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Ontarians Walking Now (OWN) is a two year project with funding support from the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion’s Communities in Action Fund, running until March 31, 2011. OWN is assisting communities in putting pedestrians first in their planning processes in order to create sustainable, healthy, active communities. OWN has also encouraged the activity of walking by introducing resources and activities to meet the urgent need to get Ontarians walking NOW! Examples have included: Pedometer challenges, pedometer library lending programs, walking months and festivals, Urban Poling, and an indoor walking program, Get W.I.T.H. it! created by Canadian pedometer company, StepsCount.
A series of regional workshops were held in the spring of 2009 that brought together teams of municipal leaders, planners, transportation demand management professionals, parks, public health, fitness and recreation professionals, and school board officials. Together, they are working to create walkable communities. An important component of the full day workshop was the development of a customized community action plan. OWN team members are now following up with the communities involved in the project at intervals, to ensure implementation of the action steps and provide ongoing support and expertise.
A webinar version of OWN was held for remote and rural communities with 26 communities from as far north as Sioux Lookout participating.
Those communities that are doing the best job of implementation are eligible for incentive prizes from Green Communities Canada, courtesy of our partners Urban Poling and StepsCount.
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A prize of 10 pairs of Urban Poles for best immediate implementation of actions was awarded to Uxbridge Township Mayor Bob Shepherd on November 13th. Highlights of Uxbridge Township actions:
- Township staff attended an Urban Poling Instructor course within days of attending the OWN workshop;
- within the 3 month time frame, Urban Poling demos were held, a loan program set up at the community centre, and regular classes are now being held;
- a pedometer lending program was initiated at the library;
- October was declared “Walking Month” and a Trails Festival was held on October 3rd with Uxbridge Township officially being declared as the Trails Capital of Canada;
- an Indoor Walking Trail kicked off in early November using the halls of Uxbridge Secondary School;
- Uxbridge Council signed the International Charter for Walking;
- planning is now underway for the revitalization of downtown with many considerations to improving the pedestrian experience.
A prize of 10 pairs of Urban Poles for best short-term implementation of actions was awarded to the Town of Ajax. Highlights of Ajax actions:
- Used OWN pedometer kit to create a walking challenge. “Ajax is Walking” began on July 2nd, 2009, with the goal of participants walking the 6,250,000 steps from Ajax to Vancouver in time for the start of the Vancouver Olympics starting February 12. Just before the end of 2009, the 5 million step mark was surpassed. Pedometer kits have been placed in each of the Town’s three libraries. The kits are signed out like a book or DVD for one week. A monthly draw is conducted for each person that returns the kits on time. The Main Branch has had a wait list for the majority of time since the July 2nd launch!
- Creating a pedestrian and bicycling master plan that will be an integral part of the Ajax Forward: Vibrant Streets comprehensive transportation plan. Ajax Forward is part of the official plan review.
- Ajax Forward: Vibrant Streets calls for adoption of the Child and Youth-Friendly Transportation and Land Use Planning Guidelines and incorporates all the principles of the International Charter for Walking.
- Ajax Forward: Vibrant Streets includes developing and facilitating active and safe routes to school.
- Investigating the implementation of School Travel Planning.
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