Canada Walks

Canada Walks promotes the value of walking and walkability – follow us on Facebook and Twitter for walking news. Our past work included research on walkability and its benefits, and collaboration with local, regional, and national stakeholders to implement walkability policies and initiatives. Advocacy efforts by Green Communities Canada through Canada Walks was instrumental in leading up to the announcement of the country’s first ever National Active Transportation Strategy and Fund in 2021.

Walkability:

Walkability is a measure of how friendly an area is to walking.  Walkable communities/streets provide:

A great walking experience

Walking is fun, enjoyable and stimulating. Routes are pleasant and inviting, e.g., with paving stones, attractive light standards, trees and plants.

Safety

Walking routes are separated from vehicle traffic, vehicle speeds are controlled and enforced, lighting is good, and there are “eyes on the street” (adjacent homes and businesses with a view of the street). Ice and snow are cleared. Police patrol on foot.

Accessibility

Walking routes and connections are designed for all users, including those with mobility challenges. Sidewalks and adjacent uses (stores, services) are accessible for strollers, wheelchairs.

Connections

A complete network of sidewalks and trails enables walkers to get where they are going on foot. Walkways are uncluttered and wide enough to accommodate foot traffic, wheelchairs, strollers.

Comfort

Communities are developed so that desirable destinations are within walking distance. Housing is provided in existing built-up areas and new higher density areas are created.

Walkable Destinations

Walkers have shade, shelter and places to sit. The urban environment is designed to reduce wind and summer heat (urban heat island).

Resources By Green Communities Canada:

Green Communities Canada along with partners have completed several studies and surveys in various communities across the country. We have also developed toolkits and resources to help improve walkability. Here are a few:

The State of the Walking Movement in Canada: Survey Summary Report 2015 (PDF – 2.13 mb)

Canada Walks, with the assistance of Ryerson University, implemented a survey in 2015 to investigate the practices, resources, and needs of groups and organizations from across the country who promote walking and plan for walkability.

The Guide to Safer Streets Near Schools: Understanding Your Policy Options in the City of Toronto (PDF – 6.08 mb)

This guide helps schools and residents improve traffic safety in their neighbourhoods. It was developed by Green Communities Canada in partnership with Toronto Centre for Active Transportation, University of Toronto School of the Environment, Toronto Public Health, Toronto District School Board, and CultureLink Settlement & Community Services.

Frequency, Duration, & Destinations: GCC-CAA Walking Survey results

Case Studies

Walkability Roadshow Case Studies

The Walkability Roadshow, spearheaded by Green Communities Canada and Walk21, demonstrated how walkability can be achieved in suburban and rural communities, as well as urban centres.

Alberta

City of Red Deer

City of Lethbridge

Town of Strathmore

Town of Carstairs

Hamlet of Plamondon

Ontario

Entire Roadshow Case Study (28 mb)

Brantford

Collingwood

Sudbury

Haliburton/Minden

Halifax Regional Municipality

Minto Township

Peterborough

Toronto

Region of Waterloo

Ontario Communities WalkON Case Study

Toolkits and Masterclasses

Walking Master Classes:

City of Hamilton, Ontario

City of Moncton, New Brunswick

City of Kelowna/West Kelowna, British Columbia

City of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

walkON Walkability Toolkit, updated January 2009 as part of the Ontario Communities walkON project:

WalkON Walkability Toolkit PDF (6.68 Mb)

What you can do:

As a municipality

  • Sign the International Charter for Walking.
  • Adopt a walking strategy and walk friendly development approvals.
  • Hire a pedestrian planner.
  • Establish an advisory committee.

As an individual

  • Walk every day or as often as you can.
  • Learn how your community can become a great place to walk.
  • Learn the benefits of walking and walkability.
  • Walk your children to school and find out how your school can promote active school travel.
  • Talk to your elected representatives. Write letters to the editor.
  • Find a local group that supports walking. Or start one.

As a community organization

  • Educate yourselves and your community about walkability and its benefits.
  • Engage your community with:
    • workshops, outreach tables, media (see workshop guide from Heart and Stroke Foundation)
    • public walking tours that celebrate local history, architecture, environment
    • walking events – e.g., open streets
    • walking routes – maps/signs with points of interest
  • Form a walking club. Match walkers with buddies.
  • Conduct walking audits, identify barriers and priorities for action.
  • Talk to other community organizations and agencies and enlist their support for the walking agenda (e.g., neighbourhood groups, retail business, public health, police, seniors organizations, social organizations, cultural organizations …). 
  • Mount a community road-safety campaign. Refer to the Traffic Industry Research Foundation’s Community-Based Toolkit for Road Safety Campaigns.

Green Communities Canada’s other walking programs:

ONTARIO ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL

More walking and wheeling to school means safer school zones, healthier children, cleaner air and better academic performance. Our Ontario Active School Travel program is working with a host of partners to reverse the decline in active school travel with proven effective tools like School Travel Planning and the Walking School Bus.

Walk Friendly Ontario

WALK Friendly Ontario was a recognition program that encouraged municipalities to create and improve spaces and places to walk by awarding Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum designations.