On Sunday October 1, 2023, Walk Toronto hosted a walk to mark our 10th anniversary. Led by members of Walk Toronto’s steering committee, the walk began at Metro Hall, where Walk Toronto was founded at a lively, well-attended public meeting in February 2013. The walk began symbolically at 10:00 am, on a beautiful, sunny, warm morning. Steering committee member Dylan Reid began the proceedings, and introduced Michael Black, who talked about how he had been inspired to start a group to represent pedestrians in Toronto and brought together the initial committee that organized that first meeting. Lee Scott then shared how she had been inspired to join Walk Toronto’s steering committee more recently, and then explained how prizes, donated by the Spacing Store, would be randomly given out at the end of the walk based on sealed tickets participants picked up at the start — and swapped twice with other participants on the way, helping to get the participants talking to each other.
The walk then worked its way through downtown Toronto, with stops to talk about walking issues that Walk Toronto has been involved in and many lively comments and questions from the participants. Dylan Reid discussed wayfinding at the complex University/York/Front intersection, and then in front of Union Station Sean Marshall talked about the City’s inability to replace the ugly jersey barriers originally installed for safety but that now, 5 years later, hinder movement on foot.
The walk continued to Berczy Park, where Daniella Levy-Pinto talked about the importance of accessibility and the way the semi-shared Scott Street had been designed, and Dylan Reid talked about desire lines, benches, and beg buttons.
Working north, the walk passed by multiple construction zones, where Lee Scott shared the work Walk Toronto has been doing with its partners to improve the safety of these zones, which often block sidewalks and pedestrian crossings.
At Yonge-Dundas Square, Sean Marshall spoke about the plans to narrow Yonge Street through the Yonge TOmorrow plan, for which he has represented Walk Toronto as a stakeholder.
Finally, the walk wrapped up at City Hall, where Dylan Reid described the various ways Walk Toronto works to advocate for pedestrians, including through city councillors, city staff, the media, and the public. To wrap things up, Lee Scott orchestrated the prize reveals, sending some lucky participants home with Spacing Store merchandise, while steering committee members stayed and talked informally with many of the participants..
The walk joined the Jane’s Walk led by Walk Toronto in the spring as a highly suitable way to mark 10 years of pedestrian advocacy.
