Author: janeswalkwr

When: Saturday May 2nd, 3:30 – 5:00 pm

Meeting Point: 15 George Street, W-K Mennonite Church

Walk Leader: Kae Elgie

Riffing on the famous Jane Jacobs quote “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody” this Jane’s Walk asks: is the same true for neighbourhoods?

The 2001 Mary Allen Heritage Conservation District Study collected stories about the City Fathers [sic] and business people who lived in the area bounded by William, Willow, Union and King.

But what about the people who’ve made the current Mary Allen Neighbourhood … e.g. the people who turned the charred ruins of Eben Oliver Weber’s furniture factory into Mary Allen Park? the people who created Mary Allen’s Accessible Hallowe’en?

Come and share your Mary Allen stories!

When: Saturday May 2nd, 10 am – 11:30 am

Meeting Point: David St & Iron Horse Trail, 186 David St

Walk Leader: Allie Beldan

A walk following former Grand River Railway and Canadian National Railway industrial lines through downtown Kitchener. Along the way, we’ll look for traces of the former routes, and talk about some of the industries they served

When: Friday, May 1st, 4:30 – 6:00 pm

Meeting Point: 446 Kingscourt Drive (Shamrock Co-operative Homes) Waterloo

Walk Leader: Kae Elgie

Jane Jacobs felt sidewalks are essential for good neighbourhoods. Is she right?

This Jane’s Walk will look at two neighbourhoods abutting Davenport Road in northeast Waterloo, the Foxhunt Neighbourhood which is richly supplied with sidewalks, and Colonial Acres, which have none.

Do sidewalks promote safety, interpersonal contact, as Jane Jacobs argued? Does not having sidewalks make people feel calmer, as Colonial Acres residents contend? Should the absence of sidewalks be a protected cultural heritage feature?

When: Sunday May 3rd, 10:30 am – 12 pm

Meeting Point: Carter Park, 1 Fletcher Ct Guelph

Walk Leader: Andrea Bidgood

A gentle neighbourhood ride with the Bicycle Mayor to notice what spring is up to in Ward 1: blossoms, streets, small details, and the everyday ways we move through the city together. More about curiosity than speed, this is a slow roll for people who want to explore, connect, and see their community a little differently.

When: Sunday, May 3rd, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Meeting Point: 136 Wyndham St N., the pathway next to old Post Office building

Walk Leader: Ariel Stagni, Byron Ready, Adam Rutherford

“200 years of American technology has unwittingly created a massive cement playground of unlimited potential, but it was the minds of 11-year-olds that could see that potential” – Craig Stecyk

ALL are invited to come learn about and discuss the rich cultural history of street skateboarding in downtown Guelph. Come walk with us for a unique opportunity to see our shared downtown as skateboarders have seen it, see it, and are continuing to re-imagine it!

Wait… there’s a history of skateboarding in downtown Guelph? Why would people want to skateboard downtown when the city has built skateparks for skateboarding?

Please come join us Sunday, May 3rd, 11am – 1pm. Look for skateboarders with a Jane’s Walk sign, at the entrance to the pathway next to the old Post Office building at 136 Wyndham St N.