People at HUB
HUB Cycling is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive organization and to working with people and communities to support them to thrive and prosper. Diversity is integral to this commitment. Diversity among our members, volunteers, staff and Board of Directors allows us to better understand, connect to, and respond to the needs of HUB members and broader communities.
Visit bikehub.ca/diversity to learn more.
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Board Members
Jeff Leigh
Now retired, Jeff is a former Vice President at Finning International, which brought Jeff to live and work across Canada, South America, and Europe. Jeff also led engineering teams at Westport Innovations. Jeff lives downtown and cycles locally, while also enjoying cycling trips abroad. He believes that cycling for transportation can best be increased by ensuring people have access to safe infrastructure, and that people feel safe when cycling. Action work to promote these goals is our most valuable contribution. This includes advocating for improvements at all levels of government, and celebrating our successes.
Jeff is chair of the Vancouver/UBC Committee at HUB, where he leads advocacy efforts including Assessment Rides and Reports. Jeff is the President of HUB Cycling's Board of Directors and also sits on the Operations Committee and Regional Advisory Committee, where he has worked hands-on to make operational improvements relating to Board Policies and Procedures, and worked on regional advocacy issues.
Victoria Gray
Victoria is a marketing consultant with over 30 years of experience, working with organizations and agencies to develop comprehensive marketing solutions in Canada and the US. Her love for problem solving, sustainable living and lifelong learning motivates her both professionally and personally. Victoria sees cycling as a solution to the climate, affordability, health and equity challenges we face. As an avid cyclist, she is passionate about leveraging her extensive experience to increase ridership across Metro Vancouver. Victoria is thrilled to be working with the board, staff and volunteers to build upon the amazing work HUB Cycling has done so far.
Alexandra Flynn
Alexandra Flynn is a law professor at UBC and a mom of two teenagers.
Alexandra's work focuses on municipal law and governance, including Indigenous-municipal legal relationships. She is an avid cyclist for transportation, sport, and pleasure, including taking a 6-month cycling trip in Europe and Southeast Asia with her family.
Alexandra has a long history of volunteer and board experience and hopes to contribute to making cycling safe and possible for all.
Luke Gillies
Esther Holobuwich
I have been a biking enthusiast for 35 years. While living in Kelowna, I would commute on my Walmart bike to and from my accounting job, during winter and summer. In winter, I would get home some days and say, whew, I made it. There was no safe cycling infrastructure, just painted lines. But even with that, I was grateful that my employers supplied a safe bike lockup area, showers, and lockers. It was rare (and still is). When teaching my two daughters to ride, I was nervous. I had seen a lot. It was about constant vigilance, not freedom and fun, which it should be.
I bring to this board years of accounting and bookkeeping experience, experience on two boards, strong communication skills, and a desire to work with an organization that I support and appreciate. Advocating for safe mobility routes for all is important and necessary.
Anne Murray
I’m excited at the prospect of bringing my 30 years of strategic leadership to HUB's Board. I love to bike for fun, commuting, and travel, and want to ensure these opportunities are available and comfortable for all. As a seasoned executive and board director, I’m passionate about driving success through sustainability. My Vice President responsibilities at Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR) spanned diverse areas including marketing, community, environment, government advocacy, and first nation relations over 20 years. While at YVR, I built respectful, deep, and personal relations with Musqueam leading to a historic 30-year Sustainability and Friendship Agreement. I have served as board director on YVR Art Foundation (an indigenous-focused not-for-profit), Georgia Strait Alliance, and Richmond Hospital Foundation and recently attained my Institute of Corporate Directors ICD.D designation, Canada’s highest board governance credential. Since retiring from YVR in 2020, I volunteer as a business advisor to indigenous organizations and provide strategic consulting services in tourism, aviation, and sustainability. I’ve been an active HUB member for decades and recently mentored a refugee family and a new immigrant through HUB’s newcomer program. I would be honored to bring my optimistic, ethical leadership; sound judgment; and personal commitment to the HUB Board.
Mairin Shields-Brown
Mairin is a passionate changemaker and avid road cyclist based in Vancouver. From her upbringing on northern Vancouver Island to her studies in Resource Management at Simon Fraser University, she carries with her a deep sense of respect for our home planet and all that is necessary for us to steward a regenerative, just, and equitable economy. Mairin is an Impact Strategy Consultant at Decade Impact, a boutique, women-owned impact consulting firm in Vancouver. She finds joy and excitement in her work helping purpose-driven organizations define, measure, manage, and communicate their social and environmental impact on the world. With several years of experience in the sustainability consulting space, Mairin is skilled in policy development and advocacy, as well as team management, leadership, and facilitation. As a daily bike commuter and keen cyclist for the last 6 years, Mairin’s familiarity and lived experience with Metro Vancouver’s cycling infrastructure have inspired her to join HUB as a Board Director.
