching, and volunteer experience to the board of directors. Outside of cycling and education, Julia is an avid environmentalist, gardener, hiker, reader, and a lifelong learner. Expect to see Julia leading and marshaling group rides with her dog Willow.
Director: Adam Johnston
Adam Johnston (he/him). BA in Economics/Rhetoric & Communications from University of Winnipeg. Adam currently works as an Income tax preparer, and contributes as a freelance writer on climate policy related issues. Adam is currently working on completing his Climate Policy and Practices certificate from the University of Toronto. Adam had his work featured in the Manitoba Cooperator, and contributed a chapter on solar energy financing for the 2015 book Solar Energy: A Reference Handbook
Adam is an active volunteer for The United Way, Climate Reality Project, and Harvest Manitoba (formerly Winnipeg Harvest). He assisted in the local build up to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup as a Street marketing volunteer.
Adam has been cycling as a commuter for several years, and supports making Winnipeg’s bike network accessible for everyone.
Director: Robyn Dyck
Robyn Dyck (she/her), B.Sc, M.Sc in Atmospheric Science from the University of Manitoba and works as a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. She has been an avid bike rider (with and without engines) for as long as she can remember and supports making commuting by bike more sustainable for Winnipeggers. After many marathons resulted in many injuries, she switched to triathlons. She has a Specialized road bike used for racing and a very poorly kept commuter bike used most days in the summer and some winters. With her 2 year old toddler in tow, he now demands for ‘bike rides’ in his trailer and on-bike kiddo seat.
She has volunteered with Greenpeace Winnipeg, Cystic Fibrosis Winnipeg and been on the board of the Old Saint Boniface Residents’ association. She also enjoys riding motorcycles during Winnipeg’s short summers.
Director: Ian McCausland
Ian McCausland (he/him), has been a freelance photographer and videographer in Winnipeg since 1988 and has embraced online communications and social media since its inception.
Ian is currently a board member of the Flash photography festival and was previously board member of the St James 55+ Seniors Centre, the Manitoba Liberal Party and was Scout leader for 8 years. He has helped organize the local Help Portrait event for 10 years.
Ian enjoys Winnipeg’ s vibrant artistic community and hopes to be able to ride his bike safely to all the events this city has to offer.
Director: Patrick Krawek
Patrick is a writer, entertainer, mechanic and organizer – Patrick Krawec is a community leader with more than 25 years of experience establishing and growing non-profit organizations and social enterprises. He is a former CBC journalist, an Active Transportation specialist, and founding board member and past Executive Director of the WRENCH. Patrick is known for creating and delivering impactful social innovations while nurturing community engagement. He works with a sense of humor and a strong eye on the details.
Director: Jaya Beange
Jaya is the Executive Director of Storefront Manitoba and a Sessional Instructor in the Faculty of Architecture and the School of Art at the University of Manitoba. She is interested in the dynamic relationship that exists between ethics and aesthetics, in how our shared aesthetic experience can serve as a foundation for communities that are happy, healthy, equitable, and sustainable. She graduated from McGill’s Masters of Architecture II program in the History and Theory of Architecture and the professional Masters of Architecture at the University of Manitoba, and has worked extensively in the cultural and design community, including positions as Senior Exhibit Designer at the Manitoba Museum, and Curatorial Assistant at Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art. She serves on the executive of Building Equality in Architecture: Prairies, and the Programming Committee for 10x20x20 design talks. She is an all-weather cyclist, a yoga enthusiast, and a lover of dance.
Executive Director: Mark Cohoe
Mark Cohoe (he/him), B.Sc., has been Executive Director of Bike Winnipeg since 2013 and was a founding board member in 2007. He has focused on the development of Winnipeg’s growing bike network and evolving bike culture. His position with Bike Winnipeg has allowed him to meet and chat with people from all parts of the city as they attempt to navigate the city by bike, and to experience the barriers to cycling that keep so many people off of their bikes. He also had the pleasure of leading groups of people across the city on bike to explore our city’s unique landscapes, history, art, and architecture. These experiences have inspired his firm belief that Winnipeg has the potential to be one of the world’s great cycling cities where every road is safe for cycling, all bike paths are connected, and riding a bike is normal and always fun!
Bike Winnipeg By-Laws
Bike Winnipeg By-Laws (as amended April 6, 2022)
History
After the intense focus on cycling in Winnipeg throughout the summer of 2006, a group of cyclists organized a forum entitled Bike to the Future held at the University of Winnipeg on September 20th, 2006. Over 100 cyclists came together to discuss their vision for cycling in Winnipeg and to share their ideas about what is needed to make cycling better and safer in our city.