THUNDER BAY – This weekend Thunder Bay residents will take to the streets to mark the city’s inaugural participation in the 5th annual Jane’s Walk. Thunder Bay will host two free, neighbourhood tours that inspire citizens to get to know their city and each other by getting out and walking. Local participants will join walkers in more than 30 cities across Canada and more than 70 cities worldwide in celebration of Jane Jacobs’s birthday (May 4).
More than 12,000 walkers will take part in over 500 worldwide tours. New international Jane’s Walk partnerships this year include Sao Paulo (Brazil), Wuhan (China), Tel Aviv, (Israel), Colchester and Hereford (England), Berlin (Germany), Guadalajara (Mexico), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Carcar (Philippines).
“Jane Jacobs is the foremost urban thinker of our time,” says Jane Farrow, executive director of Jane’s Walk. “She encouraged people to familiarize themselves with the places where they live, work and play – believing in the importance of local residents having input on how their neighbourhoods develop.”
“Jane Jacobs pioneered understandings of the fundamental building blocks of safe neighbourhoods” says Amy Siciliano, Crime Prevention Coordinator at the City of Thunder Bay. “She propelled the notion that the safest urban neighbourhoods are those with an active, diverse street life. Her community-based approach to building strong neighbourhoods makes Jane’s Walk a natural fit for the goals of our Crime Prevention Council”.
About Jane’s Walk
Jane’s Walk cultivates a broad understanding of how cities organically develop and thrive. It works to advance walkable neighbourhoods and promote Jacob’s simple yet revolutionary idea that inclusive, mixed use neighborhoods are the key to the health, safety and survival of a city.
THUNDER BAY WALKS: Thunder Bay is hosting two walks on May 7th that truly showcase the diversity of our neighbourhoods: one in the heart of the downtown south core, another nestled in nature:
Come Celebrate the Neighbourhood with Evergreen a Walking Night Club -Join long-time residents and neighbourhood newcomers for a stroll through the Simpson-Ogden area. Hear first-hand stories about what it was like to grow up in one of Thunder Bay’s most ethnically-diverse enclaves, and learn about an exciting symbol of change in the neighbourhood. Visit established businesses while checking out some recent signs of renewal and reinvestment.
Wilderness in the City This walk begins at the South Neebing Community Centre for a stroll along Mountain and Coppin Rd. Along the way we will learn about the Nor’wester mountain range’s unique geological features and local wildlife. We will also get a glimpse of the spring run-off, check out a neighbourhood climbing wall, and a new city park in the foothills of the Nor’westers: Cowan Park Nature Reserve and Walking Trails.
For more information about the walks, maps, and starting times visit www.janeswalk.net and scroll down to “Thunder Bay”.
Twitter: @janeswalk | Hash tag: #jwalk | Facebook: Jane’s Walk
CONTACTS
Walking Tour Guides: Come Celebrate the Neighbourhood – Linda Bruins 626-0090
Wilderness in the City: Lorella Piirik 621-9297
Thunder Bay Jane’s Walk Facilitator: Amy Siciliano, Crime Prevention Council Coordinator
625-2554 / asiciliano@thunderbay.ca