The 2026 James Bullbrook Memorial Scholarship recipient came home with new friends, greater independence and even more confidence
“I have been skateboarding since I could walk.”
That’s how Logan, ten years old, from Acton, Ontario, began his application for the 2026 James Bullbrook Memorial Scholarship.
His mom bought him his first board for his fifth birthday, but skateboarding became a true passion in 2023. After teaching himself the basics, Logan joined camps and a youth league through Driveway Skateshop in Halton Hills. Before long, he was teaching his brother and neighbourhood friends to skate — and had convinced his Poppy to build him a halfpipe.
“Skateboarding to me is an outlet,” Logan wrote. “I can spend all day skateboarding.”
His ultimate goal? Making it to the X Games.
A bigger scholarship — and a complete surprise
The James Bullbrook Memorial Scholarship was created in honour of our dear friend and colleague James Bullbrook, who treasured the trips he made to Woodward with his son, Richie. Today, Richie is one of Canada’s top-ranked park and vert skateboarders, and trains with the 2028 Olympic Games in his sights while advocating for mental health and supporting his local skateboarding community. His pursuit continues a promise he made to his dad — and demonstrates what can grow when a young skateboarder’s passion is met with unwavering support.
This year, we increased the annual award from 500 USD to 650 USD — and Logan became the first recipient of the increased amount.
Once Logan learned he was going to Camp Woodward, he decided he didn’t want to know anything else about it. His mom, Staci, did the research, but Logan asked her to keep it to herself. He wanted the whole experience to be a surprise.
Logan spent the week exploring Woodward’s 18 skateparks, working with his coach, Ryan, and setting goals for new tricks. He didn’t land everything he attempted, but he practised, got closer and kept trying. He did land a caveman late shove, earning a jersey from STOKED, a New York youth organization for “best trick”.
One of his favourite parts of camp was meeting other young athletes: “Most of those kids at camp were dedicated, passionate skateboarders, just like Logan,” Staci said. “You don’t find those kids everywhere.”
Logan came home with new skills, new friends and a new sense of what he could do.
“I’m just more confident,” he said.
Staci also saw a major leap in his independence. She had wondered whether being away from home for a week might be difficult. Instead, she barely heard from him.
“I heard from him when he wanted money added to his card,” she laughed. “Then, for the whole week, silence.”
A community gets behind Logan
The scholarship started Logan on his way to Woodward. Then his community stepped forward to help get him there.
Staci organized a raffle through the cannabis store she owns. A local café and pizza shop donated gift certificates, her brother contributed a free haircut from his barbershop and customers bought raffle tickets. Members of the local fire department also pitched in after meeting Logan at the skatepark.
A GoFundMe campaign brought additional support, including a $500 donation from a former Woodward camper whose own mother had raised money to send him in the 1990s. He wanted another young skateboarder to have the same opportunity.
“It was a complete 360,” Staci said. “It was really neat.”
That support reflected something Logan already understood: skateboarding is about more than tricks.
“It’s about coming together to skate,” he wrote in his application.
It is also about determination. After being diagnosed with dyslexia, Logan spent three months working his way through Goosebumps books. By the time he applied, he had finished three novels. He also shared that although his epilepsy is under control, the “what ifs” can still be frightening. Neither challenge has stopped him from learning or pursuing what he loves.
“This is proof that if I put my mind to it, I can do anything,” he wrote.
That spirit followed Logan to Woodward: set a goal, take a fall and get back on the board.
Now he is home, skating for hours each day and thinking about where his board might take him next — including the legendary Brooklyn Banks in New York.
His experience captures exactly what James knew about skateboarding: young people thrive when families, friends and communities get behind their passion.
Know a young Canadian skateboarder with that kind of drive? Visit the James Bullbrook Memorial Scholarship page and watch for details about the next application period.
