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 $10000 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, 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. We will do some sharing of the delivery work on social media over the coming weeks so you can all follow along. Thanks also to everyone who made holiday cards. They are on their way out as well!

Thank you again for your generosity. While our incentive giving plan is now closed, you can support The WRENCH at any moment through CanadaHelps

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Donate and receive a charitable tax receipt

Donate without incentive gifts: Thank you so much for your contribution! To receive a charitable tax receipt, donate online to The WRENCH through Canada Helps.

When donating to receive a tax receipt, you will not receive any of our incentive gifts!

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Cycle of Giving+Moving On Up

Launching a Building Campaign for The WRENCH

On Saturday December 5, the WRENCH is celebrating 10 years of the Cycle of Giving. This year, we’ve launched our building fundraising campaign- Moving On Up as a part of this event.

Why a building fundraiser?

We want classroom, bike building, and retail spaces that are accessible, and that feel comfortable and inspiring for all Winnipeggers to visit and use. That means moving above ground! Our current space, located under the Animal Services building on Logan presents challenges for accessibility, isn’t big enough, and doesn’t allow for sunlight in our work spaces.

What is Cycle of Giving?

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 Community Centre and then distributing them to partner organisations, schools, kids, and families.

What’s different this year?

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.

In the days leading up to December 5, The WRENCH will be broadcasting stories over social media that celebrate the histories of Winnipeg bike culture and activism; as we continue to re-vision and work towards a more bike friendly city.

Thank you to our sponsors

We wish to extend a big thank you to our sponsors for helping make Cycle of Giving a reality for the city of Winnipeg!

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With the pandemic having disrupted much of our regular summer programming, we’ve been unable to move the hundreds of kids bikes that we’d usually donate throughout the summer. The number of bikes is starting to pile up at the landfill, so it’s time for…

Empty the Fill: Back 2 School Build-a-thon!

We’re calling on volunteers (like you!) to come out to the Brady 4R Depot (1777 Brady Rd) on the weekend of September 12 & 13, 2020 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.

There are plenty of ways that volunteers of all skill levels can contribute to this fun community event!

Repair Stand Mechanic Shifts (at Brady 4R Depot)
Sat, Sept 12 9:30-1pm
Sat, Sept 12 1-5pm
Sun, Sept 13 9:30-12pm
Sun, Sept 13 12-3pm

Snack Area (at Brady 4R Depot)
Sat, Sept 11 11-3pm
Sun, Sept 12 10-2pm

Bike Cleaning (at Brady 4R Depot)
Sat, Sept 12 9:30-1pm
Sat, Sept 12 1-5pm
Sun, Sept 13 9:30-12pm
Sun, Sept 13 12-3pm

Pre-Event Packing (at the WRENCH – 1057 Logan Ave.)
Fri, Sept 11 11-2:30pm
Fri, Sept 11 2:30-6pm

Post-Event Unpacking
Sun, Sept 13 3-7pm (Start at Brady, finishing at WRENCH)
Mon, Sept 14 12-4pm (finishing unpacking everything @ WRENCH)

Delivering Bicycles (from Brady to various locations in Winnipeg)
Note: Volunteers with trucks are extra helpful here!
Friday, Sept 18 9-1
Friday, Sept 18 1-5

COVID-19 Safety Procedures: We’ll be going above and beyond provincial safety guidelines with the event for everyone’s safety. The event will be held outdoors, with plenty of space between each repair stand, and a full set of tools per station. Volunteer Mechanics will work individually at a stand, unless they are in a pod/bubble together (family, partners, roommates, etc). Everyone will be required to answer a short COVID-19 questionnaire upon arrival.

Rides / Carpooling: If you have room in your vehicle and are willing to offer a ride to another volunteer, please let us know! We ask that when giving rides you maintain as much physical distance with the other person as possible (front seat/back seat). We can also give you disinfecting spray which is to be used on the commonly touched surfaces in your car, and masks to wear while inside the vehicle. If you are in need of a ride, please let us know and we will do our best to find another volunteer willing to help you.

So… you in?? Please email Jon at cog@thewrench.ca with your preferred shifts before they all fill up!

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.