The Wrench
1057 Logan Avenue R3E 3N8 Winnipeg, MB, Canada

It is well past time to wrap up Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up 2020, but not before offering a final thank you to donors who, over the winter break, helped push our final tally over $15 000. We're so grateful for our communities' many forms of generosity- we're working on carrying this momentum of good spirit and collaboration through 2021! And- one more piece of really nice media, this time from the Lance in the south end of the city. Really excited to keep building our partn...ership out there and around the province. https://www.winnipegfreepress.com//LRSD-students-in-the-sa Happy new year everyone! We wish you smooth rides, tail winds, and MINIMAL corrosion.

Some very sweet shots of Cycle Of Giving+Moving On Up bikes going out in hampers! Thanks to the over 40 volunteer bike mechanics who made gifts like this possible! (Photos by Mark Anderson) Bike deliveries continue all week. This year, the WRENCH's Cycle of Giving volunteer mechanics built over 500 bikes from their home shops with bikes and parts from Winnipeg's 4R sites. This is the 10th anniversary of this effort- a puzzle during a pandemic, but one that worked out through community collaboration all the same. You can still contribute to the launch of our fundraiser for a new building- check us out at thewrench.ca!

Super nice write up here from our friends at Assiniboine Credit Union!

Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up in the Winnipeg Sun! Check us out: https://winnipegsun.com//cycle-of-giving-students-thrilled

*New* Online Booking System for Open Shop Bicycle repair is an essential service and we are here to provide affordable options for those in need, during these tough times. What you need to know:... All appointments must be booked in advance. Bookings can be made online at www.thewrench.ca/fix/#openshop or call 204-296-3389, ext. 0. Our services are for those that need it most during this time of critical restrictions (Code Red). Services offered during Open Shop include; Bike Repairs, Part Sales, Bike Builds ($40, AND includes a lock!), and Ready-To-Ride Bike Sales. Sending you lots of greasy bicycle love! More details online!

A big hello from us here at The WRENCH! We are also going to be saying hello a new version of our Thursday Open Shop, coming November 19th! (We are a week delayed, but not dismayed!) This means we are closed this Thursday, Nov 12th. ... In the mean time drop us a social distanced wave in the comments! Stay well. Keep biking.

Check out this great workshop on Winter Cycling by Anna Weier at UMCycle. Many of us at The WRENCH cycle throughout the winter. Some of us simply dress more warmly while using exactly the same rig as we do in the summer. Others make some changes to their bike (like putting on winter tires); or even use a completely different bike that they prefer for winter riding. We can help you with your winter riding plans. Book a time on one of our open shop days here to talk more. https://thewrench.ca/fix/#openshop https://www.youtube.com/watch

Thanks for the great coverage, CTV News Winnipeg! https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/video

The WRENCH is closed this week, but we are happy to have you down on November 12th for our newest version of Open Shop! We are busy working on new systems to make everyone's experience enjoyable and safe! More details to come. The photo is a throwback of our Sister Cycle program last year. A free bike mechanic series by and for women, trans, non-binary, two-spirit, and femme identifying people. So nice to see smiles again! ... Be well and keep biking!

This year's Cycle of Giving is the first since 2015 that our beloved volunteer, Lynn Scott is not with us. Lynn, a Premier Award winning volunteer known for her bold humour and lively spirit, always dedicated countless hours before and during Cycle of Giving, and her vibrant presence is sorely missed around the shop these days. Lynn passed away this year from cancer, leaving a tangible emptiness in the WRENCH community that we can all feel. We are so grateful that we got ...to be a part of her life. In honour of this sentiment, is a fun photo of Lynn (left) and her friend at Cycle of GIving 2018, when they won the highly coveted silver gnomes (our kooky way of celebrating the fact that they repaired the 200th bicycle). We love you Lynn!

Such a great morning loading up and delivering 280 bikes from Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up to Louis Riel School Division-Rene Deleurme Centre and Victor Mager School. These bikes will serve phys ed and after school programs, and at the end of the year, they will go home with students! Check us out on CTV and City News tonight! Thanks so much to Melissa Brown, Victoria Scales, Danielle Quesnel, and Principal Troy Reinhardt; and our friends at Emterra for a great morning!

Code Orange Update Due to the changes to public health orders regarding Covid-19. The WRENCH will be closed during the next two weeks for; - Public Open Shop (Thursdays) ... - Volunteer Shop (Saturdays) We are boosting our safety measures so we can continue to offer repairs to those who need it! Stay safe & keep riding your bicycle!

Great reporting here from Mark Neufeld. Thanks CityNews Winnipeg https://winnipeg.citynews.ca//waste-material-turned-into-/

Thank you so much to everyone who got in on our incentive giving plan, and to those who continue to give through Canada Helps! We're overwhelmed with your generosity! Stay tuned for a special media event tomorrow as we begin sending Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up bikes to their destinations!

Here's another great clip from Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up, this time from CTV News! https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/mobile/video?clipId=2095393

We are now open Thursdays from 12 4:30 at 1057 Logan to help you with bike repairs and parts sales! WRENCH staff will be set up outdoors to accept bicycles for repairs and take orders for used parts. All repairs will be done inside by WRENCH staff and sanitized upon completion. We continue offering affordable sliding-scale pricing for repairs and used parts. In order to ensure physical distancing we cannot have the public in our shop, this means that volunteering is not ...possible at this time. Open Shop days are intended to give access to those who cannot otherwise afford bicycle repair services. Please note that we cannot offer Bike Builds at this time.

