October 15, 2026 - In July, the Canadian Bicycle Industry Skills Coalition (CBISC) / Coalition canadienne des compétences de l’industrie du vélo (CCCIV) was launched as a new national sector council dedicated to strengthening and expanding Canada’s bicycle mechanic workforce.

The CBISC brings together employers, educators, trainers, mechanics, industry leaders, and other stakeholders from across the country to build a skilled, inclusive, and sustainable bicycle mechanic workforce that is recognized and supports Canada’s transition to active transportation and a low-carbon economy.

Sector councils play a key role in workforce development by addressing skills shortages, improving training systems, and supporting long-term economic growth.

As Canada invests in cleaner transportation, stronger communities, and a more skilled workforce, one essential occupation has remained overlooked: bicycle mechanics. Expanding cycling through new bike lanes and active transportation investments depends on having qualified mechanics who can assemble, maintain, and repair bicycles and e-bikes.

The coalition’s initial priorities are:
Recognition and Policy: Advance occupational recognition for bicycle mechanics and pursue a skilled trade designation.
Labour Market Intelligence: Support industry planning and public policy.
National Training Standards: Support the development of nationally aligned training standards, curriculum frameworks, accreditation approaches, and instructor qualifications.
Workforce Development: Strengthen recruitment, career development, and workforce retention across the industry.

CBISC emerged from a national advocacy initiative launched in 2025 to secure recognition of bicycle mechanics as a distinct occupation within Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. Unlike many countries—including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and European nations—Canada does not currently recognize bicycle mechanics as a separate occupation. Industry leaders believe this recognition is a critical first step toward consistent training pathways, reliable workforce data, and national professional standards.

A skilled workforce of bicycle mechanics is essential to keeping Canadians riding safely, supporting the growth of cycling and micromobility, strengthening local bicycle businesses, creating skilled careers, and advancing Canada’s active transportation and climate goals.

At the end of July, CBISC launched the inaugural Canadian Bicycle Mechanic Workforce Survey. This national initiative aimed to improve understanding of the state of Canada’s bicycle mechanic workforce and to assess potential labour and skills gaps.

As cycling and micromobility continue to grow across Canada, questions are mounting about whether the supply of skilled bicycle mechanics is keeping pace. At present, there is no reliable national data to assess workforce availability, skills gaps, or training needs.

According to CBISC, “While other countries and regions have documented workforce shortages in their bicycle industries, Canada lacks the data needed to understand the scale and nature of this challenge. Initiatives such as Nextgen Mechanics in Europe and the National Bicycle Service Technician Program in the United States demonstrate the value of evidence-based approaches. This presents an opportunity for Canada to build its own evidence base and better align industry efforts.”

The survey was designed to address that gap by gathering input from bicycle mechanics, bike shop owners, bike share programs, those responsible for hiring or training in the industry, and others across the ecosystem.

The findings will establish a national baseline and inform future workforce development, training, and industry strategies. The results will be released in a national report later in 2026. The survey ran from July 27 to Sept. 14, 2026.

Zoé Kruchten, a founding member of CBISC and a long-time skilling advocate for the industry in BC, said, “Through CBISC, we want to bring all key stakeholders together to address the industry’s workforce challenges. By addressing these challenges, we can create rewarding, stable jobs and help accelerate the growth of Canada’s cycling industry.”

Organizations and individuals interested in supporting the coalition’s work are encouraged to participate.

For more information, visit the coalition’s website at bicyclemechanics.ca or contact the organization directly at bicyclemechanics.ca@gmail.com.