Any time you can combine a passion with an opportunity and at the same time address a social need, you should count yourself lucky.

And that is what Melisa Stefaniw and Alex Man are doing after such a convergence allowed them to launch one of Dauphin’s newest businesses.

Back in Blacks, operating out of the former Blacks Cycle and Sporting Goods location on Main Street South, is a new consignment business focussing on redistributing used sporting equipment and apparel along with bike repairs.

“Alex and I have been heavily involved with Northgate Trails. We know there’s a huge need for sporting goods and cycle repairs in the community,” Stefaniw said, adding she was a founding member of the Dauphin Derailleurs Cycle Club Inc., while Mann was the trail designer working on the Northgate system.

“We are deeply, deeply tied to that sort of rec. asset in this community. Both of us have extensive backgrounds in outdoor recreation. Both of us have been coaches for a really long time  and competitors in various different types sports, really across the board with what we’ve done, winter and summer sports, team sports. We want to be able to support youth and teams in the community through our passion for it.”

Find the full story in this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.