Our incentive giving program is now wrapped, but you can give to The WRENCH at any time through Canada Helps- see a link at thewrench.ca. Here is another story printed last week on our fundraiser, just in case you missed it! https://www.winnipegfreepress.com//The-WRENCH-is-on-the-mo

More exciting things happening this weekend! WRENCH Bikes on Sale One Day Only! End of Summer Clearance Sale! Discounts of 10-20% off on our refurbished, ready-to-ride bikes. With over 20 bikes freshly added this week.... All proceeds from bike sales go toward our free year-round bicycle programming for children and families across Winnipeg. **This Saturday, September 26th, 12:00 to 6:00** The WRENCH at The Forks. At the train cars in the North-West corner of the Forks Market.

FREE Workshop Announcement! Does your bicycle have trouble coming to a stop? Is there a loud squealing noise when you squeeze your brakes? Ever wondered what the difference between a cantilever and a V-brake is? Then this is the workshop for you! Happening THIS Saturday September 26th, 1-3PM. This workshop will be held outdoors, at The WRENCH’s Forks location!... All about brakes, this workshop will help you learn about different types of brakes found on bicycles, how they work, and how to repair them! From levers to calipers and everything in between. Workshop is free (donations always welcome), no registration or previous experience necessary. *Note this workshop will not focus on hydraulic disc brakes.

We did it! Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up is a wrap! (Aside from all the deliveries that will happen in the coming weeks.) Thank you to our incredible community. We did this together.... We received over $10 000 in donations from over 150 donors. What an incredible launch to our building fundraising campaign! We also want to again thank all our sponsors: HLC, Pollard Banknote, Assiniboine Credit Union, Bison Transport, Emterra, Payworks, Urban Systems, and Johnston Group. Thanks also to our amazing partners, Natural Cycle, Mountain Equipment Coop, Bikes and Beyond, Martha Street Studio, and Graffiti Art Programming. Thanks to artists, Kiana Compton, Marco Muller, Sarah Thiessen, and Matea Radic for contributing to our incentive giving plan! Thank you to Anna Weier for writing a piece about us in the Winnipeg Free Press. At least one donor was introduced to our work through that article! Thank you to DJs Shael, Two Topping, Cadence, Justin Bear, and Equanim for leading the party last night, and to Justin Larivee for designing and delivering a night to remember. You are incredible. Thank you for feeding and watering us! Oh Doughnuts, Tall Grass Prairie Bakery, Organic Planet, One Great City, Barnhammer, and Half Pints. And thank you to everyone who offered storytelling about about the cycling community, activism, and associated work in Winnipeg. We learned so much! All raffle winners and tshirt recipients will receive a call or email on next steps to receive your item(s). Distribution will begin Tuesday- but we ran out of shirts! So-some will receive theirs a little later. (Sarah has graciously agreed to make some more.) Thanks once again to the mechanics who built from their home shops this week. We will do some sharing of the delivery work over the coming weeks so you can all follow along. Thank you again for your generosity. While our incentive giving plan is now closed, you can support The WRENCH at any moment through CanadaHelps.

Well folks, that's a wrap! All 153 of the bikes that were lovingly repaired at our first ever Empty the Fill: Back 2 School Buildathon have been given out to kids and families who might otherwise not be able to afford one! Huge thanks to all the volunteers who helped safely deliver the bikes last week, and of course all the volunteers who helped out during the event itself - we couldn't have done it without you! Also thanks to CBC News Radio-Canada CTV News Citytv Winnipeg Free Press and @winnipegsun for covering our sweet little community event!

Going live at 2pm over on instagram live to announce our raffle winners, thank all of our donors and sponsors, and talk about how our building fundraising launch has gone. (Spoiler alert- thanks to you, it has gone well!) Join us at https://www.instagram.com/thewrenchwpg/

*Weekend programming @ WRENCH to start again in October!* We are excited to announce that we will be offering Volunteer Orientations, Volunteer Shop and Mellow Vélo on weekends starting October 3rd. For specific information about each program and when exactly they will be offered, please check out our website Calendar at www.thewrench.ca/calendar/ ... Registration is now required for all WRENCH activities, as we are restricting the number of people in the shop at one time. Email Sarah at [email protected] to sign up today!

What a fun weekend! We are currently on hour 13 of our first ever Empty the Fill: Back 2 School Build-a-thon! Huge thanks to our amazing crew of volunteers who have made this event such a success. Together we have fixed up over 120 bikes, which will be donated to kids later this week. Only 1 more hour to go, let's see how many more we can do! Oh yeah and we are also going to be on @city_tv news tonight at 6!

One last time!!

The WRENCH is hiring! We are seeking an individual with strong leadership and organizational skills for the position of Managing Director. This is a full-time salaried position!... Application deadline: September 2nd, 4pm. Start date: asap For more info visit: www.thewrench.ca/job-director

it crashed again!!!!

It's our last week of pop-up repairs! Find us TODAY (Wednesday) at Assiniboine ave and Main street (Bonniecastle park) from 2pm-5pm! Say hello to us, we LOVE to talk about bikes!

Want to be a part of a fun event!? We're calling on volunteers (like you!) to come out to the Brady 4R Recycling Depot (1777 Brady Rd) on the weekend of September 12 & 13 to help us refurbish as many kids bikes as possible, which will then be donated to kids who might not otherwise have the chance of owning a bike. And in time for them to get to school if buses are not running due to COVID. Shifts need filling, so put your name down!!

