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Canon Canada head office employees knew it was not just another day at the office. They arrived anticipating their participation in a fun exercise that encouraged collaboration. By the time the morning was over, their unconventional team-building activity had given 25 at-risk youth from low-income communities new bikes—and a new outlook.

 

The Ultimate Bike Build Team Building Program is the brainchild of Dan Perdue, the president of LEVEL 12 and a world leader in engaging and developing high-performing people. Perdue randomly divided employees into 25 teams. Each team was to build a kid’s bike to showroom specifications and create a 30-second commercial. They had 40 minutes to complete the tasks.

 

Each team then presented its commercial to the entire group. For many employees, it was their first bit of “acting” since grade school—and, perhaps, reaffirmed their decision to pursue a career behind cameras.

Purdue then revealed that team building was only one reason for the event. The bikes were for underprivileged children from the Boys and Girls Club of Peel.

The second surprise came when many of the kids walked into the room. They took the stage to a warm, rousing ovation. Some even addressed the employees to express what now having a bike would mean to them. One spoke of the feeling of freedom a bike gives you. Another talked about his dream of one day playing in the NBA. It was too far for him to walk to the nearest basketball court to practice, but now with a bike, he could ride there in no time.

Each Canon team presented a bike to one of the kids, and took a few minutes to learn more about them.

Three bike technicians – thankfully – were on hand to inspect the bikes before the kids took them home for good.

“The parents of the youth who came to pick up the bikes were so thankful,” says Bindi Sathivelu, program manager for the Boys and Girls Club of Peel. “Most of the parents can’t afford to buy a bike for their son or daughter.

“A few of the older youth have already used their bikes to go looking for jobs for the fall. And a few are now riding back home independently after the program and staying until the end of the program time, as the parents are not rushing them to be picked up early so they can go to work.”





Purdue then revealed that team building was only one reason for the event. The bikes were for underprivileged children from the Boys and Girls Club of Peel.

The second surprise came when many of the kids walked into the room. They took the stage to a warm, rousing ovation. Some even addressed the employees to express what now having a bike would mean to them. One spoke of the feeling of freedom a bike gives you. Another talked about his dream of one day playing in the NBA. It was too far for him to walk to the nearest basketball court to practice, but now with a bike, he could ride there in no time.

Each Canon team presented a bike to one of the kids, and took a few minutes to learn more about them.

Three bike technicians – thankfully – were on hand to inspect the bikes before the kids took them home for good.

“The parents of the youth who came to pick up the bikes were so thankful,” says Bindi Sathivelu, program manager for the Boys and Girls Club of Peel. “Most of the parents can’t afford to buy a bike for their son or daughter.

“A few of the older youth have already used their bikes to go looking for jobs for the fall. And a few are now riding back home independently after the program and staying until the end of the program time, as the parents are not rushing them to be picked up early so they can go to work.”