By the end of the next month, Portage la Prairie should have a community bicycle repair shop.

Project Steering Committee Chair Ian Wassink says the repair shop will be located on the corner of 1st Street Northwest and Fisher Avenue, and will be a place for people in the community to fix their bikes. He explains the project.

"We are starting a new community bicycle repair shop and we'll be open to everyone to come and fix their bicycles. They'll have use of specialized bicycle tools, bike stands, parts, and oil and grease. There will also be some educational programming."

Wassink talks about why the program will be beneficial to the community.

"I think this project will bring the community together and help build some capacity for tool use and perhaps some career exploration in trades, and some of the skills that are required for that."

Wassink notes the program will be run mainly by volunteers and donations and says they're still looking for donations to help get the project underway.

"We have already been receiving donations of bicycles, bicycle parts, and some tools. We're looking for more donations from the community, whether it be tools or bicycles and parts. We're also looking for anyone that may have some skills in bicycle repair to help out, or anyone that has time to volunteer, and anyone who may have money to donate."

Wassink says the shop should be up and running by the end of June, with the grand opening coming later on this summer.

If you'd like to volunteer or donate to help with this project, you can email Ian Wassink at ianwassink@gmail.com.