Walktober

Welcome to Walktober 2021!

By: Arielle Guetta, Walk On, Victoria Steering Committee Member

Walktober is a month-long celebration of all things walking and encourages people to keep their steps up even in the rain and wind. October is also International Walk to School Month – an opportunity for families and kids to walk to school and to bring attention to needed safe routes to school.

As a pedestrian advocacy organization, we are all about Walktober. It’s a lovely time of year to get out and enjoy the fall colours, but also a time when we need to be thinking more about pedestrian safety as it gets darker earlier and roads are wetter.

One important way for pedestrians to stay safe in the coming months is to be seen.  It is much easier for drivers and cyclists to see pedestrians who sport brighter gear.  How about a colourful umbrella or a light-coloured jacket?  Reflector strips that fit around the upper arm are easy to drop into a pocket when not in use.  Small, flashing lights can be attached to a backpack, purse or book bag. Don’t forget Fido;  a blinking light on a collar or harness helps keep our walking companions safe, too.  Another safety tip is to carry a small flashlight to show the way when sidewalks in poor condition create tripping hazards, where street lights are few and far between or where sidewalks still don’t exist.

While I love walking, after 1.5yrs of a pandemic and having a baby, it can be challenging to motivate myself to get out the door sometimes. If you are looking for some new ideas to invigorate your walks in October, here are some suggestions:

 For individuals

  • A walking challenge: Try something like ‘World Walking’ to virtually walk around the world or participate in a month (or longer) walking challenge like this 31 day walking workout.
  • Get competitive: Join in a step counting challenge and compete for prizes through ParticipACTION’s Great Big Move from Oct. 1- 31.
  • Find a new walk: Use an app like Footpath or AllTrails to map and find new walks near you, or check out your municipal or regional district webpage to see if there are any guided walks in your area – one of our favourites is the Signs of Lekwungen Tour.
  • Make it interactive: Download one of the many apps that can turn your walk into a game – Seek allows you to identify plants & critters on your walk and win badges the more you find; Geocaching turns your walk into a treasure hunt; and Pokemon Go unlocks a virtual world wherever you are.

For families

In addition to the suggestions above, here are some fun things you can do with your kids to get them out in all weather.

  • A scavenger hunt: Make a list of what you might find on a Fall walk, or download an already made one like this one from CBC Parents, and get your child to mark off things as they find them. You can also collect the items for a fun art project when you get home.
  • A rainy day walk: Put on head to toe raingear and go looking for puddles. Stomping around in them is always a hit, but you can also look for sticks or leaves to turn into ‘boats’ in the puddle (my toddler loves this).
  • Use old technology: give your kids a basic pedometer and create a daily step challenge, or create a map and teach your kids how to use a compass to lead the way.

Whatever you choose to do this month – we hope you enjoy Walktober!

 

Events, Walktober

Join us for a Walktober stroll on Dallas Road on Oct. 23

Dallas Road & Clover Point Walk

Saturday, October 23, 2021

10:30-11:30 AM

Meet at the picnic benches at Clover Point

 

Come celebrate Walktober with a walk along Clover Point and Dallas Road! Join us to check out the new pedestrian infrastructure and pathways in this area, including:

  • Increased pedestrian access and new seating and tables at Clover Point
  • New separated off-street pathway along Dallas Rd.
  • Crosswalks and access to Beacon Hill Park
  • Safety tips for using multi-use trails and pathways

City of Victoria staff will join us for this walk to go over how these improvements came to be,  and future planned active transportation projects.

Free coffee and donuts will be provided!

All ages and abilities welcome!

Rain or shine! We’ll even have a few umbrellas to give out as prizes.

Note: we will follow all covid-19 guidance from the Provincial Health Officer at the time of the walk and will provide an update of what this will entail closer to the date.

See Facebook for event details and updates:

Brought to you by:

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Walk On, Victoria recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30, 2021 marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to honour the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities. Walk On, Victoria joins others across the country in taking the opportunity to learn and reflect on how the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action can be acted on in their own lives.

When you go for your next walk, we encourage you to think about the Indigenous peoples whose traditional territories you are on.  You can use interactive maps like Native Land  and First Peoples’ Map of B.C. to find this information.  After situating yourself, do your research to learn about those Indigenous peoples (there is a wealth of information on the internet), their culture, language, traditions, and political structures.