Our Wednesday Pop-up Repair stand is heading out to NorWest Co-op Community food centre! Find us there TODAY from 2pm-5pm!

The Tweed Ride! AND! Notes from Historian and Reporter Edith Paterson who offers research about Winnipeg's early cycling history at the turn of the century!! Thank you so much Kristen for celebrating this event with us! This is so special. You can still take advantage of our incentive giving plan- until midnight tonight! Check us out at thewrench.ca

Check out this FREE workshop! Just in time for heading back to school and work!

So grateful to Kristen and Dan for this celebration of Art and Activism and Cyclist Lifestyles ( Critical Mass, Bike Polo, AlleyCat Races, etc ). This is where WRENCH TV really becomes WRENCH TV. You have till midnight to get in on our incentive gift plan! Check us out at thewrench.ca, and head over to FB live for DJ's and more interviews till 10 tonight!

It crashed again!! DIY rules!

The WRENCH pop-up crew is out again today! (Wednesday, August 12) Find us At the Broadway Neighbourhood Centre (Near Broadway and Young!) From 2pm-5pm!

We have a pop-up bike repair station happening NOW @ the West Central Womens Resource Centre Community Garden (448 McGee st)! Here until 2pm (Friday), all genders welcome.

Applications are now OPEN for our Wheels of Courage Community Leadership Program! Apply today at www.thewrench.ca/woc Application deadline is Tues, August 25th ... Program launches on Tues, Sept 1st Wheels of Courage (WoC) is a free, 10 month volunteer program at the WRENCH for young people (ages 15-30) who love bikes and want to use them as a tool for personal growth and social change. WoC participants gain exclusive access to a diverse array of skill-building workshops as well as support and funding to develop their own Community Projects. Check out the "Wheels of Courage 2019-2020" photo album for more fun photos from the program!

WE LIVE AGAIN! 24/7 Cycle of Giving Livestream https://www.facebook.com/theWRENCHwpg/live/ ----------------------------- Join the Cycle of Giving 24/hr live stream!... Stream starts at 11:00am Saturday, December 5th and ends 11:00am Sunday, December 6th! PARTY TIME at 5:00pm-10:00pm Saturday with Justin Bear and Jessie Canard as hosts, live music, and interviews with our wonderful builders! -------------------------------------- Cycle of Giving is symbolic of The WRENCH’s core work- salvaging bikes and parts from our local landfill and recycling sites, and putting them to the best use possible so that every Winnipegger can get around the city cheaply, while helping the planet. Hundreds of volunteers have supported Cycle of Giving over the years in a 24 hour build a thon, building bikes with recycled parts at Orioles Rec Centre and then distributing them to partner organisations, schools, kids, and families. This year, the project is even more heart warming. To keep covid safe, our friends and partner organisations have taken it upon themselves to receive bike frames and parts into their home based and private shops; and have been building since the beginning of November. This decentralised build will culminate on December 5, a day of simultaneous bike building at shops throughout the city. --------------------------- Schedule: 5:00 Party Kickoff - Hosts introductions, Statement from Director 5:30 - Interview with volunteer - Adrian Alphnso (Traditional Trails & Clear Paths) 5:45 - DJ Set - Cadence (DnB) 6:15 - Interview with volunteer (TBD) 6:30 - DJ Set - Equanim (Electronica) 7:00 - Interview with volunteer (TBD) 7:15 - DJ Set - Justin Bear (Jungle) 7:45 - Interview with volunteer (TBD) 8:00 DJ Set - Two Topping (Trashy Dance) 8:30 - Interview with volunteer (TBD) 9:00 - DJ Set - Shael 9:30 - Party closing, remarks from staff, ed, hosts, etc ----------------------------------- TUNE IN! See more

Another Stream - Cause the last one crashed again!! ----------------------------- Join the Cycle of Giving 24/hr live stream! Stream starts at 11:00am Saturday, December 5th and ends 11:00am Sunday, December 6th!... PARTY TIME at 5:00pm-10:00pm Saturday with Justin Bear and Jessie Canard as hosts, live music, and interviews with our wonderful builders! -------------------------------------- Cycle of Giving is symbolic of The WRENCH’s core work- salvaging bikes and parts from our local landfill and recycling sites, and putting them to the best use possible so that every Winnipegger can get around the city cheaply, while helping the planet. Hundreds of volunteers have supported Cycle of Giving over the years in a 24 hour build a thon, building bikes with recycled parts at Orioles Rec Centre and then distributing them to partner organisations, schools, kids, and families. This year, the project is even more heart warming. To keep covid safe, our friends and partner organisations have taken it upon themselves to receive bike frames and parts into their home based and private shops; and have been building since the beginning of November. This decentralised build will culminate on December 5, a day of simultaneous bike building at shops throughout the city. --------------------------- Schedule: 5:00 Party Kickoff - Kate, Jon, and Justin 5:30 - Interview with volunteer - Adrian Alphnso (Traditional Trails & Clear Paths) 5:45 - DJ Set - Cadence (DnB) 6:15 - Kate and Dave 6:30 - DJ Set - Equanim (Electronica) 7:00 - Jessie and Justin - WoC 7:15 - DJ Set - Justin Bear (Jungle) 7:45 - Interview with volunteer (TBD) 8:00 DJ Set - Two Topping (Trashy Dance) 8:30 - Interview with volunteer (TBD) 9:00 - DJ Set - Shael 9:30 - Party closing, remarks from staff, ed, hosts, etc ----------------------------------- TUNE IN! See more

A selection of fun photos from the Wheels of Courage program, 2019-2020. We are now taking applications for the next round of Wheels of Courage (2020-2021) --- Learn more and apply at www.thewrench.ca/woc Deadline is August 25, 2020

We have a Pop-Up Bike Repair station set up today until 4pm @ Ralph Brown Community Centre (520 Machray) ! Come on by!

