Walk On, Victoria will be hosting (with collaborators) two in person walks as part of the Jane’s Walk festival. Jane’s Walks are held annually on the first weekend in May to honour the memory of Jane Jacobs (May 4, 1916-April 25, 2006). Jacobs was a political activist whose work in NYC and Toronto is credited with championing diverse, walkable neighbourhoods where well being of people is prioritized.
Parks and Gardens in Pedestrian-Friendly James Bay
Saturday, May 7, 10am
Meet @ the promenade at the corner of Dallas Rd and Montreal Street
Hosted with the City of Victoria
Route and stops:
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Dallas Road and Dock Street
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Montreal Community Garden
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Redfern Park
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Superior Street at St Lawrence
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Back to Dallas Road
Over the years, Victoria residents and legions of visitors have strolled through Beacon Hill Park, around Clover Point and along the cliffs between Dallas Road and the ocean. But there are a number of other interesting parks, public spaces and community gardens in James Bay.
Join City of Victoria staff and Walk On, Victoria for a leisurely stroll that will take in some of these parks and gardens, note recent changes and preview some of the changes and improvements for pedestrians coming to the western tip of Victoria’s oldest neighourhood.
Accessibility: curbs and steps, sidewalks, busy or noisy vehicle traffic
Seniors welcome, Children welcome, people with bicycles welcome, people with wheelchairs or walking aids welcome
Walk Duration: Two hours including stops
Walk Leader: Britta Gunderson-Bryden
The Highs and Lows of Thetis Heights
Saturday, May 7, 1pm-2:30pm
Meet @ Serious Coffee- Millstream Village
Hosted with Walk Roll Map (walkrollmap.org)
Some say that over the past three decades, Langford has rolled out the red carpet to attract businesses, including big box store Costco, which is all many Victorians know the community for. As the fastest growing city in Canada, critics say Langford has spread too fast, too far, often without thought to environmental sustainability. They allege that plants, trees,animals, and all features of the natural environment have been destroyed with the expansion of new neighbourhoods where much needed, (relatively) affordable housing has been built. But while Langford development has sometimes proceeded full-speed ahead, that’s not the whole picture. For many longtime residents and newcomers alike, Langford is much more than a bedroom community or a shopping destination reached at the end of a traffic jam. It’s home, a place they want to stay and build a diverse, sustainable community.
The Millstream Creek neighbourhood, located off Treanor Avenue between Bellamy Road and Selwyn Road, is the site of a Langford neighbourhood bordered by a creek and forest, where neighbours act as stewards of the trees and animal life they love. Some residents in this area believe Langford is at a tipping point, ready to take time to carefully plan the next stages of community growth. The new Langford Heights development, proposed at the site of the former Western Speedway, is one example where a new built environment could potentially be constructed to include opportunities for walking, cycling, recreation and preservation of nature.
On Saturday, May 7th, from 1:00-2:30 pm, West Shore residents are invited to attend a free, family oriented walk along Millstream Creek to share stories about the area and talk about the community they live in. To participate on the walk, meet at Serious Coffee in Millstream Village at 1:00 p.m. The walk will be slow-paced, accessible for people of all ages, and dogs on leashes are welcome.
The walk will occur, rain or shine. Come meet your neighbours, share your memories about the area, and discuss your hopes for the future of your home.