You may want to do a territorial acknowledgement the next time you go for a walk, whether it is out loud to your walking buddies or as a silent reflection. As you walk, consider how Indigenous peoples might have used this area prior to colonization.

Signs of lək̓ʷəŋən. Carving theme: Four Directions of the Eagle. Lower Causeway of the Inner Harbour.

One walk we suggest is around the Inner Harbour area of Victoria, which is the traditional territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən People, known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. Around this area, you will find the Signs of lək̓ʷəŋən, which consists of seven unique site markers that designate culturally significant sites to the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. Created in 2008, these markers are bronze castings of original cedar carvings that were conceptualized and carved by Coast Salish artist and master carver, Butch Dick with his son Clarence Dick Jr. The location and description of these markers can be found here:

https://www.songheesnation.ca/community/l-k-ng-n-traditional-territory

https://www.victoria.ca/assets/Departments/Parks~Rec~Culture/Culture/Public~Art/arts-lekwungen-brochure.pdf

The First Peoples’ Map of B.C. also has a section for arts and heritage, including points of interests and Indigenous art with their locations shown on a map. This may be a useful tool to plan your own walk, in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Rock Bay Mural by Darlene Gait and Butch Dick

Mental Health Supports

Former Residential School students can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports from the Government of Canada.

Indigenous peoples across Canada can also go to The Hope for Wellness Help Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for counselling and crisis intervention.

Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat.

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Walktober Wanderings #5

In spite of a forecast for a wet and grey Walktober Friday, Saturday turned out to be sunny – just perfect for wandering through some of the parks and along several of the scenic trails in Saanich.  By starting and finishing at Copley Park, it is easy to plot a long, oval route that goes through, past or along Panama Hill Park and Panama Flats, Hyacinth Park, the Colquitz River Trail, the back of the Canadian Forestry Research Centre, the Galloping Goose Trail, Swan Creek Park and Brydon Park.
Saanich has added some new marked pedestrian crossings, wider concrete sidewalks and blacktopped trail entry points in this area, all of which make walking here a safer and more enjoyable experience.
This particular Saturday saw lots of people out walking and cycling.   Families were using many of the small park playgrounds.  Friends sat on benches to chat.  And lots of well-behaved, leashed dogs were out walking their humans.
The wide gravel path through Panama Flats is perfect for physical distancing and still allows lots of room for cyclists to pass.
The Colquitz River Trail can be accessed from multiple points in Saanich.  Features include well-groomed paths, many footbridges, lush riverine vegetation and a signed salmon habitat restoration project.
Notes and photos by Britta Gundersen-Bryden
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Walktober Wanderings #4: Fogtober

There is more than one name for this, the tenth month of the year.  Of course, “Walktober” suits this span of 31 days very well but it is also a month when “Fogtober” is also appropriate.  And when the fog rolls in, what better place to walk than the Ogden Point breakwater?

Actually, the breakwater is a perfect place to walk any time of the year – and in any weather.  And now that the Dallas Road multi-use path is (almost) finished, more people will be able to access this prime walking spot.  The new crosswalks, signage and accessible parking spaces send two clear messages: “all are welcome”  and “let’s share this wonderful renewed place.”
Notes and photos by Britta Gundersen-Bryden
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Is maintaining the flow of traffic more important than assuring children’s safety?

Gallery

A tale of two schools

There has been much discussion in Greater Victoria on lowering speed limits over the past few years, which Walk On, Victoria supports. If you have travelled across the the region, you may be confused about the different speed limits in different areas, and the inconsistency of speed limits, even on portions of the same road.  On some roads there are clear signs notifying drivers of the speed limits, but on others, there are no posted signs.  This problem is especially evident when looking at two neighbouring schools: Quadra School and Cloverdale School. 

Most people are aware that the speed limit in school zones is 30km/h between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. when school is in session. The speed limit is set at 30km/h because this is the speed at which, should a child be struck by a car, the risk of serious or fatal injury is reduced.  Should a driver neglect to slow down, fines for driving over the speed limit in a school zone are higher than those for driving over the speed limit on other roads: $196 for those driving up to 20km/h over the 30km/h speed and $283 for those driving 21km/h or more over the posted school zone speed.

Driving with caution in a school zone is serious business, so you might be surprised to learn that one of the two elementary schools, located just blocks apart on Quadra Street, does not have a posted 30km/h speed limit.

