Ride The Wave - Team Profiles

Eily Sweeney: Creator of Ride the Wave

Eily is 22 years old and resides in Calgary, Alberta where she is attending Mount Royal College. Thirteen years as a Junior Forest Wardens member, and growing up in the country outside of Cochrane, Alberta, developed Eily's passion for the environment and nature. The eleven years of Figure Skating brought not only a competitive spirit but a strong interest in creative expression and performance. At Cochrane High School, Eily participated in the productions of Hello Dolly and Camelot. She also had the opportunity to be a founding member of the Nationally Recognized CHS Sustainable Development Committee. It was there that she first realized the power of how local action could truly make a difference. Following this, fourteen months in Europe gave her first hand experience visiting sustainable initiatives in England (The Eden Project), Denmark (Christania and Monsogaard intentional communities), Spain, and Scotland.

At Mount Royal College, she has been very involved in the Sustainable MRC club, serves as the current 2008/2009 Student with Disabilities Representitive for Student Council, and spends her time working at the Disability services and as a peer tutor. In addition, she has been awarded six scholarships for the past academic year: these include the Enmax Bright Minds Scholarship, Mount Royal College Writing Scholarship, and the MRC citizenship award.

Aspirations include attending Royal Roads University, focusing on the prospects of self study, Forum Theatre, and other creative means to raise environmental awareness.

Alex Meyer: Ride the Wave team member

Alex is a 23 year old student attending Mount Royal College. A chance encounter and profound concern for the environment led to what is now the Ride the Wave bike trip. He has spent most of his life in Calgary, Alberta but has spent much time across the ocean in China and Southeast Asia. He spends his free time on his bike, in a book or blowing through his didgeridoo. His aspirations include yogi-hood, teaching, and growing a garden, as well seeing as much of this beautiful world that is possible. He would like to thank all the people that made Ride the Wave possible, for it, from beginning to end, was perfection on two wheels. He would also like to thank his sleeping bag for keeping him warm during the cold mountain nights ;)

Mandi Walters: Ride the Wave team member

Mandi grew up and currently resides in Spokane, Washington. She attended the University of Washington in Seattle and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. She has worked mainly in human services, including 2 years as a social worker for a community Mental Health agency. She is interested in empowering individuals to make positive changes in their lives and communities. In Mandi's free time she enjoys studying, practicing, and teaching yoga, riding her bike, playing in nature, tending her community garden plot, and travelling. She joined Ride the Wave on July 15 after meeting Eily and Alex at Yasodhara Ashram, already on her own bike trip beginning in Spokane. She was inspired by the mission of the trip and hopes to learn from the different communities and programs visited, and share the wave of conscious community living in her own community.