A black snowboard helmet sits on a table under a tent at Tabor Mountain Ski Resort.
A tie-dyed sticker with the words "Shred in Peace" is attached to the helmet.
Those were three things Logan Whitmer loved - Tabor Mountain, snowboarding and anything tie-dyed.
"Logan's friends made the sticker," his mom Carole Whitmer said Saturday as she overlooked a group of young snowboarders taking lessons below her. "He loved it out here. Snowboarding meant so much to him and he did a lot for these people."
The people she's referring to are part of Switch, (formerly known as Chill) a not-for-profit youth development project that provides opportunities for young people to connect with healthy adults and learn new skills.
Saturday was the first weekend of six for a group of disadvantaged youth to take snowboard lessons at the ski hill, working with social service professionals and volunteers.
It's a program that's existed for nine years in Prince George.
All transportation, lift passes, lessons, outerwear and equipment is provided. There is no financial cost to participants.
As a teenager, Logan Whitmer was a snowboard instructor, and for three years, between 2011 and 2013, he taught the sport to youth in the Switch program.
Logan died after he was involved in a single vehicle rollover on April 25, 2013, on Highway 16 near Tabor Mountain Road, about 15 kilometres east of city limits. He was 19 years old.
His family set up the Logan Whitmer Legacy Fund, which funds the entire Switch program.
"The legacy fund is a chance for people to give back," Carole said. "This program is awesome... from the volunteers and chaperones, and everyone's learning to snowboard. Tabor is also great to work with."
On the lower slopes of Tabor, 25 youth, instructors and chaperones in brightly-clad ski pants, jackets and helmets are buckled into their boards.
Some are sitting down.
Some are falling down.
Some are standing and slowly making their way down the gentle slope.
They're giggling and laughing. And they're being encouraged.
"Good for you!"
"Try it again."
"Anyone want a hand, we're going down!"
Logan Whitmer would've loved it.
"Logan was a great instructor, he was the perfect snowboard model," said Switch program co-ordinator Meredith Bogle as she surveyed the controlled chaos Saturday. "The kids related to him and he was happy on the mountain. He found his place here."
His legacy fund, $11,000 so far, provides stable funding since the program is run on a "meagre budget."
And thanks to generous community sponsors, all costs are covered.
Diversified Transportation has covered all the transportation costs for the last nine years, including the bus, the driver's time and the fuel.
In-kind donations are provided by the City of Prince George, Tabor Mountain Resort, Ruckus Skis Boards and Bikes, and the Decal Den.
The Shred in Peace stickers are available for $2 each at Tabor and Ruckus. Proceeds are donated to the Logan Whitmer Legacy Fund.
Those who want to donate directly to the Logan Whitmer Legacy Fund can do so at the Integris Credit Union or c/o 8955 Sutley Road, Prince George, BC V2N 5W2.
