Rick Stiebel/News Gazette staff
An act of kindness passed on to a student in need exemplifies the Wishart Way.
Goldstream Bicycles owner Steve Hurdle got a close look at that philosophy in action recently and responded in kind.
For the past few years, Hurdle and staff from his bike shop have joined Wishart elementary students during their annual bicycle trek along the Galloping Goose Trail to do adjustments and minor repairs to student bikes, explained Grade 5 teacher Stuart McLatchie.
“A Grade 1 student in some distress approached Grade 5 student Kayla White while she was having her bike looked over,” he recalled. “Kayla immediately took the time to console the younger student, so Steve said he wanted to do something for Kayla.”
Hurdle asked McLatchie to contact White’s mother, after which they all met at Goldstream Bicycles.
“He gave her a beautiful new bike,” McLatchie said. “Everyone was in tears … that really highlights what we emphasize at Wishart, what we call the ‘Wishart Way.’”
Hurdle said he made the decision because he was so moved by the way White handled the situation with the student in distress. “I was quite impressed with how mature, compassionate and helpful Kayla was with this little girl,” Hurdle said, adding that the fact White’s bike was in poor condition made the decision easy. “Grant Turner, our bike mechanic, stepped up and assembled the bike on his own time.”
The staff at Goldstream Bicycles thoroughly enjoys participating in Wishart’s annual ride program because it’s a great grass roots approach that encourages a healthy, active lifestyle, Hurdle noted.
Wishart principal Garry Manhas said it was a great example of the school’s Wishart Way belief coming full circle.
“It’s a really cool big picture of how we are trying to create a better world at Wishart,” he added.