Category: Events

On Saturday, March 4, 2024, Walk Toronto co-sponsored, with Yonge4All, a Jane’s Walk, “Why Sidewalks Matter,” exploring pedestrian infrastructure and issues along Yonge Street. The walk was led by Walk Toronto’s Lee Scott and Yonge4All’s Holly Reid. It began at Ramsden Park, and ended at Yonge and St. Clair. A big thanks to everyone who joined us for the walk!

The walk was live-tweeted by Yonge4All’s Robin Richardson, so the story of the walk is told here through those postings on X/Twitter.

The Walk Toronto and @Yonge4All Jane's Walk on Yonge Street getting started at Ramsden Park with @LeeScottWPW pic.twitter.com/KLCEGQeD4W

— Walk Toronto (@Walk_TO) May 4, 2024

@LeeScottWPW talks about advocacy opportunities ranging from groups like @Walk_TO and @Yonge4All to submitting requests to @311Toronto and applying for Neighbourhood Projects funding. https://t.co/c4qCTUYwcn pic.twitter.com/X2phqG9Rj5

— Yonge4All (@Yonge4All) May 4, 2024

Just north of the rail overpass, @LeeScottWPW discusses the potential to improve the underpass with lighting, murals, and raised cycle tracks. pic.twitter.com/Q6Z7MvIbAU

— Yonge4All (@Yonge4All) May 4, 2024

@LeeScottWPW observes that true complete streets – with greenery, artwork, pedestrian crossings, etc. – reduce speeding and improve safety for all road users. pic.twitter.com/bMEi2ljxbZ

— Yonge4All (@Yonge4All) May 4, 2024

Thank you @CanadaRobin and @Yonge4All for live-tweeting our walk!

— Walk Toronto (@Walk_TO) May 8, 2024

Walk Toronto was honoured to be the recipient of the 2023 Safety Leadership Award from the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. Walk Toronto has worked closely with trial lawyers on many initiatives, including the proposed provincial Vulnerable Road Users Law and the Office of the Chief Coroners Review on Cycling and Pedestrian Deaths. We thank the OTLA for their kind recognition! Walk Toronto’s Dylan Reid and Lee Scott accepted the award at a reception and awards ceremony on April 18, 2024.

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.

As part of the annual Jane’s Walk festival, Walk Toronto led a Jane’s Walk on Sunday, May 7, 2023 through the Old Town (aka St. Lawrence) neighbourhood of Toronto, looking at pedestrian issues and infrastructure along with revealing some local history and hidden gems. The walk was in part to help mark Walk Toronto’s 10th anniverary — we began in 2013!

The walk was led by Walk Toronto steering committee members Doug Vallery, who works in the Old Town neighbourhood, and Dylan Reid, with a contribution from Lee Scott. Although the weather turned to heavy rain, we were pleased to still get a turnout of around 20 people.

We talked about the infrastructure and amenities that affect the safety and the joy of walking in the city, including accessibility, sidewalk design, intersections, flexible streets, and more – with an added sprinkling of history about this storied area.

The walk began and Berczy Park and ended in front of Meridien Hall, with visits to Courthouse Square, St. James Park, and Market Lane Park along the way.

We hope you can join us for an appreciation walk around the grounds of Ontario Place on the Toronto waterfront this Sunday, November 13, from 10 am to 11:30 am.

Why the urgency? The Ontario government is asking for public input via an online “virtual station” survey. The deadline for completing the survey is Friday, November 18. You may find it to be confusing.

That’s why we are offering this appreciation walk to get to know the site in person and to help you better understand the proposed changes.
Various organizations and media are encouraging the government to leave it entirely as public parkland. You can read media discussion on the website of advocacy group OntarioPlace4All. A couple of members of this organization will be joining us on the walk to offer insight into the government’s proposed plans. With this knowledge we can better participate in the public consultation process –– including the current survey.

We hope you can join us. Bring your family and friends.  

We will meet at the William G. Davis Trail at the entrance to Trillium Park (corner of Ontario Place Blvd and Remembrance Drive). Dress warmly. It is cool at the waterfront if there is a breeze. The walk will loop back to the start point and is wheelchair accessible although parts of the trail can be rough. The Royal Winter Fair is still happening on the Exhibition grounds so plan accordingly. Our start location is a 20 minute walk from the Exhibition GO station, 14 minute walk from the 509/511 streetcar stop at Manitoba Ave and Strachan (wheelchair accessible), note the 29C Dufferin bus will not go through the Ex grounds during the Royal Winter Fair (stops at Dufferin Gate loop). 

Photo by Lee Scott

Walk Toronto is hosting Right to Walk,  an event that explores walking – the love of it, our need for it, and its meaning – through a justice and equity lens.

We have a fantastic, dynamic group of speakers whom we’ve challenged to think about their work a little differently, and we’re excited to bring the conversation to you. Speaker list will be released shortly.

Tuesday March 26, 2019
7:00-9:00PM

Innis Town Hall
Innis College, University of Toronto
2 Sussex Avenue
Toronto, ON M5S 1J5

Current event sponsors include University of Toronto Urban Studies Program, University of Toronto School of Cities, Public Space Workshop, and Spacing Magazine.