Photo Courtesy Medicine Hat Skateboard Association Instagram

By Lisa Parent

‘Immersed in making a difference’: Medicine Hat skateboarders build house for family in Mexico

Jan 8, 2024 | 4:53 PM

Cruising the skate park in January while overlooking palm trees — life doesn’t get much sweeter for a Canadian skateboarder.

Last week, 30 youth with the Medicine Hat Skateboard Association flew to Ensenada, Mexico, to do just that.

However, skateboarding wasn’t the only focus of the trip. Their main gig was constructing a new home for a family in need through Youth With a Mission, Homes of Hope.

“It was a lot of hard work,” said Zach Beriault, a mentor with the Medicine Hat Skateboard Association.

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“But the [organizers] had to tell us to slow down because we were going so fast.”

The skateboard association completed the house in just two days. After finishing, both the skateboarders and the family who received the house took part in a “key ceremony”, sharing their thoughts on the meaningful experience.

“It was really moving and a lot of our team were crying,” Beriault said.

“The family was crying. It was tough, but also moving and really powerful to see.”

Family in Ensenada that received the new house

After the project, organizers approached the skate association, revealing they deliberately assigned a more challenging build, anticipating potential complaints from the skaters.

Trip chaperones Jade Ritchie and Davie James said the skaters ultimately proved this stereotype wrong.

“I really haven’t seen any of these kids glued to their phones,” James said.

“They’re just so immersed in making a difference and it’s really giving me a little bit of hope.”

“In Medicine Hat, yeah, they got attitude, but in Mexico, they’re just gung ho for the work,” laughed Ritchie.

The skaters also spent time at a home, El Refugio, that protects girls from sex trafficking and abuse.

“We got to build some pretty strong connections with some of those girls,” Ritchie mentioned.

After staying at the home for two days, it was an emotional goodbye for the skaters and girls staying at the home.

“The girls were hugging us and we were crying and they were crying,” Ritchie said.

Intended to bring a positive change to a family in Mexico, it turned out the skateboard association gained even more from the experience.

“In Canada we’re legitimately spoiled,” Beriault said. “Going back, I just hope I retain this feeling of gratitude.”