A Look Back at 2018 at the Ride for Mom on Season 6 Episode 3 Segment 2

Season 6 Episode 3 Segment 2
Clint AKA Dragon - Guardians of the Children Canada.

Ride Like a Local was on site at Blackjacks Roadhouse for the Ride for Mom motorcycle event.  We talked with Clint AKA Dragon with the Guardians of the Children Wetaskawin Group.

The mission of the Guardians of the Children is to recognize and react to child abuse and educate the public to do the same; to serve as advocates to provide strength and stability to families in crisis; and be an answer to the prayer of an abused child or teen for courage, support and protection.

Dragon states they are here to help people.  Children and parents, both moms and dads.  They also help children and protect them through the court process to give them the courage to stand up and not be afraid.

Riders are here to help educate and raise awareness about abuse.

“Don't Let Silence Drown Out Their Cries”

To learn more, to join or to donate, contact: http://www.guardiansofthechildrencanada.com/

Season 6 Episode 3 Segment 2
Krysta Shields of Blackjacks Roadhouse

On site at the Ride for Mom Motorcycle event, Ride Like a Local interviewed Krysta Shields of Blackjacks Roadhouse.  

The Shields family is responsible for the 2nd Annual Ride for Mom Motorcycle event.  A ride and fundraiser to end domestic violence.  With over 100 bikes showing up, the support has been nothing short of amazing.

The funds raised for this ride go to support 6 shelters in the Edmonton area.  Shields states that she chose domestic violence because it is often overlooked and does not have the proper funding. The cause is perfect for the riding community as someone always knows someone in such a situation.

Among the sponsors Krysta credits Edge Harley Davidson, Harley Davidson of Edmonton, Klondike Insurance, Pratts Food and ATB Financial.  They are happy to say that all $30.00 of the registration fee is going directly to A.C.W.S.

Please visit Blackjacks Roadhouse or Ride for Mom for more information, to join or to donate!

Season 6 Episode 3 Segment 2
Alberta Sheriffs Department

At the motorcycle event, Ride for Mom, Ride Like a Local TV spent just a few minutes with Sargeant Daryl Brown and Sargeant Tad Childs of the Alberta Sheriffs Department.

The two Sergeants are on hand as escorts for the Ride for Mom event.  They say a member of the Sheriff family, who is also an organizer of the event, asked them to help out and they were more than happy to say yes.

They say that the most important thing is the community getting together to have a bit of fun, and to raise awareness for an end to domestic violence.

Thank you to the Alberta Sheriffs Department.
If you are blessed enough to live where you can be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

A Look Back at 2018 at Ride for Mom in Season 6 Episode 3 Segment 1

Season 6 Episode 3 Segment 1
Patricia Nicholl of the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters.

Sitting at Blackjacks Roadhouse in Nisku, AB, surrounding by about 70 bikes on the Ride for Mom charity event, Ride Like a Local interviewed Patricia Nicholl of the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters.

Alberta Council of Women's Shelters is an advocacy group for women's shelters in Alberta.  They are the voices of the shelters and provide education, fundraisers, and events to raise money in support.  They provide support to their members and leaders and look for solutions to end domestic violence.

These shelters save lives, strengthen families and improve communities.

Every knows someone who has been a victim of domestic violence.  Raise awareness as we are stronger together.

To learn more or to donate, go to https://acws.ca/about-acws

If you are blessed enough to live where you can be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

A Look Back at 2018 at the Edmonton Motorcycle Show on Season 6 Episode 2 Segment 2

Season 6 Episode 2 Segment 2
Blackjacks Roadhouse

At the Edmonton Motorcycle Show, Ride Like a Local ran into Krysta Shields, a Rider Friendly Business Partner, from Blackjacks Roadhouse.

Blackjacks Roadhouse is a huge part of the community.  Famous for its Tuesday Bike nights, they have established itself as one of he best biker friendly facilities for poker runs and charity rides in Western Canada.

Blackjacks Roadhouse hosts many major charity bike runs such as the Edmonton Ride for Dad, Ride for Sight, Ride for Mom, Wounded Warriors, Military Minds as well as numerous local club rides and events.

They are also the home and meeting place for numerous clubs such as BACA (Bikers against Child Abuse), Rig Riders and the Black gold Beamers (BMW). They offer their 100 seat second floor meeting area free of charge to all bike clubs.

While at the Edmonton Motorcycle Show, RIde Like a Local surprised Krysta with a beginners course from the Edmonton office of the Alberta Safety Council.  We sure hope to see this girl on a bike soon!

Go to Blackjacks Roadhouse to find out more about special events and more. at https://blackjacksroadhouse.com/

Season 6 Episode 2 Segment 2
Neil MacDonald of Harley Davidson Edmonton


Ride Like a Local interviewed Neil MacDonald of Harley Davidson Edmonton.  He was excited to tell us all about the new Softail lineup.  The new lineup is all redesigned with a new motor, suspension and new frame.  Choose your motor from the Milwaukee 8 107 or 114.

