"An annual extravaganza of pedestrian urban love known as Jane's Walk"
- Torontoist.com
Jane's Walk 2009 (May 2 & 3) was a smashing success! Over 10,000 people across North America got out and explored their cities - and we officially went global with one walk in Mumbai, India. Participants and volunteer tour guides report feeling elated and inspired after connecting with so many people, in so many different places about how we care about our the present and future of our neighbourhood and neighbours. Jane's Walks has quickly become a powerful and adaptable vehicle for bringing people together to express their hopes and insights for livable and resilient places to live and work.
If you want to see some photos from Jane's Walk 2009, check this flickr photo pool, and read below for some stories and comments. Please drop us a line and let us know how Jane's Walk went in your neighbourhood:
We did the Jane-Finch walk yesterday, and what an amazing experience it was. I fell totally in love with the kids who led us around -- they were smart and funny and full of stories and enthusiasm. We both felt incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to meet them and see their hood through their eyes. - C.T., a walker in Toronto
During the very successful “Jane’s Walk” held Saturday morning in Windsor, I overheard one man say "I've never had so much hope..." and I thought you should hear it too. It is the reason so many of us are pushing forward the “urban agenda” in this city, and hearing comments like that one keeps the momentum going. Apparently, he has never felt so much hope for the future of our city as he did when he saw so many engaged and concerned citizens participating in the walk, discussing the numerous possibilities Walkerville has and envisioning it’s glowing future. - Chris, Scaledown blogger
I think the Jungle Jaunt tour was a big success and I really enjoyed being a tour guide. At first I thought the walk would be a huge failure, because usually if someone talks about Jungle they will think guns, violence, drugs, etc. But I felt really good after the tour because all the people were talking to me about how they enjoyed the tour, and how they wish they can come and live in Jungle. The tour showed the positive side of the Lawrence Heights Community. I would like to thank you all for taking time to help us show what Jungle is really like so more and more people will want to come and visit our community. - Jungle Jaunt youth tour guide in Lawrence Heights, Toronto
My husband and I did the Jewish History tour in Kensington Market and a something very sweet happened - we were in front of the St. Andrew Schul and the Rabbi came out and was very surprised to see everyone. But he needed some men to complete his minyan for the prayers taking place, so he gathered them from the crowd, my husband being one of them! - E.K., a walker in Toronto
An eager, all-ages, close to 60-member group joined this enthusiastic, articulate, bubbly young lady today for a super fun-filled and informative walk around the Thornhill ending at a Bagelry and Coffee shop to celebrate. There were delightful tales all along the way and everyone participated and basked in the newly found friendships. I cannot wait for the next walk – I learned so much from today’s experience. - J.G., a walker in Thornhill, Ontario
2009 was the third annual Jane's Walk, and in Canada, free walking tours led by volunteers were offered in 263 neighbourhoods in 24 towns and cities . Inspired by urban activist Jane Jacobs and her grassroots approach to city-building, the walks put people in touch with their environment and with each other, bridging social and geographic gaps and creating a space for cities to discover themselves.
The life and work of Jane Jacobs, a Toronto resident from 1968 until her death in 2006, continue to inspire citizens and planners to look closely at how people live, work and play in their urban environment. First published in 1961, Jane Jacobs' classic book The Death and Life of the Great American Cities was based on the day-to-day observation of street life in diverse city neighbourhoods. Jane Jacobs' eye was always at ground level, and she felt strongly that no grand planning scheme could substitute for an understanding of people's everyday experience of the city. For her, the best way to get to know parks, sidewalks and streets was on foot. As she put it, "You've got to get out and walk!"
Jane's Walk is a simple idea that can be adapted to all kinds of different communities and settings. Some tours look at urbanism and the built environment; some wind their way through parks and ravines; some introduce walkers to vibrant street life; and some focus on a neighbourhood's social history and hidden stories. Here's a simple tip sheet on leading a Jane's Walk. If you're interested in bringing Jane's Walk to your city or town in the future, scope out more information on this website in 'How to Jane's Walk' and get in touch.
If you are interested in bringing Jane's Walk to your community, either by offering a walk or programming a series of them, get in touch to learn more.