She believes that cycling plays an invaluable role in fostering thriving and accessible communities. Mairin hopes to help advance HUB’s policy advocacy work in service of removing barriers to cycling and support HUB’s collaboration with government bodies and other values-aligned organizations.
Philipe Alvarenga
I love biking for fun, commuting, and exercise. Although I've enjoyed riding bikes since I was a kid in Brazil, it wasn't until about 5 years ago, when I moved to São Paulo—a very car-centric city—that I truly embraced cycling as a fun and breezy commute, to help overcome the stress and long hours spent in traffic. This realization inspired me to use my background in management consultancy, entrepreneurship, economics, and communication towards improving urban mobility.
For over five years, I’ve been dedicated to the urban transportation industry. In 2021, I joined Tembici, the largest bike-sharing company in South America, using my experience to enhance and align operational processes across their 14 bike-sharing systems.
Since moving to Vancouver, I have been working at Vancouver Bike Share (DBA Mobi by Rogers) as Shop and Projects Manager, where I have been involved in their RFP bid to provide a shared e-scooter program to the City of Vancouver and led initiatives to improve operational efficiency. Now, a year after arriving, I feel it’s time to start giving back to this amazing place that I fortunately call home. I'm eager to contribute my skills and passion to HUB as a member of the Board.
Amir Hassanpour
Amir Hassanpour is a Ph.D. candidate in Transportation Engineering at UBC, working as a researcher and analyst at Research on Active Transportation Laboratory. His research focuses on cycling and the emerging personal transportation technologies, such as e-bikes and e-scooters. Amir has collaborated on projects with several municipalities, TransLink, and the Province, most recently evaluating the GHG impacts of BC’s e-bike incentive program, and the implications of emerging micromobility devices for the region. He also serves as a sessional lecturer at UBC, teaching transportation engineering fundamentals to 4th-year civil engineering students, and is a scholar at UBC’s Climate Solutions Research Collective, where he investigates the role of micromobility devices in climate mitigation.
Amir is motivated to join HUB Cycling’s board to leverage his expertise in sustainable transportation and his passion for cycling to help shape a more inclusive and climate-resilient transportation system in the region. In his spare time, he loves spending time with his cat, riding his folding bike, and solving chess puzzles.
Leanna Grimes
Leanna believes that any day is a good day when a bike ride is involved – especially with friends! She is a certified Cycling BC Ride Leader and currently volunteers as an Associate Ride Leader for the Meraloma Bike Club. She brings a deep knowledge of the Metro Vancouver cycling network and a commitment to enhancing network safety for cyclists across the region. She is also passionate about the community-building power of cycling and believes in breaking down barriers to ensure the accessibility of cycling to everyone.
When she’s not riding a bike, Leanna is a professional urban planner (RPP/MCIP) who has spent the bulk of her career leading community and land use planning initiatives in Indigenous communities across BC. She brings a wealth of experience designing and facilitating community-led policy development initiatives, and empowering marginalized voices to shape the future of their communities. She looks forward to the prospect of contributing her skills in urban planning, policy development/advocacy, community engagement, and organizational governance to HUB’s initiatives.
Leanna is currently the Director of Planning for Sacred Waters Developments, an economic development company jointly owned by Katzie, Kwantlen and Semiahmoo First Nation.
Staff
Timothy Welsh
Director of Program Development
Tim spent much of his youth in the South Okanagan exploring by bike. As an adult living in Vancouver Tim rediscovered cycling for practical and environmental reasons, and has since become an enthusiastic cyclist, bike mechanic, and bicycling promoter. Before joining HUB Cycling in 2013 Tim's work in refugee and immigrant resettlement included developing and delivering a range of direct services, and playing a central facilitative role between service providers and government funders in the expansion and professionalization of the BC settlement services sector. As HUB Cycling's Director of Program Development, Tim works with the HUB Cycling team to build the strength and reach of existing education and events programming, and develops new programs which support HUB Cycling's mandate including Research, Bike Friendly Buildings and Newcomer Bike Mentorship
Navdeep Chhina
Director of Campaigns & Inclusion
When more people cycle, communities become happier, healthier and more sustainable. To this end, Navdeep Chhina aspires to help build a network of inclusive and safe cycling infrastructure for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. At HUB Cycling, Navdeep (ਨਵਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ - he/him) oversees inclusion and diversity efforts, media relations, stakeholder relations, community relations and advocacy efforts. Creating a welcoming, inclusive organization and collaborating with people from underrepresented and marginalized communities is integral to these efforts.