If you're new to bikes and looking to get on one, a wonderful entry level bike or commuting bike is the Harley Davidson Street 750.  Its quick to get on and simple to get around!  But if you're asking Neil about his favorite bike, check out the Harley Davidson Street Special.

Another fun evening put on by Harley Davidson Edmonton is pipes night.  Come listen to a variety of exhaust installed on bikes or show off your own pipes.  Hang out and enjoy some delicious BBQ with your family and take a peek at their Fashion show.

For all your motorcycle needs check out Harley Davidson Edmonton at https://www.hdedmonton.com/

If you are blessed enough to live where you can be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

KILOMETRES FOR KIDNEYS

June 23, 2018 the The Kidney Foundation NABT Branch is pleased, excited and proud to announce the first annual Kilometres for Kidneys Motorcycle Poker Run Fundraiser.

If you or someone you know has fallen victim to Kidney disease or any disease knows what is involved when dealing with something so unfortunate. The costs to keep things going when you’re down are high but still need to be looked after. 

All money raised on this day will go towards assisting kidney patients and their families in Northern Alberta and the Territories by providing short term emergency financial assistance. The funds raised will help with medical equipment, medicine, food, gas, rent, and utilities to individuals who experience financial stress due to their illness.

So if you and your riding friends are looking for something to do on June 23, 2018 and are in the area of Nisku, AB perhaps you may consider attending. Even if you’re not in the area you should consider this ride.

Starting at Blackjacks Roadhouse & Games Room, 2110 Sparrow Drive, Nisku AB T9E 8A2.

Registration $40.00, includes breakfast and lunch, ride is all day from 8am-5pm.

It’s going to be a great day of riding, sharing, making friends, and plenty of fun for everyone!!!

Visit www.Kidney.ca/NABT-PokerRide to get yourself registered!!!!!

Ride Safe and have a BLAST!!!!

TWENTY THOUSAND Dollars Raised!

The Second Annual Ride for Mom is in the history books with over $20,000 dollars being raised to help Edmonton Area Emergency Shelters. The Ride for Mom is partnered with the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters & The Edmonton Domestic Violence Shelters Engage

Every year over 10,000 Albertans access Emergency Shelters.

Women, children and seniors that experience abuse are too often turned away from shelters for a lack of space.  When that happens, the case workers take that experience home with them and it destroys these helpers as they feel helpless. The Ride for Mom is all about changing the dialogue about domestic abuse and of course raising much needed funds and awareness.

It is important that these shelters get more funds, and I think it is essential that the Ride for Mom grows across the country until one day, shelters and this kind of awareness and financial support is no longer needed.

Krysta Shields, the ride's founder, wants to urge people who would like to start a Ride for Mom in their area to reach out.

As was said earlier, the Ride for Mom is all about changing the dialogue around Domestic Abuse across Canada and your votes are needed.

You can reach Krysta at: krysta@blackjacksroadhouse.com
In the about line of your email put: -"We'd like to be a Ride For Mom Community!"

I spoke with a number of the Edmonton area riders about this event and what they thought of it.

Rob Truscott who is a member of the military and has attended a number of events summed up what everyone else had to say: "This is one of the better rides I have ever been on. Water at every stop, the Sheriffs and regional police departments blocking intersections to ensure everyone gets safely through. What more can a person ask for?"

Well how about a blocked off street in Tofield and Sheriffs with a sense of humour?

In all this ride is comprised of three stops and at each stop you get a numbered ticket that gets you a chance on one of the big basket giveaways filled with prizes:

1) Reynolds Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin.

2) Camrose Alberta, this year was at the House of Thunder.

3) The Tofield stop last year was at Town Hall and Library, this year at the Moonshine Cafe and the whole block was cordoned off for us!

Everything went smoothly as there were lots of signs guiding us all as to which way to go and in many cases there was also a Sheriff or a police officer to ask. The chase truck and trailer had to pick up one rider with a flat tire, but other than that, it was smooth riding.

In year 2 the event saw 160 motorcycles come out!

Mother Nature - THANK YOU for cooperating!

$20,000 was raised and ALL OF THAT money, thanks to the hard fundraising work by Krysta Shields, will go to the cause directly.

It was a safe, well run event on the roadways thanks to Kevin O'Connor of the Wetaskiwin office of the Alberta Sheriffs who also happens to sit on the Ride for Mom Board. Because of his participation, his "brothers" stepped up to help this worthy cause and they dod so with a great sense  of humour and community.

Tyler Grant who does the in-house photography and media collection and dissemination for Blackjacks Roadhouse and does a good job of keeping their social media rocking and he was busting his butt behind his camera.

Various groups have decided to make this event a mandatory event for their membership to attend, the Guardians of the Children are one such group and I interviewed Clint AKA Dragon about what this event means to their club and as suspected it's message and cause dovetails with the help to children in distress that the Guardians offer.

