Our Story

Ciclomanias started out as the dream of two high school students from the city of Aguascalientes, México: Elizabeth Romo Rábago and Marco Adolfo Rivera Muñoz. Ever since, Ciclomanias has been built upon three goals that have been key to its development in Mexico and Canada:

  1. Create capacity and empower underrepresented and marginalized groups.
  2. Develop environmental education programs to raise awareness about the imperative need to act towards environmental protection and social justice.
  3. Produce unique, useful, and environmentally friendly goods that contribute to a circular economy and the appreciation of hand-made artwork.

Ludoplastia

Since 2002, Ciclomanias has had the pleasure to incorporate the Ludoplastia technique to hand-made a wide variety of upcycled art and crafts. The Ludoplastia Technique (from the Greek words Ludos – play and Plasté- shape), is a technique created by a Mexican architect and artist, José Luis Vargas Luévano, that uses geometric shapes. He suggested that “to be able to play with the geometric shapes one should first know their origin” to finally create objects full of art.

Our artwork is based on this principle of playing with geometric shapes to represent any object in a three dimensional space using recycled materials such as corrugated cardboard, tin cans, bottle caps, and plastic bottles. The designs and colors used in our artwork reflect elements of nature, plants, animals and landscapes seen in different seasons and settings.

Never too Late to Make a Difference

In 2003, Ciclomanias developed a social service to connect undergraduate students with seniors’ communities throughout the City of Aguascalientes with upcycling workshops. The program was called “Never too late to make a difference”. It was a great way to connect Art, environmental conservation while building communities. These workshops helped both generations to talk about environmental issues, particularly waste in a fun, artistic and productive way. The upcycled art and crafts made during these sessions were sold and provided an extra income for the seniors that otherwise had limited job opportunities.

This was the beginning of Ciclomanias’ holistic approach to integrate the three pillars of Sustainability by protecting our environment with productive activities while empowering underrepresented and marginalized groups.



Timeline

2023

Ciclomanias was awarded by TELUS Community Boards to build a comprehensive school garden at Chief Jacob Bearspaw School. The community garden aims to be a hub where not only elementary and high school students can interact but also any community member can participate. The main themes include food growing activities and educational workshops with a focus on waste reduction, regenerative food production to identify solutions for a secure food supply.



Ciclomanias Timeline

Publication of Lotli a children coloring and activities book which talks about the origin of the Monarch Butterfly, its biology and conservation.

Lotli children coloring and activities book
Online upcycling sessions

TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund

Ciclomanias Timeline

2022

Ciclomanias was awarded by TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund to build a comprehensive community garden and to develop a program with hands-on learning activities for Eden Valley community members while embedding Traditional knowledge and the teaching of plants. This program builds on the First Nations Zero Waste Ambassadors program and aims to address food insecurity while fostering community education on sustainable food production and strengthening the local food system.

2021

Ciclomanias was awarded by the Arusha centre and the Calgary Dollars initiative with the Take Action Grant to develop the Zero Waste Ambassadors at Home Program.



Ciclomanias in partnership with the First Nations Technical Services Advisory Group developed the First Nations Zero Waste Ambassador Program.

Ciclomanias Timeline
Zero Waste Ambassadors at Home Program


Online upcycling sessions


Online upcycling sessions

Ciclomanias Timeline

2020

Started offering online upcycling sessions.

Online upcycling sessions


Waste is not waste summer camp




Ciclomanias in partnership with Nature’s Ride, developed and delivered the Waste is not waste summer camp.

2019

Design the speaker gifts for the Recycling Council of Alberta Conference. Jasper, Alberta, Canada.

Ciclomanias Timeline
Speaker gifts for the Recycling Council of Alberta Conference


Speaker gifts for the Recycling Council of Alberta Conference


International Christmas Market. Spruce Meadows. Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

International Christmas Market


International Christmas Market

Calgary Baby and Tot show


Calgary Baby and Tot show

Ciclomanias Timeline

2018

Participation at the Calgary Baby and Tot Show facilitating upcycling workshops and providing environmentally friendly Art decoration for the Show. Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Eco-Toppers for the Calgary Baby and Tot Show


Eco-Toppers for the Calgary Baby and Tot Show

2017

Participation at the Festival of Crafts, Our Best to you, and Butterdome Craft Show. Calgary, Red Deer, and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Ciclomanias Timeline
Our Best to you Red Deer Craft Show


Our Best to you Red Deer Craft Show

Publication of Lotli a bilingual children book which talks about the origin of the Monarch Butterfly, its biology and conservation.