A settler on the unceded lands of the Coast Salish peoples, Navdeep grew up in Chandigarh, India.
Rose Gardner
Executive Director
Since moving to Vancouver in 2000, Rose has been delighted to cycle the ever-growing number of bike routes throughout the region and southwest BC. As HUB Cycling's Executive Director, Rose brings over 15 years of experience in experiential education and non-profit leadership. After overseeing HUB's education programs, she is excited to build on HUB's remarkable progress in creating safer infrastructure, shaping effective policies, delivering creative programs, and fostering strong partnerships.
Emily Beam
Director of Operations
Emily is a white settler living on unceded Coast Salish territory with her young family.
Catherine Acuna
Community Manager
Cathy joined HUB Cycling as Membership Manager and now serves as Community Manager. She works to amplify the voice of HUB's Metro Vancouver Local Committees and support their advocacy efforts to make biking safer and better for all ages and abilities.
Having previously worked for environmental non-profits and education and cultural institutions both in Canada and the UK, Cathy is passionate about working towards improving the environment through alternate means of transit and helping people find the confidence they need to get on their bikes.
Jennifer Rai
Office Manager
Jennifer comes to HUB Cycling with a background in Business Management and has over ten years experience working in both the for and non profit sector. Besides maintaining office operations, finances and administration, Jennifer also assists our programs, events and membership services ensuring the office runs like a well oiled bike chain. While living in Amsterdam, Jennifer's love for cycling as a means of transportation and a healthy lifestyle flourished. She was inspired and enlightened and looks to continue the ease of cycling in her own Vancouver community.
Rianna Fiorante
Marketing Manager
Evan Hammer
Infrastructure Planning & Policy Manager
Evan grew up biking, but quickly forgot about it when he came of age in oil country and bought a truck. In 2011, Evan embarked on a car-lite experience. This was inspired by a desire to reduce his resource consumption, and he finally gave up his Mustang the next year.
After moving to Vancouver, Evan acquired a west coast bike and has been steadily moving toward becoming a year round, utilitarian cyclists (not there yet!). Evan believes that cycling can be a ‘silver bullet’ on a number of issues - congestion, pollution, health outcomes - while at the same time providing a speedy, fun way to move around.
Evan has a Masters in Planning from UBC’s School of Community and Regional Planning, in addition to his undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies. He has recently worked on transportation projects on multi-use paths, e-bikes and bus-bike integration, as well as stints with Vancouver Bike Share (Mobi), Fraser Health doing employee consultation work, and a variety of projects related to cycling, transportation and planning. Evan is currently looking forward to his next multi-day bike adventure.
Lisa Storey
Events Manager
Lisa (she/her) is our Event Manager. Before joining HUB in 2022, she worked in conference production, hosting live and virtual events for audiences in Philadelphia, Chicago, Amsterdam & Paris, and has marketing and PR experience in the UK social enterprise sector. She has a BA in International Relations and Journalism and is excited to combine her professional experience, commitment to sustainable living and love of cycling for the role.
Lisa is proud to have never driven a car but slightly embarrassed to admit she needed training wheels on her bike until the age of 12. Her favourite biking accomplishment was bikepacking Japan's Shimanami Kaido trail. After three years of living in the Netherlands, she understands the importance of cycling infrastructure in building a cultural acceptance for commuting by bike.
Lorraine Smith
Everyone Rides Grade 4 - 5 Program Manager
Lorraine enjoys creative problem solving, and believes that cycling can be an elegant, simple, and creative solution to so many problems in our communities. Her bike Rootbeer just thinks cycling is fun, and everyone should do it.
Lorraine oversees the Everyone Rides Grade 4- 5 program in smaller communities outside of the Lower Mainland. While working as a Cycling Instructor for eight years, Lorraine was honoured to watch new cyclists go from scared and wobbly to confident and triumphant riders. She previously worked as a Fundraiser and Volunteer Coordinator for various non profits, including the Canadian Red Cross, Canadian Cancer Society, and the Vancouver Maritime Museum. During the Pandemic, Lorraine wrote a Y/A novel, set in her hometown Riverview, New Brunswick, and looks forward to seeing it published.
Lorraine and Rootbeer can often be seen coasting along the Sea Wall, walking their dog Junebug at sunset, and gardening in their community garden plot.