How did critical mass shape next steps in developing bike infrastructure in Winnipeg? In the early 2000s, we didn't have dedicated bike lanes in Winnipeg, and there were no community bike shops either. But there were cyclists! Alex, Macho, and Bronwyn reflect on a time in the mid 2000s where bike activism and anti war efforts dovetailed in work to both oppose Operation Charging Bison, and create more safety for cyclists in Winnipeg. ... They storytell a line from those actions to the creation of Bike to the Future and Bike Winnipeg, as well as many community bike shops- including the WRENCH. We're very grateful to these three, and many others for their work at that time, and also their articulation of a time that, due to police violence and treatment by the courts, was traumatic for many. This year, we are storytelling work in Winnipeg to create a more bike friendly city- through activism, community building, and infrastructure development; in no small part because it is time for The WRENCH to move into above ground space. We want a welcoming, functional space that is comfortable and exciting for all Winnipeggers. This is the launch of our fundraising campaign for a new building: Moving On Up. We're grateful to the over 100 people who have already contributed! You can still take advantage of our incentivised giving plan. Donate before midnight tonight at thewrench.ca towards one of several of a kind gifts!

There are still a few spaces left in our hubs workshop at The Forks tomorrow!

Thank you Saturday! We're so excited about the generosity being shown through both our incentivised giving plan, and Canada Helps! Thank you to our many donors to date. If you haven't had a chance to give yet, check out our website at thewrench.ca. ... Our Incentive Giving Plan is wrapping up tonight (Saturday) at Midnight! Donate BEFORE MIDNIGHT, to support our building fundraiser launch, and receive a gift from The WRENCH! We have a number of exciting gifts and raffle items you could win! Raffle will be held on Sunday at 2pm here on instagram live! Here are the details: This year, we are launching incentivised giving for the Cycle of Giving/Moving on Up fundraiser through thewrench.ca. E transfers and credit card payments can be accepted there. We also take cheques via mail. $30 donation or better- A screen printed Wrench T Shirt with artwork by Sarah Thiessen, AND an entry to win a Matea Radic print $60 donation or better- Wrench T Shirt and Raffle ticket for one of three hand painted Helmets by Graffiti Gallery affiliated Artist Marco Muller, AND an entry to win a Matea Radic print $100 donation or better- Wrench T Shirt and Raffle ticket for a hand painted bike by Art City affiliated artist Kiana Compton, AND an entry to win a Matea Radic print. You can also contribute at any time and receive a charitable tax receipt through Canada Helps.

Camille in Winnipeg, Jim in Mexico City, and Casey in Minneapolis talk about meeting one another at several Bike!Bike! gatherings. Bike!Bike! is an international, annual gathering organized by and for community bicycle projects. The conference is a space for participants from shops and related advocacy groups to converge in a different city each year over a 4 day period to have workshops and strengthen our social network. Bike!Bike! was last hosted in Winnipeg in 2017. We'r...e so grateful to Jim, Casey and Camille for sharing these reflections with us in celebration of Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up. Our Incentive Giving Plan is wrapping up today at Midnight! Donate BEFORE MIDNIGHT through our incentivised giving plan to support our building fundraiser launch, and receive a gift from The WRENCH! Raffle will be held on Sunday December 6 at 2pm on Instagram Live. Suggested donation levels: $30 donation or better- A screen printed WRENCH T Shirt with artwork by Sarah Thiessen $60 donation or better- WRENCH T Shirt and Raffle ticket for one of three hand painted Helmets by Graffiti Gallery affiliated Artist Marco Muller $100 donation or better- WRENCH T Shirt and Raffle ticket for a hand painted bike by Art City affiliated artist Kiana Compton All donations of $30 or more will also be entered into a raffle to win a Matea Radic print. You can also contribute and receive a charitable tax receipt at any time through Canada Helps. Check out thewrench.ca for all the details. Thank you for your support! https://en.bikebike.org/

Thank you Friday! We're so excited about the generosity being shown in people giving through both our incentivised giving plan, and Canada Helps! Thank you to our many donors to date. If you haven't had a chance to give yet, check out our website at thewrench.ca. ... Our Incentive Giving Plan is wrapping up on Saturday at Midnight! Donate BEFORE MIDNIGHT, Saturday December 5, to support our building fundraiser launch, and receive a gift from The WRENCH! We have a number of exciting gifts and raffle items you could win- raffle will be held on Sunday December 6 at 2pm on Instagram live. Here are the details: This year, we are launching incentivised giving for the Cycle of Giving/Moving on Up fundraiser through thewrench.ca- to help fundraise for a new building. E transfers and credit card payments can be accepted there. We also take cheques via mail. $30 donation or better- A screen printed Wrench T Shirt with artwork by Sarah Thiessen, AND an entry to win a Matea Radic print $60 donation or better- Wrench T Shirt and Raffle ticket for one of three hand painted Helmets by Graffiti Gallery affiliated Artist Marco Muller, AND an entry to win a Matea Radic print $100 donation or better- Wrench T Shirt and Raffle ticket for a hand painted bike by Art City affiliated artist Kiana Compton, AND an entry to win a Matea Radic print. You can also contribute at any time and receive a charitable tax receipt through Canada Helps. Thank you!!!

