You Say You Want a 'Walkaloution'
The City of Brantford has earned itself bragging rights for yet another walkability-related distinction: the Ontario Walkability Award of Excellence! This award celebrates the efforts that the City has taken over the last few years in promoting walkability. The Brantford Active Transportation Group (formerly the Brantford Walkability Task Force), applied for the award, which was based on criteria that included measurable results, community engagement, evaluation, partnerships and collaboration, education, policy and planning and infrastructure.
“Wow! Thank you!” exclaimed Harold Sawchuk, Chair of the Brantford Active Transportation Group, upon hearing that Brantford had won this award. “This recognition means a lot to our efforts here in Brantford. From our earliest efforts in 2007 through promotion and participation in the World Record Walk, to our former Mayor, Mike Hancock, being the first Mayor in Ontario to sign the International Charter for Walking, we have been able to forge ahead with the walkolution in Brantford.” The award will be presented to the new City Council at an upcoming meeting.
The Canada Walks Department of Green Communities Canada is the first to recognize communities for their efforts to create a culture of walking in Ontario. Applicants answered various questions about how the public is engaged in the “walk” work, the effectiveness of partnerships that have been developed and how the efforts to improve walkability have impacted the community. Submissions were ranked and scored by a panel of experts. Brantford won in the ‘City’ category, while Aldershot won in the ‘Suburban’ category and Haliburton/Minden in the ‘Rural’ category.
For more information, please contact one of the following Brant County Health Unit staffers:
Larissa Kaminskyj, Health Promoter, 519-753-4937 ext. 329
Katy Burrows, Program Manager, 519-753-4937 ext. 347
Donna Kemp, Media Contact, 519-753-4937 ext. 440