Walk 150: Walking Builds Communities

(Check out and overview of the Walk 150 initiative)

It was a wonderful Walk 150 walk starting from the Bowness Library on May 13, 2017. Check it out on our Facebook page. This walk was part of my partnership with Calgary Public Library and The Centre for Newcomers and the walks feature language was Arabic. We welcomed people from all over, from the SW of Calgary to Syria, to explore the backstreets of Bowness and the wetlands, single track trails, viewpoints and the boardwalk trail to waterfall valley in Bowmont Park. You can find 2 Bowmont Park route maps in my book Calgary’s Best Walks!

 

AS a partner with the Calgary Library Foundation, I am happy to have received a Canada 150 Community Fund grant to offer many free walks with my partners organizations throughout 2017. I will also be giving “Leading and Creating great Walks” workshops for the Calgary Public Library and the Centre for Newcomers so that the library and the Centre can continue to offer walk programs in house and for the public.

 

 

 

Walk 150 FREE Walks for the public (dates below)

The public walks begin on May 4th and will run all year. All walks are listed in the Library Connect program guides that can be found in the libraries or online. Registration is FREE as long as you have a library card (also free) and is done through the Calgary Public Library program page.

 

In celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, Lori Beattie, author of Calgary’s Best Walks and owner or Fit Frog Adventures, is partnering with the Calgary Public Library and Centre for Newcomers to build communities through walking. She is donating 1500 copies of her book, Calgary’s Best Walks, to give to Calgarians. The best way to celebrate Canada’s 150^th birthday is to introduce Calgarians to their wonderful city, to help them connect communities on foot, to meet their neighbours in all quadrants, to stay active and fit and most importantly, to make Calgary feel like home.

The simple walk, left, right, left, right, is the perfect way to get to know Calgary. At a walkers pace you’ll learn how the city connects geographically, where to go for a great cup of coffee and also, you’ll interact with the people who live in each quadrant as we stroll past.

 Fresh, crisp air, big blue skies, nature tucked into all neighbourhoods, hidden stairways, over 500 km of paved pathways and wonderful independent cafe’s where you can stop and recharge.  

 

May and June Walks

Each walk will be approximately 2 hours in length and about 7-9 km. All ages are welcome. Translation into various languages will be part of every walk. Check the walk description to see the languages spoken on each walk.

*Walks may travel through neighbourhoods, into parks and climb stairs or hills to viewpoints. Uneven terrain is common. Please note that most walks are NOT stroller or wheelchair friendly due to travel through natural area parks with narrow dirt pathways and/or stairs. Please read each walk description for specific walk details.

The focus of the walks is to connect the city on foot. Although these are not interpretive walks, there will be breaks and time for questions en route. Lori Beattie, author of Calgary’s Best Walks, will be leading the walks along with another guide so that the group can break into two if necessary.

What to bring: Good footwear for uneven terrain, clothing to suit the weather (walks go rain or shine), money in case you want to stop for a coffee or food (optional)

 

Tuesday, May 2: 6:30 pm: Alexander Calhoun Library, SW

Explore Sandy Beach Park, River Park, Elbow River Pathway and the communities of Elbow Park, Mount Royal and Altadore.

Language of guides: English, French and Punjabi

 

Saturday, May 13: 10 am: Bowness Library, NW

Walk through the community of Bowness to the trails of Bowmont Natural Environment Park

Language of guides: English, French and Arabic

 

Victoria Day Monday, May 22 at 10 am: Weaslehead Park and Glenmore Reservoir, SW- Walk and picnic (optional picnic after the walk- bring food if interested)

 

Meet at Weaslehead Parking lot, 66 Avenue and 37 Street, SW

This is a wilderness park with a mix of paved and gravel pathways. Families are welcome and encouraged on this walk. Young children may like to stop with their parent and enjoy the wetlands, or play in the playground nearby. Details for these options will be provided. There is one hill climb at the end of this walk.

Language of guides: English, French and Tagalog

 

Wednesday: May 31 at 6:30 pm: Louise Riley Library, NW (Lions Park LRT)

Explore the nighbourhoods of Hounsfield Heights, Hillhurst and Bow River Pathway and Briar Hill

Language of guides: English, French and Spanish

 

Saturday: June 3 at 1 pm: Central Library, SE (City Hall LRT), SE-NE

Walks from the library to the East Village, along the Bow River Pathway Riverwalk, cross to the north sie of Bow River and soak up expansive views of the Rocky Mountains from Tom Campbell’s Hill Park. Continue through the neighborhood of Bridgeland along side-streets and green space escarpment trails.

Language of guides: English, French and Mandarin

 

Wednesday, June 7 at 6:30 pm: Nicholls Family Library, SW (Westbrook LRT)

Explore the community of Wildwood, Edworthy Park and the Douglas Fir Trail, Mother Natures Stairmaster.

Language of guides: English, French and Amharic

 

Sunday, June 18 at 1 pm: Nose Hill Park, NW

Meet at the official Parking Lot of Berkley Gate and 14 Street, NW

Nose Hill Park is the highest point in Calgary. We’ll climb to spectacular views followed by dips into aspen filled coulees. This is a wilderness park walk with a mix of paved and gravel pathways. Families are welcome and encouraged on this walk.

Language of guides: English, French and Urdu

 

Tuesday, June 27 at 6:30 pm: Memorial Park Library, SW

Walk from the Beltline, Elbow River Pathway, Erlton, Roxboro Natural Park escarpment, Parkhill, Stanley Park, East Elbow, Mission.

Language of guides: English, French and Tigrinya

 

 

 

One of my Walk 150 programs is with Fish Creek Park, Alberta Parks and Mount Royal University. Good Grief! Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss is an 8 week program beginning on May 8, 2017.

 

Good Grief! Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss

May 8 – June 26, 2017 7:00 – 8:00 pm

Parks and nature connect us to the cycles of life and death; reminding us of endurance, beauty, and the only constant – change. In the changes and challenges of grief and loss, walking in parks and nature can provide a variety of benefits for different people. For some it will just be moving and getting some exercise, for others it will be the fresh air and natural light, for others it will be the quiet companionship of trees and wildlife, and of people who have no expectations except that they are here together – walking together. Research conducted with Alberta Parks and Mount Royal University has revealed how nature teaches us to grieve. Those who may be experiencing grief and loss can enjoy a gentle, accessible, guided walk through nature, to observe and connect with others who are also grieving.