Testimonials

Anne-Marie Sjoden
Executive Coordinator
Cycling4Diversity

Cycling4Diversity started in May of 2011 when Ken was denied entry into a Christmas party he thought it was a joke at first and then he realized they were serious. C4D goes to schools and speaks to children about multiculturalism, inclusion, and eliminating racism. During the past 4 years we have almost visited 100 schools and handed out over thousands of buttons, t-shirts, and wristbands, all free of charge.

Harold Derksen
Bible Translator/Editor

Underlying any of my endeavours is the desire to include all people. I've continually observed a wealth of ingenuity, intellect, and willingness in our communities that is unrecognized, untapped, and unharnessed because of things like sexism, racism, and numerous other forms of discrimination. These barriers sustain marginalization and exclusivity, and they are unacceptable.

C4D is a group with ideals that align with my beliefs about diverse people working together to spark a change in the attitudes surrounding all of our differences. Everyone has something to contribute; everyone is valuable. Of all of the qualities we strive for, the thing I find most valuable in people is an openness and kindness of heart: something that surpasses all of our differences, unites us, and let's us celebrate diversity.

Dr. Bill MacGregor
Councillor
City of Abbotsford

The understanding and celebration of both cultural diversity and inclusivity is, in my mind, the single greatest challenge for the world community today! We absolutely MUST "seek first to understand and then be understood" in order to have a peace that is everlasting. The maligning of others because they happen to be different than I is a product of profound and unacceptable ignorance. I must change and so too must everyone of you who struggle to accept others because they are different whether that be culture, age, gender, religion, appearance or any other self imposed barrier. There is one race the human race. Let us celebrate together.

Diversity without inclusion is an ingredient's list without a recipe. Diversity does not automatically produce intercultural understanding nor an environment free from discrimination. Every day in our BC communities, a youth faces racism based on his or her skin colour or ancestry. Every day, an immigrant faces challenges in securing a job based on their name or foreign experience. Every day, homophobia & transphobia prevents people from expressing who they are. We can do better than this, with a recipe for intercultural dialogue, education & exposure. This is why I believe in the mission of Cycling4Diversity- to share the value of inclusion with students & decision makers (education), to hear from the next generation as to what their challenges & solutions are (dialogue) & to model diversity within our team (exposure). Inclusive communities requires intention, commitment & opportunities to better understand one another.

Kulwinder Singh Dhillon
Entrepreneur
From day one I believed in Ken and Sarina's initiative towards Cycling4Diversity.
My message to everybody is that an individual can keep his/her language, culture, appearance and religion also other beliefs and yet be diverse, extend your boundaries of friendship with the people of other cultures. Also I try my best to eradicate racism from the youth. I extend to our C4D team my full cooperation in their good work.

Matt Born
Teacher: Gr. 8
Abbotsford Middle School
Ken’s passion for bringing cultural dialogue was clearly evident in his presentation at Abbotsford Middle School. The Cycling4Diversity team and other guests were excited to bring the message of knowing your neighbor to our grade 8 students. Many thanks go out to Ken and his team for challenging us to communicate with all cultures around us.

Rick Lucy, Deputy Chief Constable
Abbotsford Police Department

It’s been my experience that a general lack of awareness and understanding of others often leads to fear, criticism, and sometimes more serious problems. My perspective is that we should be so grateful for the diversity in our communities, and be active in learning as much as we can about others in order to enjoy and celebrate our diversity. It’s easy for me, including in my role as a police officer, to embrace initiatives such as C4D, especially with the emphasis that is placed on engaging students. On matters of diversity, I believe that knowledge is power and dialogue is the tool. Keep on riding C4D!

Randy Cairns
Cycling4Diversity Team member

It was an honour to go on the ride with other people that were supporting diversity in our schools and societies in general. It was gratifying to see young people really embracing the message of building bridges of diversity. Recognizing that we have more in common than differences.
As a school trustee in the public school system I totally believe in inclusiveness that the public system represents. The C4D ride embraces the same inclusive message.

Frank Bucholtz
Editor, Langley Times

The Cycling4Diversity was a great experience. I was glad to participate for the second year. Although we got wet riding through Langley, the reception at H.D. Stafford was very warm and positive. Cycling 4 Diversity is a good way to spread the word that as Canadians of all backgrounds, it is both possible and wonderful when we can co-operate and work together, and become friends.

Elizabeth Lloyd
Cycling4diversity Team Member

When I was asked to help out with C4D, I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew what I had visioned in my head and I can honestly say it was so much more. Visiting the 1st school was life changing to say the least. When we came into the gymnasium and were introduced and Bill MacGregor opened the event with his thoughts, I was blown away. I was spell bound like the children we were there to speak to. I took every word in and listened to every speaker about their thoughts on diversity and how we can change our world for the better. As the day progressed and I heard more speakers, I had a revelation! I wasn't just listening to the message, I was hearing and believing and wanting to be a part of the message! it starts with one and you can be that change. In my speech I wrote, I quoted 2 amazing humans that really embrace this message and spread it everyday. Dr Maya Anjelou said: "It's time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength." and Dr Martin Luther King said "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I am so very proud of Ken Herar, the C4D Foundation and every member for helping to spread this message.

Bob Soltis
Cycling4Diversity, Team Member

Someone once told me that a leader knows the way, shows the way, and leads the way. By that definition – everyone I was privileged to get to know and see in action on this year’s C4D ride was a true leader. Each, in their own way, passed on powerful messages that will resonate with many of the youths we spoke to long after the memory of our visit recedes. Although each of us had our own way of getting our message across – I think the overall message can be boiled down to this: Diversity is obtained by kids talking to and spending time with kids not like them so that they may discover those kids are in fact just like them.