Skateboards, community, and conversations—that’s what rolled into the Country 105 studio this week as Vanessa Bowles and Noah Tynes (aka The Sage Knight) stopped in to chat with Dee about a movement that’s carving out space for inclusion and resilience one push at a time.

Vanessa, the founder and executive director of Cinema 5 Skatepark and the Female Boarder Collective, has been at the forefront of Thunder Bay’s skate and snowboard scene since the early 1990s. Back when female skaters were a rarity, she was already making her mark—and now, she’s built a haven for others to do the same. Cinema 5, a repurposed movie theatre turned community skatepark, embodies her commitment to creating empowering and welcoming spaces, particularly for women, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, and Indigenous youth.

Her work doesn’t stop at ramps and rails—Vanessa incorporates Indigenous artwork, offers free access to Indigenous youth with status cards, and connects board sports with creative industries like photography and design.

Joining her in studio was Noah Tynes, known across the nation as The Sage Knight, who’s currently skateboarding across Canada as part of Pushing Canada 2025. From Toronto to Vancouver, Noah’s on a mission to raise awareness and funds for youth skateboarding programs and street outreach in Toronto through the David Sterling Creative Fund and Church of the Holy Trinity.

Check out Noah’s blog here! https://thesageknightspage.blog/

Now making a pit stop in Thunder Bay, Noah is here to inspire the next generation at an event that beautifully merges purpose and play:

National Indigenous Peoples Day x Go Skate Day at Cinema 5

Friday, June 21

Free Skateboard Lessons every hour with Noah Free Pizza & Snacks Sales in the Park Shop Storytelling + Community Celebration

Admission is totally free, and it’s more than just a day of skating—it’s about connection, culture, and empowering youth.

If you missed the interview on Country 105, don’t worry—you can still be part of this movement. Come out, hear Noah’s incredible journey, and experience firsthand how a skateboard can be more than just four wheels and a deck—it can be a vehicle for change.