WINNIPEG, MB – On Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4, Winnipeg will join ten North American cities in hosting Jane’s Walk, a tribute to the late Jane Jacobs, renowned urban thinker, writer and promoter of livability and walkable cities. The walks are free and open to the public.
“This is a great opportunity for Winnipeggers to see our unique neighbourhoods through the eyes of passionate residents,” said Jino Distasio, Director of The University of Winnipeg’s Institute of Urban Studies. Distasio will be leading a “walk” through his own neighbourhood of Riverview on Saturday. “I hope to be able to share some stories about Riverview and its great history such as telling people about Riverpark which was once Winnipeg’s greatest destination.”
“What is amazing about the neighbourhood walks is that in our first year, we have 14 different neighbourhoods represented and we may have more by the weekend,” said Beth McKechnie, Program Coordinator, Green Commuting Initiatives, Resource Conservation Manitoba.
Jane’s Walk is a coordinated series of free neighbourhood walking tours given by locals who care passionately about where they live, work and play. Jane’s Walk is about raising urban literacy by offering a pedestrian-focused event that combines insights into urban history, planning, design and civic engagement with the simple act of walking and observing. Jane’s Walk took place in Toronto and New York in 2007, and is now expanding to Ottawa, Calgary, Winnipeg and Vancouver.
Jane’s Walk was started by The Centre for City Ecology (CCE), a Toronto-based think tank influenced by the writings and activism of Jane Jacobs. CCE administers and sponsors Jane’s Walk in Canada and internationally.
The following Winnipeg Jane’s Walks will be occurring over the weekend. Complete details about meeting places and tour times are posted at http://www.janeswalk.net.
Gilbert Park: Generation Pathway
Spence Neighbourhood: Old Wolseley
The Multi-cultural West End: Explore our World
Downtown: The Heart of the City
People before Profit: Welcome to the North End
Wolseley: History Under theTrees
Unslumming: Historical Look at North Point Douglas
Kingston Crescent
Walk through Bois des Esprit (the Forest of Spirits)
Inner City Hope: The Recent History of West Broadway
West Wolseley: Transforming the Landscape
Riverview: A Neighbourhood with Soul
St. Norbert Dike Hike
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Diane Poulin, Communications, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135 E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca
