The Kingsville Community Centre has teamed up with the Bike Kitchen, Bike Windsor-Essex and DC Farms for the continued success of Bike Windsor-Essex’s Migrant Worker Bicycle Program, now entering its second year.
The initiative is helping migrant workers in the Windsor-Essex region gain access to affordable, reliable transportation.
The County Wide Active Transportation System (CWATS) is funding the distribution of 50 bicycles in 2025.
These refurbished bicycles, saved from entering landfills through partnership with the Essex Windsor Solid Waste Authority, are outfitted with rear racks, lights and bells, and are a crucial resource for workers who rely on cycling as their primary means of transportation.
The program’s impact is already being felt by the workers it serves, providing greater mobility and increased access to essential services, work and recreation.
The bikes provided to migrant workers are refurbished by the skilled volunteers and mechanics at the Bike Kitchen, a non-profit social enterprise. The Bike Kitchen not only refurbishes bikes for this program, but also runs educational workshops, offers bike repair services and sells affordable refurbished bicycles to the community.
The partnership between Bike Windsor-Essex and the Bike Kitchen ensures that the bicycles distributed through the Migrant Worker Bicycle Program are in excellent working condition, ready to serve those who need them most.
“We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Bike Windsor-Essex, EWSWA, the Kingsville Community Centre and DC Farms,” said Ron Drouillard, Manager of the Bike Kitchen. “By refurbishing bikes and making them available to those in need, we are not just providing transportation – we are empowering people to live better lives. This program is a true reflection of the power of community collaboration.”
DC Farms is instrumental in ensuring the bikes reach the people who need them most. The farm is committed to supporting migrant workers and providing them with essential resources to thrive.
“We are proud to be involved in this incredible initiative,” said Mike Del Ciancio, owner of DC Farms. “This program is about more than just bikes – it’s about offering workers the freedom to access opportunities and improve their quality of life. We’re excited to play a role in helping these bicycles get into the hands of the people we deeply value and rely on for the hard work they do in our industry.”
The Kingsville Community Centre will also join the Bike Kitchen in distributing dozens of free bicycles to children in the area this coming spring. This event will further the reach of the Bike Kitchen and continue to provide access to cycling for even more residents in our community.
“We are honoured to help connect this impactful program to residents in the county,” said Kimberly DeYong, Program Director at the Kingsville Community Centre. “Being able to connect Bike Windsor-Essex, the Bike Kitchen and DC Farms to provide bicycles to migrant workers and their families is incredibly rewarding. We look forward to the continued growth of this program and are thrilled about our upcoming spring event to help distribute bicycles to children in need.”