Odessa Cadieux-Rey
Bike Education Manager
Odessa only got hooked on cycling as a young adult, but it didn't take long to become one with her bike for the freedom, convenience, fun, and exercise it provided. From East Van to the ruins of Angkor, she has found no better way to experience life than on two wheels. Before starting with HUB as a Bike Education Instructor, she was an academic advisor and program manager at UBC. As Bike Education Manager, she is delighted to keep those wheels turning behind the scenes to help bring the excitement of cycling to communities across the Lower Mainland and beyond.
Ari Ng
Instructor Manager
I want to share my love of riding bikes with everyone! There was a time when I commuted by car to my corporate place of work… Often sitting in rush hour traffic, going through the complications of the day to come, surfacing memories of the fun and simplicity of bike riding kept my sanity! Since then, I have become a full-time car free cyclist, with an awesome hobby turned bikey career! When I’m not on a bike tour, exploring the North Shore mountains, building up a sweet frameset, at OCB (Vancouver’s most established community bike shop), or Kickstand Bikes (Vancouver’s newest volunteer run community bike shop) you’ll find me chilling at a coffee shop, with one of my trusty (steel, or carbon) steeds ready to go on a fun group ride around the bustling town:) I’m big on bike social activities, events, building bikes and sharing skills to make our riding experience and ultimately, our everyday lives better! See ya on the ride ;)
Tim Davidson
Planning Technician
Tim comes to HUB from the private sector, where he worked as a planner delivering Active Transportation projects across Canada. He holds a Masters' of Planning from Dalhousie University where he worked on projects incorporating complete streets, neighbourhood and regional planning, and public engagement. He also has completed a Bachelors’ degree in Geography, and a post graduate certificate in Urban Design, both from Simon Fraser University.
Tim’s love for cycling began in Surrey BC, where he and friends would often make long trips all around Metro Vancouver. Later in life, he rediscovered this passion for two-wheel commuting using his $15 bike to travel all around Halifax and Dartmouth NS.
Alexis Thibeault
Streetwise Manager
Growing up in Newfoundland (and experiencing its infamous winters) meant cycling season could be rather... short. But that didn't stop me and my family from enjoying it as much as was humanly possible! I learn to ride on rocky trails, coasting past bogs and watching out for moose on the path. I loved the freedom to explore my town and surrounding forests and did it as often as I could.
Since moving to Vancouver, I've turned into more of an urban commuter cyclist, but that doesn't mean I love cycling any less! Cycling has always meant independence for me, and I love inspiring others to feel the freedom that cycling can give you. I've been teaching natural and outdoor subjects to youth for over 15 years (including marine biology, outdoor theatre, and basic science literacy) and love coordinating and teaching cycling with HUB. It's a subject very near and dear to my heart, and I absolutely adore working to share that passion with others.
Sadie Caron
Communications & Fundraising Manager
Stuart Lew
Bike Education & Equipment Coordinator
Born and raised in Vancouver, Stuart has long been an avid cyclist and advocate of car-free living. Prior to joining HUB in 2019, he served as the Provincial Coordinator for the BC Commuter Challenge for BEST (Better Environmentally Sound Transportation). In 2009, he helped to found The Triple Crown for Heart charity bike ride benefiting BC Children’s Hospital, and is currently Co-Chair of the organization. In addition to organizing the event he has enthusiastically participated in the ride each year, cycling all three North Shore mountains in one day. He also volunteers as a ride marshall for RBC Granfondo Whistler.
Stuart has a Bachelor’s Degree in Administrative and Commercial Studies from the University of Western Ontario and a diploma in Financial Management from BCIT. As a father of five children, Stuart has accumulated considerable experience in teaching kids to ride bikes.
Stuart is a passionate environmentalist who believes in sustainable lifestyle choices and works toward setting an example and educating people to obtain this goal. He believes that giving children the opportunity to learn about and gain confidence in cycling from a young age is a great investment in a more sustainable future.
Lisa Corriveau
Bike Education Coordinator
Lisa Corriveau fell in love with cycling when she learned to ride a bike at age four. She became a regular cycle commuter in Vancouver while completing her Bachelor of Arts in French & Linguistics at Simon Fraser University. After starting a family, she realized that she needed a bigger bike and has been carrying her two kids, large grocery runs, or the occasional friend on cargo bikes since 2014.
Lisa saw a need for more resources to help families, particularly those with very young children, get into cycling and living car-free. She helped build the Vancouver Family Biking group, developed workshops, and put on events, as well as started her blog, Spokesmama.com. Lisa also spent six years as a member of the City of Vancouver's Transportation Advisory Committee and currently volunteers as a pilot for Cycling Without Age.
