|
WeeRide wins prestigious Manning Innovation Award |
|
|
|
 News Release
Revolutionary Bicycle Child Carrier Offers Safe, Shared Ride;
Carpenter's invention wins prestigious Manning Innovation Award
Calgary, AB - The Centric-Safe Haven™ bicycle child carrier is a revolutionary design that enhances the safety and cycling enjoyment for both the adult rider and the young passenger. The inventor of this increasingly popular recreational product, professional carpenter Malcolm Jefferson of Ottawa, Ont., has won a prestigious $10,000 Manning Innovation Award.
Jefferson, 52, built his first prototype carrier out of wood 15 years
ago in his carpenter's workshop. An avid cyclist, he wanted to enjoy
bicycling with his then-toddler son, Devon. But after an upsetting
experience with a rear-mounted carrier, young Devon firmly refused to
be put back into it.
Jefferson's prototype carrier placed the child securely in front of the
rider, between the handlebars and seat. It was an instant hit with
everyone, from Devon to a delighted Mountie!
But it took Jefferson years of effort before he was able to mass-produce his patented invention.
"The more someone would say, 'You can't do it,' the more I'd do it," Jefferson says.
Jefferson has won the $10,000 Manning Innovation Award sponsored by The Edper Foundation.
Since 1982, the Manning Awards program has recognized leading Canadian
innovators with more than $2.9 million in prize money. This year's four
winners will share a total of $145,000.
Jefferson's innovation offers several advantages over the conventional rear-mounted child carrier.
The child sits protected between the rider's arms and is visible at all
times. The rider is not thrown off-balance by sudden movements behind
his back. The carrier's design protects the child's arms and legs from
reaching the wheels. Most important, the child's needs can be seen,
heard and taken care of.
Ottawa father Adrian Pierce, who bicycles with his young daughter and
son, says his Centric-Safe Haven carrier makes the outings "a shared
experience. The kids really enjoy it because they're up front and they
can see what's going on. And I love it, because I can actually talk
with them as we go along."
The Centric-Safe Haven carrier is an entirely made-in-Canada invention,
involving eight different Canadian firms in its manufacture. This year,
major retail chains and bicycle dealers in Canada, the U.S. and the
U.K. carried the product.
"Customer response has been great, "says Stefan Bortolussi,
Category Analyst for Bicycles at Canadian Tire. "In just one season,
Centric-Safe Haven's carrier is the No. 2 best-seller in Canadian Tire
stores across Canada, compared with all the traditional carriers."
Centric Safe-Haven is currently negotiating a licensing agreement with
a major children's brand, to expand sales internationally in 2003.
The Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation will announce all four of this
year's award recipients, including the $100,000 Manning Principal
Award, throughout September prior to the annual awards gala Oct. 4 in
Ottawa.
http://www.manningawards.ca/awards/winners/mjefferson-news.shtml
 |
News 
Subscribe to this comment's feed