The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
With International Walk to School Day fast approaching, plans are well underway to recognize student participation in this year's events. Schools in each province and territory are eligible to win Walk to School Awards when their students lace up their sneakers and walk to school on Wednesday, October 8. Students from over 1,400 schools across Canada will walk, bike, or in-line skate all or part of the way to school to promote physical activity, safer streets and a cleaner environment. Schools registered in the event can apply for the Walk to School Awards, developed by Go for Green in memory of its founder, Elaine Burke. The awards are presented to the schools based on student participation in the Walk. The 13 Provincial/Territorial Awards include a banner, three environmental games courtesy of Intelli-Kid (www.intellikid.com), a bicycle helmet courtesy of Safe Kids Canada and other prizes. The National Award includes these items plus $500 and backpack tags for the students. One of the many issues addressed by International Walk to School Day is childhood obesity, which has nearly tripled over the past 20 years among Canadian children aged seven to 13. One way to combat this problem is by developing an active lifestyle. "Less than 50% of children in Canada now walk to school," said Nathalie Racine, Active & Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator at Go for Green. "Walking or cycling to school is a simple way youth can become more physically active." Last year, nearly 3 million walkers from 28 countries took part in the day. That's a substantial increase over the handful of schools that participated in a 1994 pilot in England. This year, International Walk to School Week (October 6-10, 2003) is also being celebrated, recognizing a full week of walking to school fun. In Canada, the event is coordinated nationally by Go for Green, by Greenest City in Ontario, and by The Way to Go! School Program in British Columbia. Go for Green is a national non-profit, charitable organization encouraging Canadians to pursue healthy, outdoor physical activities that protect, enhance or restore the environment. Since 1992, Go for Green has worked in close partnership with health, environment, transportation, recreation and community organizations across the country; progressive Canadian corporations; and governments at all levels. During this time, Go for Green has supported more than 3,000 initiatives to enhance personal and environmental health. Successful national programs initiated by Go for Green include Trailpaq, Active Transportation, Active & Safe Routes to School, Gardening for Life, Winter Green, Ice Dreams and 'Go for Green' Prescription. For more information, visit www.goforgreen.ca. International Walk to School Day is a component of the national Active & Safe Routes to School program, supported by Go for Green and developed in partnership with Greenest City; Way to Go!; the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; Health Canada; and the Government of Canada Climate Change Action Fund. For more information, visit www.goforgreen.ca/walktoschool.