We are excited to announce our official opening of The WRENCH at the Forks for the summer season of 2020. Things are slightly different this year due to COVID, but we are here to get you rolling on a bike! Forks Bicycle Sales - Saturdays 12-6pm From road bikes, to mountain bikes, vintage cruisers, to custom commuters, our ever changing selection has a bicycle for everyone! With each sale supporting The WRENCH's bicycle programming for children and families across Winnipeg!... *Please note bike sales are only at this location for the summer season. Forks Bicycle Repairs - Sundays 12-6pm We are happy to be able to offer COVID-safe bike repairs and used part sales. In order to maintain physical distancing, bicycles are being worked on by WRENCH staff and are sanitized upon completion. All repair services and used parts are by sliding-scale donation. The WRENCH at the Forks is located at the box cars, in the North-West corner of the Forks Market building.

SHOP PARTNER THANK YOU! Did you know that Natural Cycleworks, Bikes & Beyond, and Mountain Equipment Coop are also contributing their shops and skills to Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up? Thank you so much to these generous partners and their staff. This is a real community effort. ... Check out these photos from the MEC Shop- with Cliff, Harv, Ian and Fidel! Thanks people!

[Please Share] ***We're Hiring!*** The WRENCH is seeking an Indigenous Mentor to join our Wheels of Courage team. Wheels of Courage is a Community Leadership program for young people ages 15-30 focused on skill-building and creating positive change through Community Projects. ... *EDIT: Please note that the age restriction is for participants of the program, not the Mentors. We welcome applicants of all ages for this position!* Check out the job description (attached) for more details, or go to our website at: https://thewrench.ca/the-wrench-is-hiring/ Deadline for application is Friday, July 31st at 5pm. Questions? Email Sarah at [email protected]

Our Incentive Giving Plan is wrapping up on Saturday at Midnight! Donate BEFORE MIDNIGHT, Saturday December 5, to support our building fundraiser launch, and receive a gift like one of these sweet TShirts by Sarah Thiessen from The WRENCH! Raffle will be held on Sunday December 6 at 2pm on Instagram Live. ... Suggested donation levels: $30 donation or better- A screen printed Wrench T Shirt with artwork by Sarah Thiessen $60 donation or better- Wrench T Shirt and Raffle ticket for one of three hand painted Helmets by Graffiti Gallery affiliated Artist Marco Muller $100 donation or better- Wrench T Shirt and Raffle ticket for a hand painted bike by Art City affiliated artist Kiana Compton All donations of $30 or more will also be entered into a raffle to win a Matea Radic print. You can also contribute and receive a charitable tax receipt at any time through Canada Helps. Check out thewrench.ca for all the details. Thank you for your support!

We love buttery-smooth hubs and well-adjusted bearings, and you can too, with this FREE workshop! Space is limited, remember to sign up!

Its a Schulz Family Cycle of Giving! Wasn't it weird when you learned your gradeschool teacher had their own kids? Mr Schulz's Luxton School students have to share him with his own kids, Chanel and Robert Jr, who have grown up at Cycle of Giving. Chanel spent her first COG in a car seat! Here, Robert Jr and Chanel dish on what happens in the 'mat room' at Orioles Community Centre during COG while Robert Sr (Mr Schulz to you Luxton students) talks about the benefits of teachin...g through bikes- in partnership with The WRENCH. Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up is almost over! You have less than 48 hours to contribute to our building campaign for one of our incentive gifts. The cut off will be midnight on Saturday December 5. Raffle draws for incentive gives will happen here on instagram live on the afternoon of Sunday December 6. You can donate to the WRENCH at any time for a tax receipt through Canada Helps. Details at thewrench.ca. Thanks to the Schulz family for these great memories!

Former board member Stephanie Fulford gives us an idea of what a space designed for an organisation can do to enhance programming with a tour of the organisation she works for: Norwest Community Coop. Thank you Stephanie! This year, Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up is the launch of our fundraising campaign for a new building. You can give to our campaign, and receive one of our amazing one of a kind incentive gifts until midnight on Saturday, December 5. You can also give to The... WRENCH at any time, including now, in exchange for a charitable tax receipt through Canada Helps. Our Canada Helps link is also on our website. Check out our incentivised gift plan, and give today at thewrench.ca!

HLC is a bicycle supplier in Quebec. Thanks to Barry for this message of support! We love our Lambert parts. Support Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up today! Donate at thewrench.ca

Raine Hamilton talks about her decision to commit to cycling, and joining The WRENCH community to learn how to care for her bike. In the end, a lot more happened. Raine is now a WRENCH volunteer, occasional instructor, and enthusiastic supporter! We love you Raine! Support The WRENCH during Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up today by donating! This is the launch of our fundraising campaign to purchase new space for The WRENCH for all of us to use. Check out how you can help at thewrench.ca.

Our Cycle of Giving elves are working away test riding each bike and we have A LOT of bikes to go through! This means that Open Shop will be closed tomorrow (December 3rd), but bookings for next Thursday are live! Check out our website at www.thewrench.ca/fix/#openshop For the volunteer mechanics fixing bikes for COG, we are still available for you to come down if you need parts or supplies!

