Over the past four decades, Bob Sagon-King has helped thousands of students kick-start their riding journeys on the right track – ensuring that safety is never in the rearview.

Sagon-King has been a fixture of Motorcycle Training at NC since 1983. His dedication to motorcycle safety and education has recently led him to receive special honours: the King Charles III Coronation Medal by the Office of the Governor General, awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to Canada. The medal was delivered to his Thorold home in early March, along with a letter explaining its significance.

It was as unexpected as it was meaningful for Sagon-King, Motorcyle Training Program Coordinator, resonating with his strong belief in the quality of the training program in Niagara. In his view, the accomplishments of his team over-ride any of his personal achievements.

“To have the Governor-General, the Canada Safety Council, the King recognize what I have done – I’m honoured,” he said. “I am immensely proud of the team of instructors that we have here at Niagara and I look at that medal as their award.

“They’re the guys and girls that are out there weekend after weekend in the miserable weather and the bright spots … the folks getting the job done.”

Sagon-King has built a legacy of equipping novice, entry-level riders with the knowledge and skills they need to learn to ride a motorcycle safely – which, he noted, requires both physical and mental skills. His mission is to ensure that students not only meet the minimum requisite standards to pass their license test by the time they complete the course, but are well-prepared for their journeys ahead.

“We don’t make them safer. We give them the tools to make themselves safe,” he said. “That’s where the challenge is; to get them to not only understand that, but to take it away with them in a very positive way, that they’re going to apply to everything they need.”

Sagon-King’s vast experience goes beyond benefiting students at NC. He also teaches motorcycle training at Georgian College and, over the years, has taught at several other locations, including Humber College and the Rider Training Institute.

Road to adventure

Sagon-King grew up fascinated by cars and motorcycles. “If it had wheels, I wanted to know about it,” he recalled.

He was hooked on motorcycles since his very first ride as a 17 year old, during the sixties, when a friend had encouraged him to give it a try.

“We didn’t have special riding jackets. It was just the whole idea of being on two wheels, driving along the road. Literally wind in the face. Wind in the hair, no helmet. I wasn’t even wearing a pair of glasses,” he said. “So I was making very common mistakes on my first ride, but I was loving every minute of it.”

Years later, his wife spotted an ad in the newspaper looking for motorcycle instructors at Niagara College and suggested it could be a good fit for him. He attended an information session, liked what he heard, and signed up. He trained at NC and became a Canada Safety Council instructor.

In 1987, he became Chief Instructor and worked his way up to his current position of Motorcycle Training Coordinator.

Revving up student safety

While Sagon-King was among only a handful of motorcycle instructors at the College during the early days of his career, the team has grown to more than 20 over the years, along with its list of Motorcycle Training course offerings: Introduction to Motorcycling, Basic Rider Training, M2 Exit, Rider Training Motor-Tricycle, and Motorcycle Instructor’s Training Program courses, as well as a more recently introduced Try a Three-Wheeled two-hour session.

While he has become more geared to supervisory roles in recent years, he still instructs at the more advanced exit level.

Sagon-King takes great pride in the quality of motorcycle training at NC and the dedication and diligence of its NC staff members and instructors.

“We do not deviate in any way, shape or form from the curriculum. When students come here to receive their training, they get everything in that curriculum, no exception,” he said. “I am very, very proud of the high standards that we have set here.”

As an educator, he emphasizes that motorcycle safety is rider dependent.

“Rider error is the most common root cause of just about any traffic accidents,” he noted.

That’s why it’s important to focus on the mental aspects of riding.

“Where they position themselves on the road, when they’re riding, which lane they choose to ride in, or what route they choose to take,” he said. “There’s so many variables that determine how safe or unsafe their environment is.”

He teaches his students to be proactive, to always think about where they’re going and how they’re going to get there, so they can “arrive home smiling after every ride.”

‘There’s never a dull day’

Working at the College for the past 40 years, he feels that teaching students alongside a team of instructors, has “kept him young” at heart.

“I love working with the young folks. I’ve learned so much over the years,” he said. “There’s never a dull day.”

Of course, learning to ride a motorcycle can be a bumpy ride. But one of the greatest rewards for Sagon-King is to see students become empowered through their training, overcome their doubts and fears, and discover their own passion for motorcycle riding.

“Watching them progress, going from ‘they’ve never been on a two-wheeled vehicle of any kind before’  – they didn’t even ride a bicycle when they were young – and, the next thing you know, it’s Sunday afternoon and they’re cruising around our parking lots looking like they’ve been riding for years,” he said. “That’s the result of the team.”

While Sagon-King has never been one to strive for recognition, he is no stranger to awards. His King Charles III Coronation Medal is in good company alongside his Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, which he was awarded in 2002.

Team spirit in high gear

It was a College award however, that stands out most for Sagon-King. In 1999, he and his colleagues were presented with a Continuing Education Teaching Excellence Award in recognition of their outstanding commitment and dedication to teaching adults. While it doesn’t bear a royal title or crest, that NC award is close to his heart, because it was one he recalled sharing alongside the entire Motorcycle Training team.

“Our team puts through a lot of students over the course of a year,” he said. “The excitement, the thrill, the reward is still all there for every instructor.”

News of Sagon-King’s King Charles III Coronation medal was applauded by those who recognize his long-time impact on motorcycle education at NC.

“Bob’s humility shines through in his recent correspondence, where he attributes this recognition to the entire Motorcycle Training program team. Under his leadership, the program has flourished, largely thanks to the dedication of our senior and chief instructors, many of whom have been integral to our training initiatives since the late 1990s,” said Jessica Berecz, Associate Director, Workforce Development and Community Partnerships. “Their collective expertise ensures that our riders are well-prepared for the road, reflecting the high standards we uphold at Niagara College.”

Berecz highlighted how Motorcycle Training instructors have had a pivotal role in the program’s success over the years.

“Our instructors work tirelessly during long, hot weekends in the summer – a time when many NC employees are enjoying leisure activities. Their dedication ensures that only properly trained, safe, and competent riders are on the roads, contributing significantly to community safety in the Niagara region,” she said. “Their commitment aligns seamlessly with Niagara College’s mission of providing outstanding education and training.”

“I also think it goes without saying that the Motorcycle team is fulfilling the dreams of those who successfully come through our motorcycle training program.”

Explore NC Motorcycle Training

Motorcycle Training at NC revs up for the season each spring. For course information, visit niagaracollege.ca/parttimestudies/motorcycle/courses/

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– With files from NC Marketing/ Digital Media Coordinator Matthew Craggs