Lisa has osteoarthritis in her hip, and as it has progressed, she has increasingly relied on her ebike as a mobility device. She advocates for disabled cycling via various public speaking engagements and on social media.
Lisa has been with HUB as a cycling instructor since 2016, sharing the joy of cycling with thousands of students of all ages and is excited to continue teaching and organizing as a Bike Education Coordinator.
Mónica Perea
Bike Education Coordinator
Monica (she/her) sees bicycles as happiness machines, and they totally changed her life. Her journey started in Mexico when she was 4, and his father taught her how to ride a bike. Since then, she’s found freedom and independence, as well as the opportunity to meet many incredible people on the road. She believes in the importance of making a community and loves to spread the word about all the cycling benefits, especially for women.
She’s been in the education field for more than 13 years and her background is in performing arts. For her, theatre and bikes are so alike: there are many paths to choose from, you decide how long you want to go and there are always risks involved; both demand you be in the present, here and now. So, probably, you can see her riding around theatre venues or thinking about a new story to be performed during her free time.
The cities are changing around the world, cycling is more on the radar as a way of transportation. Being part of that active change makes her proud and encourages her to keep sharing those happiness machines.
An Hoang
Event Coordinator
An (she/her) joined HUB Cycling in 2023 as the Event Coordinator. Prior to joining HUB, An worked as a program and communications manager with a passion for youth empowerment. An has worked with various NGOs in Canada, Vietnam, and South Africa in hopes of raising awareness about wildlife conservation and sustainable living.
An has a BSc in Natural Resources Conservation from the University of British Columbia and is excited to join the HUB family in engaging more people in cycling and active transportation. In her spare time, An enjoys solving puzzles at home on a rainy day, and spending time in the great outdoors when the sun is out!
Maya Goldstein
Bike Bus Manager
Maya is excited to join HUB Cycling in her new role as the Bike Bus Manager. Maya discovered the world of Bike Buses when she noticed the bike racks at her children's school were nearly empty. She set out to change that by starting a Friday Bike Bus back in April 2023. That Bike Bus is still running weekly, the bike racks look much fuller, and many students are biking to school regularly. The HUB Led Bike Bus Program will help more schools start new Bike Buses. Maya is also the founder of Kids on Wheels, a program for young children to learn to ride balance bikes, and get excited about biking from a young age.
Instructors
Donna Chen
I grew up cycling in '80s Beijing when there were more bikes than cars, then took a break from riding before rediscovering my love for bikes on the streets of Vancouver.
Cycling has since become one of my favourite ways for exploring cities, islands, and nooks and crannies of the world. It's been a treat as a bike ed instructor to facilitate and witness the remarkable moments of joy, courage, connection, freedom and selfreliance people find on their bikes.
Elaine Wallace
I consider myself to be an incredibly fortunate person to have been born and raised in the spectacular city of Vancouver and the lower mainland. With our mild climate, mountains, ocean and lakes I have been able to take advantage of an array of outdoor activities throughout my life. One of which has always been cycling. What was once a means of transportation as a young child has become an integral part of my lifestyle. From biking to / from work, participating in fund raising rides such as The Ride to Conquer Cancer”, to camping adventures and to stay healthy and fit.
In 2019 I decided to retire from the position of Vice President at a Property Management frim. I realized I wanted to retire from the hectic pace of management and to take a slightly different path in my semi-retirement. In the spring of 2019, I found myself working for a cycling tour company taking visitors around our beautiful city on bikes. Early in 2020 I joined HUB and was later hired as an instructor for their bike programs in schools. I happy to say that I have been able to turn my passion for cycling into the best part-time retirement jobs a person could wish for.
Paul Janzen
We have learned that the bicycle can change the world. I want kids to feel safe and confident so their riding can be an instrument of change for whatever cause excites them: health, transportation, the environment, philanthropy...
For me that is combatting my greatest foe: cancer. Together with my ride mates we have contributed over $7 million dollars to research. That’s gratifying. My hope is that it inspires.
Bruce Kleeberger
Cycling has been part of my life since the age of 6. That’s a lot of commuting, touring, errands, mountain paths, and navigating congested city streets. Cycling is a part of my everyday work and fun with family and friends. I am driven by my passion for making real change to benefit our environment, enhance opportunities for healthy living, and decrease our dependence on the car. With HUB Cycling, I will help students confidently make cycling a routine and safe life skill.
Chuck Wright
My "love" of bikes is a practical one. Growing up, it was simply an inexpensive way of getting around town that didn't rely on my parents or bus fare. My cycling got more serious when I took a job as a bike messenger in Winnipeg, MB. At that stage, I needed to get the gear and bike maintenance skills to deliver packages across this prairie city through wind, rain, snow and sun. Since moving to the West Coast, I've left that behind for a 7-gear, Dutch-style bike that will get me from point A to B in comfort.
