Survey Results - June 2011

The following comments were extracted directly from the walking surveys submitted to this web site – no edits have been made.

Quotes from surveys

I use Nordic poles and find they give a greater workout, plus add stability to this 63 year old.

I would like to encourage everyone to make a pledge to walk distances that are less than two kilometers from their home or workplace rather than driving.

I walk as much as possible, don’t own a car, and take GO transit for longer distances. So glad to discover your organization!

Walkable communities for both urban, suburban and rural settings are key to having a healthier population.

We support walking, we just had a new shopping area come to our part of town and we are excited because we can bike or walk to do most of our shopping. I also work across the street from a grocery store and usually walk on my lunch to pick up the groceries. We are all for supporting walking when possible and we have a very nice trail behind the General and CHEO hospitals where there are a number of trees and a very nice walking path.

Great exercise for us seniors and it’s free!

I wish the government helped rural communities improve their little parks, playgrounds, walking paths, sidewalks, etc. - especially if they were linkable.

I promote the sport of Nordic Walking whenever I can.

I chose to buy an old Victorian in downtown Hamilton two years ago. Raised in Hamilton I had returned after thirty years away. There were many changes in the downtown core but I was determined to get some real estate and found my home in the midst of an active city. It took me a while to get used to being so urban. I gradually began exploring my new turf and discovered – on foot – an amazing city. When I landed a contract position ten minutes from home I was thrilled. I love walking to work. I have purchased a “bundle buggy”; something I never dreamed of using when I lived in suburbia. I don a backpack when required and have a bunch of comfy shoes, two umbrellas, warm scarves and hats and often stretch my walk home to enjoy my city. Walk-on!

I look forward to Halifax support the World Walking Charter- then perhaps we could get down to actually making the city a more walkable community!

Great work! People love to walk but need more facilities and less sprawling unwalkable built form. Thanks for helping to improve health for all.

Seen the presentation by Mandy Johnson. Great job and very interesting. I would have loved to hear more but time was running out. Thank you again fro coming to North Bay.

We need to take Canada Walks into our school system. The local Health Alliance is asking the communities’ help with ways to encourage participation in our area. I suggest a pilot project beginning in September of each year, where the school is sectioned off into competing groups and awards given for each 5km walking and year end awards. The only rule would be a daily “warm up walk” of a minimum of 5 minutes or 2 laps (1/2 km) prior to recess play. For the more social children, walking might become their active recess. I believe children learn from a young age, and this “warm up” program would encourage participation in exercise that anyone can do. As well, I often thought that small communities could attract walkers to their downtown core, to visit local attractions by creating a 1, 5, and 10 km trail through the town. These permanent self-walking tours could be marked with signs or painted foot markers on pavement. Sponsorship from local business and/or brochures could also be available along the tour.

Walkable communities supports the Healthy Vision paper produced by the F/P/T Ministers. It is also a key component of the Age Friendly Communities Initiatives. Providing the opportunity for individuals to be able to walk safely in their community promotes healthy active living, the ability to stay connected with friends, and certainly with older adults will also help to maintain their mental health and well-being.

6 years ago I sold my car and moved closer to work so that I can walk there every day. I now save more money and get more exercise as a result. I look forward to the day when all of the services that I require are also within walking distance of my home.

I am sad that almost everyday I walk with my kids to school, someone always does not obey the crossing guard. I hope as more people start to walk, vehicle drivers have a change in attitude for all our safety.

We chose to buy our home in a community that provided safe and easy access to the necessities in life. We can walk to the grocery store, pharmacy, several schools, universities and work. Our connection to each other has increased and our sense of responsibility to the community has never been stronger. ~Waterloo, Ontario

Brilliant! An exhilarating way to stay in shape, get to know one’s community and slow down global warming! Gimli, ~Manitoba

It is great to see GCC launch Canada Walks – we’ve long since needed much more attention brought to pedestrian issues! ~Vancouver, BC

This is a truly simple and effective idea. ~Toronto, Ontario

We all need to walk a little more! ~Sudbury, Ontario