СÓŶÌÊÓƵ, Elizabeth Fry launch motorcycle pilot program to help youth ‘changing course’  

СÓŶÌÊÓƵ is proud to announce the launch of an innovative pilot program that aims to support local youth facing barriers to postsecondary education or meaningful employment.  

Changing Course is a collaboration with . It will provide youth with a unique opportunity to engage with СÓŶÌÊÓƵ’s Social Innovation department and motorcycle program within a Community Impact Lab setting.  

The official announcement of the Changing Course program took place amidst gleaming, iconic motorcycles at the dealership, which generously donated a pre-owned motorcycle for the pilot project. 

Five people stand around a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
From left: Travis Maciver, Experience Development Coordinator at the County of Simcoe; Kate Insley, Owner and Chief Operating Officer at Barrie Harley-Davidson; Meaghan Chambers, Executive Director at Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka; Jenn Martin, Manager of СÓŶÌÊÓƵ’s motorcycle program; and Nicole Norris, Director, Social Innovation at СÓŶÌÊÓƵ.

We’re excited about this collaboration, with Elizabeth Fry and Barrie Harley-Davidson, as it is an exciting opportunity to continue developing how СÓŶÌÊÓƵ can work with community on applied research and social innovation projects designed and driven by community.

– Nicole Norris, Director, Social Innovation at СÓŶÌÊÓƵ

Starting this fall, youth from the region who are involved with the Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka will be invited to participate in this dynamic program designed to bridge hands-on learning with approachable pathways into higher education or meaningful employment.  

This pilot program, funded by through its , aims to support youth in exploring postsecondary education that may have previously been impossible to access. In addition, the program will focus on helping them to move beyond involvement with the justice system and criminalization by supporting them to amplify their talents and future potential as members of our community.   

Two people stand in front of signs reading "Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka" and СÓŶÌÊÓƵ. Your guide to ride."
Meaghan Chambers, Executive Director at Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka, left, and Nicole Norris, Director, Social Innovation at СÓŶÌÊÓƵ, share details about the new pilot program.

Students to focus on ‘issues important to them’

The Changing Course Community Impact Lab, housed within СÓŶÌÊÓƵ’s Social Innovation department, will encourage participants to collaboratively engage in project-based learning designed to address issues important to them. This initiative underscores СÓŶÌÊÓƵ’s dedication to fostering community belonging and innovation through creative and inclusive educational practices. 

Our partnership with СÓŶÌÊÓƵ represents an exciting opportunity to harness the power of social innovation for the benefit of youth in our region. Through Changing Course, we aim to empower young individuals through hands-on learning, enabling them to overcome barriers and cultivate valuable skills that will support their individual growth.

– Meaghan Chambers, Executive Director at the Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka

The Changing Course pilot program exemplifies СÓŶÌÊÓƵ’s leadership in educational innovation and community engagement, demonstrating how institutions can drive positive social change through strategic partnerships and forward-thinking initiatives. 

For more information about Changing Course, please contact:

Nicole Norris, Director, Social Innovation at СÓŶÌÊÓƵ
Meaghan Chambers, Executive Director at Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka

Our categories

People of СÓŶÌÊÓƵ
Newsroom
Student life
Work experience
Money matters
Program stories