THUNDER BAY – Mayor Lynn Peterson led in the celebration of International Walk to School Day by cutting the ribbon to the new Windsor Street sidewalk. St. Pius & Algonquin Avenue School students, parents, school board officials, city partners and the Active & Safe Routes to School Committee were all on hand to encourage Thunder Bay elementary students to use our sidewalks and travel actively to school.
International Walk to School Day is a worldwide event that involves millions of children walking or biking to school to raise awareness of the benefits of active transportation.
“This is such a wonderful way to emphasize the importance of increasing physical activity among children and to highlight pedestrian safety,” says Mayor Lynn Peterson. “When children and parents are walking, we reduce the number of vehicles on our roads, we help the environment and we build connections between families, schools and the broader community.”
Transportation is one of the single largest sources of air pollution in Canada. With excess vehicle traffic, pollution is a concern in our school zones. For every breath an adult breaths, a child will take three breaths. This leaves children three times more susceptible to pollution than adults. Walking and cycling are great emissions-free modes of transportation
“We have become so accustomed to the convenience of using a vehicle for most of our common errands that we’ve forgotten how easy and fun walking is,” says Hanna Janiec, Public Health Nurse at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. “We need events like this to remind ourselves and teach our children that walking is an easy, fun and great way to stay healthy.”
The City of Thunder Bay is committed to making our community healthier by planning Active Transportation corridors throughout the City for walking and biking. The Active & Safe Routes to School Committee is made up of representatives from the City of Thunder Bay, EcoSuperior and the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.
Further information about International Walk to School Day can be found at www.saferoutestoschool.ca.