Cloverdale School, located at 3427 Quadra, does not have a 30km/h posted speed limit. Quadra School, located at 3031 Quadra does.

Location of Quadra and Cloverdale Schools (click to enlarge):

 

Quadra School

Quadra School, located in the municipality of Victoria, is fully fenced on both the Finlayson and the Quadra sides of the school. The speed limit on this portion of Quadra is 40km/h when school isn’t in session, and there are 30km/h school zone signs on both Quadra and Finlayson. There is also a traffic calming median with plants at the intersection of Quadra and Finlayson. No cars  are able to park on the school grounds in front of Quadra School, and there is no turn off from Quadra onto the school grounds. Traffic moves slowly in this area during school hours.

The message is clear: Drive slowly and keep children safe.

Proceed a couple of blocks along Quadra, where at Tolmie, motorists cross the municipal border between Victoria and Saanich. On the Saanich portion of Quadra, the speed limit increases to 50km/h. 

Cloverdale School

At 3427 Quadra, where Cloverdale School is located, there is a roadside sign with a picture of children but no speed limit posting of 30km/h. Motorists can drive 50km/h on this portion of Quadra even when school is in session. Furthermore, Cloverdale School is not fully fenced on the Quadra side of the school grounds, and there is a driveway in front of the school allowing motorists to pull off Quadra onto the school grounds. Cloverdale School is located directly next door to the Cloverdale Thrifty Foods Store, and motorists sometimes mistake the school driveway for the Thrifty’s driveway.

If you are a pedestrian who walks in this neighbourhood, you know that the intersection at Cloverdale and Quadra feels dangerous. Drivers are focused on looking for breaks in traffic to make left or right turns or to turn into one of the two gas stations or the stores located at this intersection.

The message is clear: Hang onto your kids. This is not a safe street to walk on.

Walk On, Victoria advocates for consistency in posting 30km/h school zone signs throughout the CRD. 

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Walktober Wanderings #3

Walktober is an excellent time to explore Victoria – from southwest to northeast – and back again. Following is a personal account of an urban walk – full of autumn colours.

My jaunt took me across Victoria – twice.  I live in James Bay and had an appointment to keep on Hillside, at the Victoria-Saanich border.  The trek took about ninety minutes each way; going “out” I noticed one handful of tourists in front of the legislative buildings, taking photos, and another small group waiting to board the solitary double-decker bus in front of The Empress. The level of activity reminded me of an early fall morning back in the 1990s, before the Coho docked on its first run of the day and long before legions disembarked from the final cruise ships of the season and overwhelmed downtown.

There was a large circle of like-minded folks engaged in some sort of contemplative gathering in Pioneer Cemetery and many people sipping coffee at numerous Cook Street cafes.

Many of the Haultain curb-side gardens were still in flower; some householders had even put excess produce out for neighbours to take home.

Along Shelbourne, single-family houses, well-past their primes and never candidates for heritage designation, continue to give way to multiplexes and townhouses. Nonetheless, there were pockets of colour along this busy corridor.

On the way “back”, I took residential streets in Oaklands, skirted Jubilee and passed through Fernwood.  I saw freshly-painted fences, new backyard benches and families enjoying playgrounds and the outdoor plaza on Gladstone.

When I finally returned to James Bay I paused to reflect; other than the lack of downtown tourists, the “new normal” isn’t so different from the “old normal” and our city is going to be okay.

Notes and photos by Britta Gundersen-Bryden

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Walktober Wanderings #2

October 6

Today was one of those glorious early autumn days:  warm – not hot; breezy –  not windy; fresh – not humid.  I began my trek at the Oak Bay Rec Centre and had a glorious stroll.  Oak Bay, with its heritage homes, manicured lawns, tailored gardens and thick arboreal canopy, was the perfect place to walk. Add in Willows Beach and the marina plus the green of the golf course and the attraction for this walker is obvious.

But there are two hidden gems in Oak Bay that make walking here more than special.  The first is the network of back alleys.  The alleys of Oak Bay are not overwhelmed by trash cans, discarded mattresses or derelict vehicles; they are lined with painted bird houses, twirling whirly-gigs and vegetable gardens (I saw a spaghetti squash just ripe for picking).  Some alleys end in a “T”, giving walkers the choice of turning right or left.  Others are home to artists’ studios, workshops, old-fashioned carriage houses with haylofts up-top or proper garages housing classic cars. Each alley is a jewel on its own; together they form a beaded necklace, wound through Oak Bay.