Board Member Marty Cielen takes us for a looksee at some of the bikes he is working on. Thanks for your efforts on our board, and beyond, Marty! Have you had a chance to donate to Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up yet? You have until Saturday at midnight! Check out the details at thewrench.ca

KIANA'S BIKE IS READY TO BUILD! Have you donated yet to Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up? Thos year we are offering an incentivised giving plan. A $100 or better donation will get you a raffle ticket to win this one of a kind bike by Kiana Compton (bike will be fully built out by The WRENCH), a raffle ticket for one of three Matea Radic prints, and a tshirt designed and screen printed by Sarah Thiessen. ... DONATE TODAY at thewrench.ca More on Kiana! Kiana Compton is a visual artist and pow wow dancer born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Compton is Saulteaux/Cree from Keeseekoose, SK and Beren’s River, Manitoba. Compton was raised in a family of artists and also attended Art City almost daily as a kid. Now as an adult, she came full circle and works at Art City. Her work is inspired by her family, culture, and her inner-city community she grew up in. Compton recently had participated in the Lavender Menace exhibit at the Plaza Skatepark at the Forks. THANK YOU KIANA!

SPONSOR THANK YOU: Assiniboine Credit Union Each year, Cycle of Giving relies on the generous support of key partners to make it all happen. Assiniboine Credit Union is a long time partner of Cycle of Giving, The WRENCH as a whole, and many other community driven efforts. Dennis Cunningham is ACU's Manager of Environmental Sustainability. Here he talks about the credit union's support for sustainability efforts for Winnipeg as a whole.... Thank you Assiniboine Credit Union! See more

Founding Director Geoff talks about the transition from working through a community bike shop to developing The WRENCH, why that transition was needed in terms of instructing and working with youth, and running school programs, and how even with the addition of community bike hubs in a number of communities, the need only seems to increase.

SMILE AND WAVE- the Bike Jam Origin Story with Will and Jamil! How long is a 17km ride, exactly? Where on earth is the Rocky Road Concrete and Recycling Plant? Jamil and Will walk us through their FUN-Raising work over the last (probably) 8 years with Bike Jams (and also the Rainbow Trout Music Festival!) While Bike Jams are absolutely a party, W&J note the benefit that Bike Jams took from the previous Critical Mass rides- a more political effort to make space for cyclists in... Winnipeg. They also tell how Bike Jams bring out new and rusty riders who have often found support for tune ups and parts from The WRENCH. During this year's Cycling of Giving+Moving On Up, we are celebrating many parts of bike culture in Winnipeg, and the ways different cycling projects support and play off of one another. Thanks so much to Will and Jamil for sharing how Bike Jams came together, and has continued to develop over time. See more

The view from John Anderson's home Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up shop. Thanks so much to our community of volunteer mechanics. Our pandemic experiment appears to be working!

John was on the board for 6 years and runs his own 'satellite WRENCH' for friends and neighbours. He talks about the work to reduce traffic speed in Winnipeg, and how cyclists and cycling enthusiasts are working to make Winnipeg an easier and safer place for people to use their bikes. Watch to the end for his strider bike story- an easy new innovation for very young riders. Support Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up this week by sharing our posts, and donating at thewrench.ca!

SPONSOR THANK YOU! Each year, Cycle of Giving relies on the generous support of key partners to make it all happen. Johnston Group is an enthusiastic community promoter for many of our collaborators in the Winnipeg non profit landscape and we're so grateful to also enjoy their generosity. ... Thank you Johnston Group for your fierce Winnipeg pride!

It's Giving Tuesday! TAKE A LOOK AT THESE SHIRTS! Consider supporting the The WRENCH, and the launch of our fundraiser for a new building. This year, during Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up, we have an incentivised giving plan. A gift of $30 or more will get you a tshirt designed and hand screen printed by Sarah Thiessen! TShirts are available from femme small to XL and unisex small to 3XL.... But there's more to this plan. $30 donation or better- A screen printed Wrench T Shirt with artwork by Sarah Thiessen $60 donation or better- Wrench T Shirt and Raffle ticket for one of three hand painted Helmets by Graffiti Gallery affiliated Artist Marco Muller $100 donation or better- Wrench T Shirt and Raffle ticket for a hand painted bike by Art City affiliated artist Kiana Compton All donations of $30 or more will also be entered into a raffle to win a Matea Radic print. You can also contribute and receive a charitable tax receipt through Canada Helps. Check out thewrench.ca for all the details. Thank you for your support! www.sarahtonin.carbonmade.com

Our dear friend and leader (founding director of ten years!) storytells his experience as an early 20s activist, and how relationship building through community bike shop work changed his outlook on how best to contribute. (More from Geoff to come!) Support The WRENCH today! Donate at thewrench.ca, and share our posts during Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up!

Eventually, the pandemic will subside, and we'll need to refocus on pressing matters- like Climate Change the environment! Councillor Brian Mayes is Chair of the Water and Waste, Riverbank Management, and the Environment Standing Committee for the City of Winnipeg. We checked in with him to talk about the WRENCH's partnership with the City and our 4R Sites, and our work to reclaim usable items from the landfull and what he's working on to improve Winnipeg's environmental impact. https://winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste/recycle/4rdepots/ Support the WRENCH and our Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up campaign. Visit thewrench.ca and make your donation today!

