Ottawa, ON – April 26 – This Saturday, the spirit of community and movement came alive as families gathered to receive 100 bikes through the Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) Foundation’s Hop on Bikes program. What began in 2020 as a small initiative to encourage recreation and outdoor activity for children has now grown into one of our core programs. From distributing just 30 bikes in its first year, Hop on Bikes has since provided more than 1,100 bikes to tenants living in Ottawa Community Housing (OCH).

The heart of the program is simple: mobility empowers. For children and youth, bikes mean freedom, play, and exploration. For adults, they represent access to daily necessities like work, school, shops and community spaces. That’s why Hop on Bikes has expanded to include adult recipients as well, recognizing the vital role transportation plays in social inclusion and economic opportunity. This year, our goal is to distribute at least one bike every single day of the year.

Saturday’s event, held in partnership with re-Cycles Ottawa, was a celebration of this mission in action. Refurbished bikes, repaired and readied by dedicated volunteers, found new homes with families who need them most. The event also featured a Bike Rodeo hosted by Safer Roads Ottawa to teach kids safe cycling skills, and helmet fittings by Ottawa Public Health. Locks were generously provided by CN Railways, and children’s helmets came courtesy of the City of Ottawa. The OCH team made it all possible by coordinating the transportation and delivery of bikes to the site. This event was also generously supported by a team of volunteers from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Canada.