For many children, a bicycle represents more than a way to get from one place to another. It represents freedom, exploration, independence, and the simple joy of riding.
Thanks to the efforts of the Canadian Coast Guard Polar Bike Project, Cycling NWT, local partners, and supporters from across Canada, youth in Paulatuk had the opportunity to experience that feeling firsthand.
A huge thank you goes to the Canadian Coast Guard for making this project possible and for continuing to find ways to connect with northern communities beyond their regular operations. Their commitment to bringing bicycles to youth in the North is creating meaningful opportunities and lasting memories.
A Project Built on Connection
The original Polar Bike Program began in 2015 in Kugluktuk, Nunavut, after Alison Harper and her husband Tim, an RCMP officer, saw the challenges local children faced in accessing bicycles and proper equipment.
The idea started with a simple moment. Alison noticed a young boy proudly showing off a bicycle he had assembled from parts found at the community dump. After helping him inflate the tires, she saw how much something as simple as a bicycle could mean to a child.
From there, the program grew through community support, crowdfunding, and partnerships, including support from the RCMP and Canadian Coast Guard. After the program paused during COVID, Canadian Coast Guard employee Alan Mohr helped bring the idea back to life. “I’m a cycling enthusiast myself, with a particular passion for cycle touring,” Alan shared. “Cycling has given me so much personally, and I wanted to help give northern youth that same opportunity for freedom, exploration and enjoyment.”
More Than Just a Bike
For Alan, the project has always been about much more than delivering bicycles. “A bike provides so much more than transportation,” he explained. “It provides freedom, the feeling of the breeze as you ride, the ability to explore and discover your surroundings, and the opportunity to expand a child’s world beyond their immediate surroundings.”
Cycling provides opportunities for youth to be active, build confidence, develop independence, and connect with others. It also creates connections between communities across Canada. “To me, there is an element of reconciliation and normalization in that,” Alan said. “It breaks down barriers and helps connect our vast country.” Ultimately, the project comes back to one simple goal: seeing children smile. “I love the idea that one of these kids might discover a lifelong passion for cycling,” Alan said. “Who knows, maybe one day one of them becomes the next Olympian or Tour de France athlete.”
Bringing the Project to Paulatuk
Cycling NWT became involved after Lisa McShane, Cycling NWT Board Member, learned about the project through her husband, who volunteers with the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary. “He met Miranda, a Coast Guard employee who told him about the project last year in Gjoa Haven,” Lisa explained. “I wanted to be involved, so I reached out and asked if a Northwest Territories community was chosen if we could be part of it.”
When Paulatuk was selected, Lisa helped connect Cycling NWT with the project and supported the work needed to bring the initiative to the community. Seeing the photos of youth riding the bikes was a special moment. “Pretty cool,” Lisa shared. “Riding bikes is something everyone can do, no matter the terrain. It gives you more freedom and promotes being outdoors.”
For communities like Paulatuk, where access and transportation can create additional challenges, projects like this require strong partnerships and commitment. “Paulatuk is fly-in only, so getting bikes up there is complicated,” Lisa said. “The Coast Guard enabled it to happen, which we are grateful for.”
The Power of Partnerships
Projects like this only happen because people and organizations come together. The bicycles are collected from schools, personal donations, and community members. They are then inspected, repaired, and prepared with help from volunteers, Coast Guard personnel, and bike shops.
The Canadian Coast Guard also plays an important role by identifying opportunities within their vessel schedules to reach northern communities. “It’s a great example of how existing infrastructure and partnerships can be used to connect Canadians in ways that go well beyond the original purpose of a trip,” Alan explained.
Cycling NWT was proud to support this project because it aligns directly with the organization’s goal of growing cycling opportunities in communities across the territory.
“The goal of Cycling NWT is to promote cycling in all our communities,” Lisa said. “This project is doing that, and we are so glad to be a part of it. Hopefully we can continue this movement and make it happen in other NWT communities.”
A special thank you also goes to the Indigenous Sport Circle for supporting the purchase of bike helmets for the youth, helping ensure that participants had the equipment needed to ride safely.
Looking Ahead
Alan hopes the Polar Bike Project will continue growing naturally, reaching more northern communities whenever opportunities and logistics allow. Future ideas include finding ways to recycle old bicycles that are no longer usable instead of sending them to northern landfills, as well as creating connections between southern schools and northern communities through programs like pen pals.
Because at its heart, this project has never only been about bicycles. It is about opportunity. It is about connection. It is about community. And it is about giving children across the North the chance to experience the simple joy of riding.
Thank you to the Canadian Coast Guard, Alan Mohr, Lisa McShane, Cycling NWT partners, the Indigenous Sport Circle, and everyone who helped make this project possible.