By Lethbridge Herald on April 28, 2026.
Herald Photo by Joe Manio Pastor Jeremy Light of the Evangelical Free Church of Lethbridge offers a blessing over Dallas Harty, organizer of the Southern Alberta Bikers, and Frances Catherine Bukkam during the Third Annual Blessing of the Bikes service, marking a reflective start to the riding season despite cold, early-spring conditions.By Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
The parking lot told a different story than expected. On a morning that felt more like winter than spring, only a handful of motorcycles actually made it to the Evangelical Free Church of Lethbridge.
There were two motorcycles parked at the entrance at 10 a.m. for breakfast; and small group of younger, more adventurous riders arrived just after 10. The rest came in spirit more than steel: the season’s unofficial start was held indoors, where weather couldn’t cancel it.
Still…inside the sanctuary, there was no shortage of presence.
The Third Annual Blessing of the Bikes—organized by the Southern Alberta Bikers—carried on with its usual mix of remembrance, music, prayer and community, even if the chrome outside was mostly absent.
For organizer Dallas Harty, the weather may have thinned the crowd, but it didn’t weaken what the event represents.
“The turnout today… just shows the strength and the commitment in the biker community in southern Alberta,” he said. Even with far fewer bikes in the lot than usual, he noted the room still felt full. “No better way to start the season than with God’s blessing.”
The event, held annually ahead of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May, is part community gathering, part safety reminder, and part seasonal ritual for riders preparing for the road ahead.
It also carries a quieter purpose: remembering those who didn’t make it home.
A memorial banner listing fallen riders hung at the front of the service, a visual reminder of risk woven into the culture of riding. Dallas Harty said it’s not just tradition—it’s legacy.
“We don’t want to add any more names to it,” he said, his voice trailing slightly as he acknowledged the emotional weight of the list. “Those riders are no longer with us. It’s our way to remember them and ride with them in our memories.”
Inside the sanctuary, the tone shifted between reflection and reassurance.
Pastor Jeremy of the Evangelical Free Church of Lethbridge framed the morning around both faith and caution, speaking directly to the unpredictability riders know well.
“We mourn them and we miss them,” he said during prayer. “But we gather here to receive your blessing.”
Later, he compared riding to life itself—unpredictable, often beautiful, sometimes dangerous.
“In life and on the road, there are curves we don’t see coming,” he said, “but we are not without hope.” His message to riders was simple: you are not alone on the road ahead.
That idea resonated strongly with younger riders in the room.
Bryant Smith, 27, said riding has been part of his life since childhood, passed down through family. But stepping into the rider community on his own has brought a sharper awareness of risk.
“We’re invisible,” he said of how drivers often treat motorcycles on the road. Smith also commented on what he’s seen other bikers wearing while riding. “I see guys wearing flip-flops and shorts—that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen.”
For Smith, safety isn’t abstract. It’s personal, and often immediate. But so is the appeal.
“There’s something about riding—it’s hard to explain,” he said. “The feel of the open road.”
That tension—freedom and vulnerability—sat at the heart of the morning.
Experienced riders echoed the same duality in quieter conversations: the joy of riding paired with the need for constant awareness. Southern Alberta roads, they noted, bring their own challenges—gravel, sudden weather shifts, and increasingly distracted drivers behind larger vehicles.
Dallas Harty pointed to that reality directly.
“A motorbike is a form of transportation, just like any other vehicle,” he said. “People need to learn to share the road and respect one another.”
In 2023, there were approximately 8,475 motorcycle accidents reported across Canada, with 11% resulting in fatalities. In Alberta, specific statistics for 2025 are not available, but the overall trend indicates a concerning rise in motorcycle accidents, with factors such as distracted driving and poor road conditions contributing to the increase in fatalities.
While official 2025 collision data continues to be compiled, motorcycle advocates across Canada consistently point to a familiar trend: riders remain disproportionately vulnerable in crashes, especially when visibility and driver awareness are factors.
Still, despite the risks, none of it seemed to dampen the sense of anticipation in the room.
After songs, scripture, and a moment of remembrance, the service ended with a blessing—offered not over engines, but over people, families, and the season ahead.
Outside, the bikes were few, but the meaning held steady.
And for riders preparing to roll into a new season, that may have been the point all along: not the number of machines in the lot, but the shared understanding of what it takes to keep going—together, cautiously, and with hope.
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