CYCLE OF GIVING+MOVING ON UP TV! Dave and Sandra offer a view from pandemic era Bike Lab activities; commitment to and challenges in creating safe spaces for everyone to work on their bikes, and transportation equity in Winnipeg. Established in 2011, the UWSA Bike Lab is the central hub for cyclers in Winnipeg’s downtown core. It’s an easily accessible on-campus maintenance pit-stop for students and community members. (In non covid times,) The lab hosts workshops for all skil...l levels and it is also open during the week for cyclists to drop-by and work on their bikes. Support The WRENCH today! Our Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up fundraiser is our launch of collecting donations towards a new, above ground building. Check us out at thewrench.ca Learn more about the UWSA Bike Lab at https://www.facebook.com/uwsabikelab and https://theuwsa.ca/uwsa-bike-lab/

We're so excited about the generosity being shown through both our incentivised giving plan, and Canada Helps! Thank you to our many donors to date. If you havent had a chance to give yet, check out our website at thewrench.ca. We have a number of exciting gifts and raffle items you could win! Here are the details:... This year, we are launching incentivised giving for the Cycle of Giving/Moving on Up fundraiser through thewrench.ca. E transfers and credit card payments can be accepted there. We also take cheques via mail. $30 donation or better- A screen printed Wrench T Shirt with artwork by Sarah Thiessen, AND an entry to win a Matea Radic print $60 donation or better- Wrench T Shirt and Raffle ticket for one of three hand painted Helmets by Graffiti Gallery affiliated Artist Marco Muller, AND an entry to win a Matea Radic print $100 donation or better- Wrench T Shirt and Raffle ticket for a hand painted bike by Art City affiliated artist Kiana Compton, AND an entry to win a Matea Radic print. You can also contribute and receive a charitable tax receipt through Canada Helps.

Machinist Rob Grabowski talks about joining the WRENCH in retirement, and sharing his skills with volunteers, staff and students. Support the WRENCH during Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up by sharing our posts, and if you're able donating at thewrench.ca!

The WRENCH TV brings you: Board Member Maybe Drouet! On getting to know Winnipeg through The WRENCH- and how an above ground space will make our work even better. Support the Cycle of Giving+Moving on up by sharing our posts this week, and consider donating at thewrench.ca

The WRENCH has supported dozens of schools to establish bike shops and programs to help students get into cycling. Hugh John Macdonald School has been an especially enthusiastic partner- and one of our partner recipients of bikes from Cycle of Giving! At HJM, bikes have become one of many focal points for learning and community building. The WRENCH was pleased to support HJM to establish their bike shop, and has continued to offer learning programs like Earn A Bike, Girls Bik...e Club, and riding workshops. HJM even has a Bike Repair and Maintenance course that students can take towards credit. We're really grateful that HJM student John was willing to share his story and his enthusiasm for cycling in this conversation with WRENCH Lead Instructor, Greg Allan. Thanks also to former principal Vinh Huynh and current Hugh John Macdonald school teacher Richard Helbig for their ongoing and enthusiastic partnership! https://thewrench.ca/what/#education https://www.facebook.com//a.91236641881/1788401547874569/ See more

We couldn't have come up with a better tagline. Thanks to Anna Weier for writing this "Recent Incomplete History of Bike Organisations"; and for Janell Henry, Adrian Alphonso and Justin Larivee for contributing their thoughts- in celebration of Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up! https://www.winnipegfreepress.com//gearing-up-for-giving-b

ARTIST PROFILE #4: Marco Muller! Marco is painting three bicycle helmets for our Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up Raffle! Enter the raffle for one of his helmets by donating $60 or more. (And all donations at this level for the incentivised giving plan receive a TShirt designed by Sarah Thiessen, and are entered into a draw for a print by Matea Radic.) Details at thewrench.ca. THANK YOU MARCO!... Marco is a Cree and German man registered with the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation also known as Pukatawagan located in Northern Manitoba Treaty 6 territory. Marco was born in the summer of ’94 in Winnipeg, MB Treaty 1 territory, where he spent the early years of his life before moving to Saskatchewan. There he spent the rest of his childhood and early adult years growing before moving back to Winnipeg in the summer of 2015. Soon after moving back to Winnipeg Marco applied to the Aboriginal Community Campus to work towards a Adult GED diploma, however he went on to being accepted as a mature student with the University of Manitoba School of Art in the fall term of 2016. Marco is currently completing his third year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts. A variety of mediums interest Marco, including print media, painting, and both digital and film photography. Marco’s work is heavily influenced by Indigenous activism and the numerous socio-political problems Indigenous communities and peoples face. Marco is currently employed as an art instructor with Graffiti Art Programming Inc. Where he works with some of the most resilient youth in Winnipeg’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. Additional influence in Marco’s work is a love for graffiti and large-scale murals. Marco very much enjoys working in the community doing public art programming such as murals and other commissions. He is also an avid bicycle enthusiast, where he regularly tunes and builds bikes and relies on as a primary way of transportation. Marco also believes that the world needs more artists and encourages the healing properties of making art with everyone he can, generations young and old.

