IN CONVERSATION WITH KICKBACK
“Presence is power, especially for city kids. We spend a lot of time in commotion and concrete. Since 2021, Kickback’s program with Arc’teryx has allowed us to leave the city in the most intentional way.”
“I remember our first outdoor hike in 2021. This was the first time, well into my adult years, that I wore a pair of shoes appropriate for hike. For the first time, I viscerally understood the power of nature, which was available to me because I was feeling comfortable and confident in the steps I took forward. It was honestly a game-changer.
“Kickback’s origin story is rooted in providing footwear—and in what that opens up for people. But on this first hike, wearing footwear Arc’teryx provided, we all experienced a kind of presence I didn’t realize was possible, and it was so powerful.”
Jamal Burger, Kickback founder
STEPPING OUT FROM TORONTO, CANADA
This summer, Kickback brought two crews of high school youth and young adults to the mountains—to Banff, Mini hrpa (“the waterfalls”) in Treaty 7 territory, and to Squamish, the homelands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw. With devoted mentors and Arc’teryx gear as their companions, they stepped into new narratives shaped by the land.
These trips, as part of Kickback’s One on One program, empower youth from underserved communities through outdoor experiences and ventures as far afield as Victoria, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary. Many of the participants have never experienced air travel before. The trips are designed to focus on mental well-being and to foster trust, vulnerability, and connection among participants.
How did it land?
100% of participants would encourage their friends to travel to Western Canada
100% of youth said they would go hiking again
100% of participants were positively surprised by the effect that being out in nature had on their mental health
90% of the participants stated One on One with Kickback and Arc’teryx was their first out-of-province hike
“This trip helped clear my mind and reminded me what it feels like to be free and alive.”
— Peter W., Kickback Mentee
On November 27, 2025, with the support of the Arc’teryx Toronto community team,
Kickback will celebrate another year of making change
With an exhibition at It’s OK Studios (468 Queen St W), Toronto.
After highlighting the impact of these trips on young men in last year’s film by Kickback founder and documentary-maker Jamal Burger, this year’s exhibition turns the spotlight on One on One’s young female participants.
The photographic showcase is powered by a desire to make space for youth to feel safe in nature—and to see themselves reflected in it.
From regulating the nervous system, to unplugging from screens and life stressors, to connecting with new friends, new communities, or new facets of oneself, time in the outdoors brings so many lasting benefits.
Kickback invites everyone to play a part in advocating for that access.
Kickback is a Toronto-based non-profit that uses sneakers to facilitate new experiences and opportunities in sports, arts and education.
Through the No Wasted Days Community Grant Program, Strategic Partnerships, and the work of our community teams, Arc’teryx supports organizations like Kickback, that drive equitable access, knowledge and skills building in the mountains and environmental stewardship of the lands we recreate upon. We hope this series of stories inspires you as much as these partners inspire us.
Photography
Jamal Burger
Banff | Alberta
Stoney Nakoda | Tsuut’ina Territory
Isabel Okuro
Squamish and North Vancouver | British Columbia
xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, səl̓ilwətaʔɬ, and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Territories