The sponsors that came on board this year were incredible:

ATB Financial, Klondike Insurance Agencies, Pratts Food Service, Harley-Davidson of Edmonton, CTV, Heritage Harley-Davidson, Reynolds-Alberta Museum, Town of Tofield, Airways Country Inn, Peace Hills Insurance,
Battle River Landscape Supply and Design, Wetaskiwin Coop, Alberta Sheriffs, Victim Services Camrose, Alberta Cycle, House of
Thunder Camrose, Moonshine Cafe Tofield.

I was so honoured to again support this event.

On a personal note....

I got pretty emotional when we could not get connected to the internet to do the interviews for Live TV. We did, sort of finally get me connected but on the phone and the stream went live after we were done - I have discovered how stressful a live event can be when you are at an event and on really tight time frames and no crew to help you when things don't go right.


I am afraid my stress cracks were showing a tad as I almost had to pack up and go do interviews for regular TV and forget about the live event totally.

Manon, a Blackjack's Roadhouse employee (who is also my friend) who was doing everything she could to help me get connected and kept reassuring me it would be OK and thanks to her help, it was.

Manon, you are an angel.

While the Live TV did not go exactly as planned, it did finally get done and that set the rest of the day up to be a great one.

The rider was AMAZING.

I got some great ride footage, some incredible interviews and am looking forward to editing the video for "Ride Like a Local" Season 6 on EastLink TV & on YouTube!

Next year's Ride for Mom team will be starting planning for 2019 soon!
Visit rideformom.ca to volunteer or perhaps start your own Ride for Mom in your community.

If you are blessed to be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you!


Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

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Edmonton's Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Community does amazing things!

READ THE UPDATE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE:

There is an internet group called the Edmonton Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Community and this loosely connected group of men and women go above and beyond to help out in their community.

They have been working with and helping the Veterans UN-NATO club with fundraising efforts to support the Kipnes Centre for Veterans.

For those who don't know about it, here's a little background:

The Dianne and Irving Kipnes Centre for Veterans offers 120 long term care beds for male and female veterans.

They also offer  secure care for Dementia patients and a support program that helps caregivers to get some time off.  The Adult Day Support Program offers caregivers the opportunity to take a day off while their loved one spends time exercising, meals, snacks, social and recreational activities, and assistance with prescribed medicines.

Like all programs for veterans, the Kipnes Centre is always in need of support and it is such an amazing place filled with employees that care, deeply.

A packed house at Blackjack's Roadhouse, Nisku AB

Over the last two years they Edmonton Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Community and the Edmonton Chapter of UN Nato have shot a ladies calendar, in year one it raised just over $6,000 and this year the presentation that was made during the fashion show was for just over $9,000!

Harley-Davidson of  Edmonton booth

It is a wondrous thing when people come together to do something for others.  There is a satisfaction level that can't be obtained any other way but through giving.

The Edmonton Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Community on Facebook and the Veterans UN-NATO group are but two great examples of those who love to give back, pay it forward, and just generally helping out their communities at large.


The Fashion show was a resounding success.  As always, Blackjack's Roadhouse in Nisku was the venue for this terrific and momentous occasion.

Our area hasn't had a fashion show in ages and certainly not one where 5 dealers got together to provide clothing and models along with door prizes and booths!

Scona Cycle, Echo Cycle, Harley-Davidson of Edmonton, Heritage Harley-Davidson and Cycle Works all had booths and clothing in the fashion show and Honda Extreme Powerhouse and Riverside Motorsports took part as just donors for the silent auction.

The entirety of Blackjacks was shut down for this special occasion and it was packed to the rafters!

Silent Auction Table

Fort McMurray was the emcee for the evening and as usual he did a fantastic job!

The models were volunteers and in the case of the ladies, some of them were the same gals who posed for the calendars.

Heritage Harley-Davidson  Booth

Your $25 entry fee got you a glass of champagne, some hors d'oeuvres, music and the fashion show - all in all a great deal that supported a worthy cause.

If you missed this event, you missed a great time and personally I think you need to put this on your calendar for next year as the rumours are already swirling that this might become an annual event... as soon as we hear from Ray and the gang that this is for fact true, we will let you know!

And as soon as we find out the total from the event that will be going to Kipnes Centre for Veterans we will let you know that as well.







If you are blessed enough to be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.

Emcee, Fort McMurray

PS - the final round of voting in Canada's MOST Rider Friendly Community contest begins on the 13th - who will win the title from the 2016 riding season?

Cape Breton or Port Alberni - your votes will decide!

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider









UPDATE APRIL 11/17: The E.H.D.M.C. Executive would like to send a big thanks to everyone that supported our Motorcycle Fashion Show that was held on Saturday night at Blackjacks. We raised just under $8000.00 from this event in support of the Veterans. I am sure that the Kipnes Centre for Veterans will greatly appreciate the support. So with these additional funds the E.H.D.M.C. has raised $17,000.00 this year to support our Vets.

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