Eight area schools took part on October 4 in International Walk To School Day, an event organized by Greenest City, the founding organization of Active and Safe Routes to School in Ontario. This is the second year such an affair was put on by the group. Last year 14,500 people took part, but this year it was expected that over 50,000 parents and children in about 200 schools across the province.

During the walk the participants will be taking part in a ‘Walkability Survey’  which will enable organizers to evaluate the safety of the area around the school and the routes travelled by the students. The results may be used by community leaders for planning and problem solving. The survey, which is the only one being done in Canada this year, is a project of Greenest City, York University and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

‘Walk to School Day” was developed to raise awareness about the benefits of reducing car trips to drop children off at school, in turn reducing carbon dioxide emissions and other air contaminants. In return parents and children benefit from the physical activity, time spent together and enhanced community safety.