And the biggest gemstone hanging from that necklace is Anderson Hill.  My favourite approach to Anderson Hill is up an obscured little path leading off Transit Road.  As I climbed up, the path narrowed and squeezed between old, lichen-covered rocks.  I walked through grasses that were pale yellow and dry; the fallen, leaves crackled under foot.  I walked past Garry oaks that have been stunted and twisted from frequent winds. In a few minutes I reached the top and there – before me – was a West Coast panorama of sea and mountains. I took a deep breath and marveled at the wonderful walking adventures we can have here on Southern Vancouver Island.

Notes and photos by Britta Gundersen-Bryden

View from Anderson Hill, looking south.

View from Anderson Hill, looking east.

 

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Walktober Wanderings

October – what a wonderful month to wander around Great Victoria!

Oct. 2:  no wind 18C and high-level haze.  The best possible walk place to was the Ogden Point breakwater.

Added bonus #1:  seeing two sea lions heading toward Clover Point and one heron floating on a kelp bed.

Added Bonus #2:  the Dallas Road multi-use path is almost finished – and pedestrians are already enjoying it.

 

Events, Walktober

Happy Walktober 2020!

Every October, Walk On, Victoria celebrates what makes walking great in our communities. This year looks a little different than previous years, as our community is facing many challenges due to the covid-19 pandemic. Many of us are working from home, distance learning, and have had our daily routines upended. Where our members may have walked to work or school, this has been replaced by a short commute between rooms. This has given us a new opportunity to explore the benefits of walking in other contexts, such as walking for exercise, stress relief, or just a way to get out of the house! Areas of our cities have been turned over the streets to pedestrians and our local businesses have taken advantage of this by creating patios.

This Walktober, we encourage you to reflect on what walking means to you, especially during this particularly difficult year. Have you been walking more or less than your normal routine? Have you found any unexpected benefits of walking? Most of all, we encourage you to get out and walk!

Contest Time!

Stay tuned to our social medial channels for details on how you can win great prizes! Each week, we will post a challenge on our social media channels and will do a prize draw. Make sure to follow us to find out how you can win:

Facebook “Walk On, Victoria”

Instagram @walkonvictoria

Twitter @walkonvictoria

Where to walk

While in the past, we have hosted some in-person walks, the pandemic has made this challenging. We have some suggestions for guided walks up on our Blog and will post additional walks during Walktober.

https://walkonvictoria.org/james-bay-history-in-a-box-a-walk-to-celebrate-janes-walks-2020-presented-by-walk-on-victoria/

https://walkonvictoria.org/a-bit-of-may-magic-a-walk-for-wee-ones-to-celebrate-janes-walks-2020/

Check out our resources page for some local recreational walks (if you know of any others, please let us know!)

https://walkonvictoria.org/resources/

Count your steps

In previous years, we held a step-counting contest as part of Walktober but we are not able to host it this year. We have learned that ParticipACTION has launched a team challenge, running all October and featuring $20,000 in prizes. Some Walk On members have created our team, and we challenge you to an informal step challenge! https://www.participaction.com/en-ca/programs/app

How to make your neighbourhood more walkable

Residents and visitors alike have consistently rated the walkability of the area as one of the best things about Greater Victoria. However, we know that there are many challenges that pedestrians face- whether it is narrow sidewalks (or no sidewalks at all!), lack of crosswalks, debris, lighting, etc. At Walk On, Victoria, we advocate for pedestrians at all levels of government to make Greater Victoria a safer and more enjoyable place to walk.

One way you can learn more about the walkability of your neighbourhood is by doing a walk audit! A couple of our members did one for a Saanich neighbourhood in honour of Jane’s Walks:

https://walkonvictoria.org/how-walkable-is-your-neighbhourood-a-virtual-walking-audit-in-honour-of-janes-walk-2020/

We encourage you to report any issues you see to your local government. You can use our handy reporting tool to find out where to report issues (this tool directs you to the correct place to report and does not make a report on behalf of you).

https://walkonvictoria.org/report/

Happy Walking!

Bowker Creek Oak Bay Highschool
Bowker Creek Oak Bay Highschool
A note about accessibility…

Walk On, Victoria uses the word “walking” when referring to pedestrians (it’s even in our name!) To us, walking more than just moving on two feet, it includes all pedestrians, regardless of mobility. We aim to advocate for all pedestrians.