Board Member Maybe Drouet! WRENCH TV returns with long time Board Member Maybe Drouet on getting to know Winnipeg through The WRENCH, and what new above-ground space could do for our programming and impact. Support our building fundraiser launch! Share our posts during Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up, and donate at thewrench.ca. <3

ARTIST PROFILE #3: Matea Radic is a visual artist living and working in Treaty 1 Territory. When she’s not sitting at her kitchen table drawing, she’s either practicing new roller skating moves, or making rugs. If you can make her laugh, she’ll likely fall in love with you. http://www.matea-radic.com/ LATE BREAKING ADDITION TO INCENTIVISED GIVING! All donations made through The WRENCH's incentivised giving plan will be entered to win one of three prints by Matea Radic! Thank ...you Matea! (All three prints are not pictured.) What's this all about? This year, we are launching incentivised giving for the Cycle of Giving/Moving on Up fundraiser through thewrench.ca. E transfers and credit card payments can be accepted there. We also take cheques via mail. $30 donation or better- A screen printed Wrench T Shirt with artwork by Sarah Thiessen, AND an entry to win a Matea Radic print $60 donation or better- Wrench T Shirt and Raffle ticket for one of three hand painted Helmets by Graffiti Gallery affiliated Artist Marco Muller, AND an entry to win a Matea Radic print $100 donation or better- Wrench T Shirt and Raffle ticket for a hand painted bike by Art City affiliated artist Kiana Compton, AND an entry to win a Matea Radic print. You can also contribute and receive a charitable tax receipt through Canada Helps.

Mark Kinsley is Supervisor of Waste Diversion of the City of Winnipeg-and is helping all of us reduce our environmental impact. Here he is talking about how The WRENCH's bread and butter- reclaimed bikes! helps with this project. We love our partnership with the City of Winnipeg! Support Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up today. Share this post, and if you're able, donate at http://thewrench.ca.

Thank you for supporting students! Jake Doty is an Educational Assistant at Stevenson-Britannia School and has been involved in assisting with The WRENCH's Build-a bike program. He is a key figure in help students with basic maintenance of their bikes if they have any problems and he is a strong advocate for riding bikes for fitness and green choices.... Support The WRENCH today! Share this post, and if you're able, donate to Cycle of Giving+Moving on Up at thewrench.ca.

WRENCH partner Amanda Havixbeck is a teacher at Stevenson-Britannia School. Here she describes how working with The WRENCH was the perfect solution for a student looking for a place to belong. Amanda organizes leadership opportunities for her students, and hosted the WRENCH's Build-a-bike program for a few years. Stevenson- Britannia also has an established bike riding club. Support The WRENCH today! Share this post, and if you're able, donate to Cycle of Giving+Moving on Up at thewrench.ca.

Did you know that The WRENCH and Cycle of Giving are Ten Years Old? What would you want to see in a new building for The WRENCH? Board member Claire Friesen and staffperson Kate Sjoberg talk about being new to the WRENCH, an ethic of collaboration, and why its time for new space

ARTIST PROFILE #2 Sarah Thiessen designed the Cycle of Giving+Moving on Up! logo (see our profile picture); and the screen printed t shirt you'll receive with a gift of $30 or more to the WRENCH. (Photos to come!) Sarah is also the lead for our Wheels of Courage program, and The WRENCH Volunteer Coordinator! ... Wheels of Courage is a free, 10 month volunteer program at the WRENCH for young people (ages 15-30) who love bikes and want to use them as a tool for personal growth and social change. How do I get a shirt? This year, we are launching incentivised giving for the Cycle of Giving/Moving on Up to help us raise money for a new building. You can contribute through e transfer and credit card at thewrench.ca. We also take cheques via mail. Giving levels: $30 donation or better- A handmade screen printed Wrench T Shirt with artwork by Sarah Thiessen $60 donation or better- Wrench T Shirt and Raffle ticket for one of three hand painted Helmets by Graffiti Gallery affiliated Artist Marco Muller $100 donation or better- Wrench T Shirt and Raffle ticket for a hand painted bike by Art City affiliated artist Kiana Compton More about Sarah! Sarah Thiessen (aka. Sarah Tonin) creates vibrant visual art, rich with childlike curiosity and whimsical dreamscapes. Sarah has integrated her love of art into her work at the WRENCH by facilitating many hands-on bike part jewellery and art-making workshops, designing posters and logos, screen printing t-shirts and even coordinating an epic multimedia bicycle-themed art show called Wheels & Feels. She sells prints, stickers, patches and shirts at affordable, sliding-scale prices, check out her website for more: www.sarahtonin.carbonmade.com

The shop is buzzing (in a socially distanced, over the phone and by email kind of way) as we remember Cycles of Giving past. Take a look through this photo album of last year's event. Pretty nice faces in this mix! Tag and share!

CYCLE OF GIVING/MOVING ON UP: NEW THIS YEAR! This year, you can give to the WRENCH and be entered to win a one of a kind gift. $30 donation or better- A screen printed Wrench T Shirt with artwork by Sarah Thiessen $60 donation or better- Wrench T Shirt and Raffle ticket for one of three hand painted Helmets by Graffiti Gallery affiliated Artist Marco Muller $100 donation or better- Wrench T Shirt and Raffle ticket for a hand painted bike by Art City affiliated artist ...Kiana Compton. Donate through our website: www.thewrench.ca We're really grateful to these artists for contributing. Here is a little bit about bike artist Kiana Compton: Kiana Compton is a visual artist and pow wow dancer born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Compton is Saulteaux/Cree from Keeseekoose, SK and Beren’s River, Manitoba. Compton was raised in a family of artists and also attended Art City almost daily as a kid. Now as an adult, she came full circle and works at Art City. Her work is inspired by her family, culture, and her inner-city community she grew up in. Compton recently had participated in the Lavender Menace exhibit at the Plaza Skatepark at the Forks.