Lotli, the origin of the Monarch Butterfly illustrated book

Lotli, the origin of the Monarch Butterfly illustrated book

Lotli performance at the Lilac Festival


Lotli performance at the Lilac Festival

International Children's Festival, St. Albert


International Children's Festival, St. Albert

Ciclomanias Timeline

2016

Participation at the International Children’s Festival,Fringe Festival, Mexifest, Canada Day and Lilac Festival, Etsy Made in Canada, Valley Zoo. Edmonton, and Calgary area.

Mexifest, Calgary


Mexifest, Calgary

2015

Started offering Birthday parties for kids and adults.


Ciclomanias Timeline
Birthday Party with Ocean Theme


Birthday Party with Ocean Theme

Applefest Lethbridge Sustainable Living Association. Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

Applefest


Applefest

Sustainability ON Award received from president emerita of the University of Calgary, M. Elizabeth Cannon


Sustainability ON Award received from president emerita of the University of Calgary, M. Elizabeth Cannon

Ciclomanias Timeline

2014

Sustainability ON Award received for Ciclomanias work developed in Canada and Mexico. University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

2013

Participation with a booth and delivering a session for teachers at the Calgary Teachers Convention. Calgary, Alberta, Canada.


Ciclomanias Timeline
Vermicomposting Program for Grade 4 students


Vermicomposting Program for Grade 4 students

Development of Vermicomposting Program and worms bin rental.

Worms bin rental


Worms Bin Rental

Nature’s Ride
Ciclomanias Timeline

2012

Ciclomanias partnered with Nature’s Ride to develop environmental education programs by integrating Art and Science in Canada and Mexico.

Everybody’s World Akai and Mamoo concert.


Everybody’s World Akai and Mamoo concert

The Adventures of Akai and Mamoo Book and CD launched at "Everybody's world" concert.

2011

Participation in Mexico and Canada’s Summer and Fall Festivals such as: Ecofest, Fiestaval Latino., Chinese Market, Mount Royal University, Chateau Renoir, Haysboro Community Centre, Dalhousie Community Centre, and Triwood Community Centre. Calgary, Canada.

Ciclomanias Timeline
EcoFest


EcoFest

Chinatown Street Festival Go Eco


Chinatown Street Festival Go Eco

Las páginas verdes
Ciclomanias Timeline

2010

Ciclomanias joined Las paginas Verdes which is a platform for environmentally friendly products and services. Mexico.

2009

Ciclomanias started operations in Canada and joined Calgary Dollars Initiative accepting up to 30 % Calgary Dollars in any purchase.

Ciclomanias Timeline
Calgary Dollars
Participation at INEGI


Participation at INEGI

Ciclomanias Timeline

2008

Talks, workshops, and exhibition of art & crafts in The “Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática” (National Institute of Statistics, Geography, and Informatics; INEGI). Aguascalientes, Mexico.

2007

Ciclomanias received support from the Secretariat of Economy in Aguascalientes, Mexico to train and employ women and seniors from the City of Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Ciclomanias Timeline
Conchita y Lichita


Conchita y Lichita

Talamantes Ponce seniors club


Talamantes Ponce seniors club

Ecotianguis at the Park


Ecotianguis at the Park

Ciclomanias Timeline

2006

Upcycling workshops offerings at the Ecotianguis in the Environmental Education Center “Rodolfo Landeros Gallegos”, Aguascalientes, Mexico.

2005

Ciclomanias’ co-founders were awarded with the Youth State Award, Entrepreneur Category awarded by the Government of Aguascalientes, Mexico.


Participation as a speaker and with a booth at the inaugural Conference of the Environmental Week organized by the Civil Association “Biohuellas”. Jalostotitlán, Jalisco State, Mexico.

Ciclomanias Timeline
Youth State Award


Youth State Award

Culture and Arts Award


Culture and Arts Award

Ciclomanias Timeline

2004

Ciclomanias’ volunteer project was a recipient of the Culture and Arts Award - Urban Culture Category awarded by the Mexican Cultural Institute (ICA). Aguascalientes, Mexico.

2003

Development of a volunteer project, with the objective of facilitating upcycling activities and encouraging collaboration between university students and senior citizens. These workshops were offered in different communities across Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Ciclomanias Timeline
Never too late to make a difference


Never too late to make a difference

Jose Luis Vargas Luevano


Jose Luis Vargas Luevano

Ciclomanias Timeline

2002

Ciclomanias started using the Ludoplastia technique created by the Mexican architect and artist Jose Luis Vargas Luévano.

2001

Ciclomanias Business Idea was born.

Ciclomanias Timeline
Youth and Government State Forum


Youth and Government State Forum