On Friday May 1st – Sunday May 3rd 2015, hundreds of people throughout Metro Vancouver will come together to walk and talk about what makes a good city for the Jane’s Walk festival. The festival is a global movement of free, locally led walking tours inspired by iconic writer and urban activist Jane Jacobs.
Now in its 9th year, the festival is open to individuals of all ages, abilities and income levels. People can sign up to create a walk of their own, lead a walk with others or participate in one. The walks create the time and space for people to learn about their cities, connect with their neighbours and share ideas. Walks can also provide participants with the opportunity to build community and promote walking as a healthy activity.
This year’s walks in Coquitlam span a huge range of themes from exploring communities to society. The Jane’s Walk Festival helps build resilient communities while encouraging walking.
Some of the walk themes that have taken place over the years include: being a newcomer to a community, food access and security, public art, public spaces, accessibility, health and wellbeing, sports, safety, revitalization and much more!
In 2014, there were more than 1000 walks in more than 130 cities around the world. More than 35 walks took place throughout Metro Vancouver alone.
This year TravelSmart has issued a friendly mayoral challenge throughout Metro Vancouver to see which city can host the most Jane’s Walks. With a growing number of walks posted throughout the region, 2015 is shaping up to be the most successful Jane’s Walk yet.
Every perspective is important to building vibrant and healthy cities.
If you have a fun, informative, unusual way of looking at your neighbourhood, then Jane’s Walk wants you to host a walking conversation through your community!
Organizing a walk is easy. It involves planning a route, thinking through the stories, places, people and ideas you want to hear and talk about, and then registering it online in your Metro Vancouver city. Here are few:
http://janeswalk.org/canada/coquitlam/.
http://janeswalk.org/canada/vancouver/
http://janeswalk.org/canada/abbotsford/
http://janeswalk.org/canada/burnaby/
http://janeswalk.org/canada/langley/
http://janeswalk.org/canada/new-westminster/
http://janeswalk.org/canada/bowen-island-bc/
http://janeswalk.org/canada/wwwsurreyca/
***