In addition to commuter cycling, I have dabbled in education in a variety of community settings, including adult literacy, digital skills, teaching English, and rec programs for children and youth. I'm excited to teach others about safe, urban cycling.
Dylan Hamilton
This job combines two of my greatest passions: teaching and cycling. Cycling is so much more than transport or exercise, it is a representation of what a better future might look like. The economic and environmental implications of a society built around human powered transport are extraordinarily positive. Rising house prices and cost of living in our city coupled with the looming prospects of the climate emergency therefore illustrate the importance of educating youth on the capabilities of the bike. My personal passion for cycling melds with my love for the outdoors as the activity allows me to interact with previously unnoticed features of the lower mainland. Having recently developed an interest in the mechanics of bicycles through the building of the bike I’m standing with, I can now move through my city on a piece of machinery built by my own hands and powered by my own legs. This passion is not required to realize the benefits provided by city cycling but I hope that at least some of my students are inspired to share it. As I study to become a teacher I could not think of a better environment to test and learn new skills than the one provided by HUB.
Crispin Wye
Kenrick Lee
Cycling has always been in my life since a kid! From the day I learned to ride through Pedalhead's summer camp I've always enjoyed the freedom of cycling and the satisfaction of teaching others how to enjoy cycling as well! I began volunteering with Pedalheads at 13 and once I became an instructor at the camp, went on to teach for another 5 years! Now I am proud to represent HUB and teach cycling to new riders in brand-new ways and environments!
Maxine Beckie
Angie Tang Wong
Brian Simpson
Started riding bicycles at 5 years old. It meant freedom with my friends. We rode everywhere. Then from 6 to 10 I rode to school every day until we moved across the street from my school. Riding just for fun until 15 when I got a job as a caddy and then at 16 at Safeway, riding as a bike commuter. By now I inherited my brother’s Raleigh 3 speed which I loved and cherished.
At 16 I got my drivers licence and the bike got parked except for the occasional ride for pleasure.
At 40ish I found myself out of shape and overweight. I tried commuting to work and soon parked my car at the office to use during the day. Every week day in all weather I rode to the office and learned there was no bad weather just bad gear.
My wife became an avid cyclist and together we rode longer rides and discovered bike touring. Wow!!
I am now 76 years old and still riding with the bicycle being my first transportation choice even though I am not as strong as I once was. I will share cycling with anyone interested.
John Ullrich
First learning to ride on a Schwinn Stingray with "apehangers" in Yosemite National Park, my love affair with the bike has evolved from family camping trips to commuting and mountain biking internationally. Whether getting to school on the west and east coasts of the US, teaching English in Japan or living in Vancouver since 2000, the versatility and fun of "going by bike" has been a constant pleasure. Over the last 10 years, I have been an active member of the HUB community, volunteering with Bike to Work and School events as well as my local committee and now working as a Bike Ed Instructor. Along with raising a teenage daughter, I am thrilled to be actively involved in promoting the benefits of cycling, especially among the youth of British Columbia.
Travis Eek
I am a recent transplant to Metro Vancouver from the rural interior. I have enjoyed the feeling of freedom and excitement of cycling since I was a kid. I remember stealing my older brother's super awesome BMX to rip around our family farm and around my hometown after school to the swimming hole or up a logging road. When I moved to Kelowna ten years ago for university I started commuting to and began to see the health and community benefits of cycling. There is no better way to experience a city and interact with the landscape than from the seat of a bike. I hope to spread the joy and satisfaction I feel from cycling to others and help educate a new generation of cycling enthusiasts.
Sharla Stolhandske
Am I a cyclist? Hmm, not really. I grew up on a farm driving grain trucks - not much opportunity for bike riding. In university, biking was a mode of necessity, not an identity. Do I enjoy the freedom of biking instead of being stuck in my car in traffic? For sure. Do I like rockstar parking in front of the grocery store? Yup. Do I enjoy skipping the gas bill? 100%. Do I relish being fit enough to keep up with the kids? You bet. So….maybe I am a cyclist. Sometimes. And more often now. You could be too.
Philip Cookson
Working with HUB following a 30 year career in public education Phil is delighted to have the opportunity to combine his love of cycling, his joy for teaching and learning, and his desire to make the world just a little bit better all in one place.
Mahshid Hadi
Mahshid comes with a whirlwind of diverse experiences. From studying Drama and fine art in Iran to delving into TV and Video Production in Canada, her journey has been nothing short of adventurous. As an art teacher abroad and dabbling in roles like a Radio Technician and Studio Camera Operator in Canada, she’s had the opportunity to explore various paths. But now, it's time to share her ultimate passion for cycling with all of you!
“My cycling story takes me back to when I was a little girl in Iran. My parents bought me a bike, and taught me in our backyard.Oh boy! I stumbled and fell countless times. But with each fall, I rose up again, determined to conquer the two-wheeled wonder. "Let go, Dad, I can do it," I finally called out with unwavering confidence. That's when the love affair with cycling began, and it made me feel truly liberated and free.”
Growing up in Esfahan, where it was illegal for women to ride bikes, presented a challenging twist. Her dad, fearing for her safety, took her bike away, and that sense of freedom became a distant memory. Yet, she never gave up on finding it again. After moving out of Iran, she reunited with her passion for cycling through bikepacking journeys to refugee camps in Turkey. And guess what? The flame has never died out since! Now, if she is not bikepacking, you can bet she is exploring the city as a car-free cyclist, or in social bike events where freedom, fun, and friendship await! Pedal power, here we come!
Evan Swain
I grew up on Coast Salish territories, in so-called South East Vancouver, and have been avidly riding my good ol’ Kona mountain bike since I was 15. Biking has been my primary mode of transport, through the different neighbourhoods of the city I have lived in my early adulthood. I love to bike fast with my roommates and friends. Following a big crash with a parked car when I was 15, I have gotten a lot better at not turning my entire bicycle when looking behind me to check if my friends are still there. I love to take my bike, all packed and saddled for camping, on the ferry for an adventure far from home. I love figuring out and getting to know my bike, its mechanics, what it can hold, what feels comfortable for me; its and my limitations. I’m interested in getting kids acquainted with the fact that biking is breezy, empowering, exciting, and no huge deal! Outside of biking, I love to draw, joke, play and dance with my friends and my little baby cousins. And I like to play cards with my grandparents… Weehee let’s go on a bike ride!
Christopher Wilson
My first biking experiences began on a farm in Northern Alberta riding the windy, gravel roads with my trusty CCM Mustang named Apollo. With a transistor radio swinging from the handle bars and hockey cards stuck in the spokes, I discovered that unforgettable feeling of independence and freedom peddling across the big sky horizon to play a baseball game in town or find the next best spot to search for arrowheads and cow skulls!
Cassandra DePetrillo
My relationship with cycling began in Toronto in my early 20’s. Dodging streetcar tracks and bad drivers while commuting was my only exposure to biking. After moving out to “Vancouver'' in 2018, I quickly made connections within the bike community through volunteering at Kickstand Bikes and Chill Rides. I have been slowly teaching myself bike mechanics and I love going into Kickstand to work on my bike and learn new things. After moving out west I also discovered the bliss of bikepacking and have embarked on a variety of wild adventures on my two wheels. Being able to carry all I need on a bike is one of the most empowering feelings I’ve ever had. Cycling to me is an intense connection with my mind, body, spirit and community. There isn’t enough space on this page for me to tell you how much cycling means to me! I’ll just say… I am so grateful to have found cycling and I am so excited to spread my bike joy onto others.
Robert Paddon
Austeja Usaviciute
I was always a fan of cycling - doing little touring trips as a kid with my parents in Lithuania, as a teenager observing in awe my older brother pulling tricks on a bmx, or as an adult ditching my car commute to work for a bike ride in the summer months.
Luke Auffenberg
Grace Alcaraz
Salutations! I'm Grace and I'm excited to work with the community through bike education. I love moving by cycle and bicycling has really moved me!
Chelsea Brager
Biking has been a means by which I can connect with my body, process difficult emotions, and become more confident in myself. I am a big proponent of walking up the steep bits, putting my bike on the bus, and going however short or far I want to that day. I am excited to share this love for biking with youth and pals alike, and know I will discover much more to add to the ever growing list of reasons to love pushing my pedals
Quin
Hey, I’m Quin (They/Them). I fell in love with biking when I moved to “Victoria, BC” from southwestern Ontario, in my early 20’s. It was a fun and fast way for me to get around the city. Fast-forward 10 years to now, and I’m still stoked about bikes and cycling. Excited to be part of the HUB Instructor team; let’s go!
Tim Wang
I discovered cycling when I moved to Vancouver from Taiwan eight years ago. At first, it was just a way to get around the city with a friend—an alternative to transit that let me explore at my own pace. But what started as simple commuting soon turned into weekend rides, longer tours, and eventually bikepacking adventures around Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest. Now, cycling has become a passion, not just for the joy of the ride but as a way to promote sustainable transportation and healthy living.
With experience teaching AP Psychology in high school classrooms and working with middle and elementary students in tutoring and educational settings, I’ve seen firsthand the impact of hands-on learning. That’s what draws me to HUB Cycling—the opportunity to introduce young riders to the freedom and confidence that comes with cycling in a safe, welcoming environment. I’m excited to be part of the HUB Cycling team, helping more people discover the joy of riding more often.
Lyna Nguyen
It started in my old driveway. My brothers and I would walk our bikes up the tiny slope and let our bike carry us down to wheehee! It was so fun. We would do it for hours. When we got older, we would bike everywhere together. To places even today I cannot discover again. Perhaps it was because I never grew up with TV or the internet that I fell in love with the outdoors at a very young age. And, it was my sparkly purple bike with rainbow streamers that brought me closer to nature. To this day, I still find myself occasionally, purposefully lost somewhere with my bicycle.
Cycling has brought me some of my life's fondest memories. And now, it has brought me to HUB, a place where I get to combine my love for teaching and cycling. Along with the HUB team, I hope to bring the joy and benefits of cycling to kids from all backgrounds so that they may ride away to create their own beautiful bike memories.
Naomi Donat
My husband and I recently relocated to Vancouver after living for many years in Northern BC. I am so excited to be able to use my bike to get everywhere I need to go and am looking forward to exploring more areas of the province by bike.
I am inspired to assist all new cyclists, from children to seniors, and help them adopt this healthy, environmentally friendly, and economical mode of travel.
Simryn Dhensaw
I am grateful to have grown up, learned how to cycle, and now reside as an uninvited guest on the traditional territory of the xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlil̓wətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. My bike journey began going on adventures with my Dad when I was a kid. Enjoying the wind in my hair and the sweet treat at the end, I felt alive as I went to new places and explored on my bike. As I continue cycling, I love the places a bike can take me and all the new locations I can explore while having a blast! With cycling taking me to new gems everywhere, I am excited to work with the HUB team and have fun on our bikes :)
Zoe Lo (she/her/hers)
I am very excited to join HUB Cycling this season as a Bike Education Instructor and share my passion for cycling with everyone else!
I started cycling with my dad when I was a little kid. Since then, cycling has always been a leisure activity to me until I started to take cycling seriously and participated in road races. I don’t race now, but I still enjoy cycling as always. And of course, your passion turns into your career and here I am! Can’t wait to meet everyone :)
Janis
I’ve been getting around by bike since I built up my first single-speed with my brother's help when I was 16. Since then I’ve built up many bikes, though I mostly ride ones with multiple gears now. I’ve been working and volunteering with community-based cycling programs for the past 15 years in both mechanical and youth education capacities. Since moving to Vancouver in 2017 I’ve been lucky to have been involved with all of Vancouver’s great community bike shops. I also ran my own small bicycle repair shop with a friend for 3 years and can regularly be found volunteering at Kickstand Community Bikes. I’ve always found a lot of joy in sharing knowledge and skills to make cycling a more accessible way for folks to get around and am excited to now be able to do that with HUB!
Hendrik
My biking journey got off to a pretty hilarious start—I didn’t learn to ride until I was almost 10. While other kids were zooming around, I was that kid power-walking my bike like it was some kind of speed challenge. My mom swore I was still faster than half of them. Fast forward twenty years, and I made up for lost time by becoming a bike courier in Germany—safe to say, I went all-in!
Besides zipping around as a bike courier, I also went full nerd and studied geology and physics. I’ve always been fascinated by how the world works, but even better than learning cool science facts is sharing them in a way that actually makes sense (and isn’t boring). Over the years, I’ve given museum tours, taken kids on outdoor adventures, and basically turned science into a hands-on experience—because who wants to just read about rocks when you can climb them?
Now, I’m pumped to be part of HUB, where I get to combine my love for biking and teaching. Helping young people gain confidence on a bike while sneaking in some learning? Sounds like the best kind of win-win!
Tyrone
I began my cycling journey as an adult when I got tired of running 10 kilometres with my dog, Riley–every day. During that time, I found a new sense of freedom and was pushed by the question, “Where can I go?” It wasn’t long until I sold my vehicle and commuted everywhere by bike. Since then I’ve been a professional bike courier, became the first Canadian to complete a triple everesting, founded an inclusive scavenger hunt on bikes-Rileys Rips, and have found the answer to "Where can I go?" As far as I want, as long as I have plenty of snacks and drinks.