An international event is coming to the city for the first time on May 4. You might think it to be a bit pedestrian, but so does the local organizer of what is known as Jane’s Walk.
“It basically is a walk for citizens to involve themselves more in the planning of the cities that they live in,” said Marilyn Jones.
“It started with Jane Jacobs: she was born in New York and lived in Greenwich Village. She had a big fight with the planner in New York. He wanted to build big expressways. She thought that wasn’t feasible for the citizens. She wanted the city to be walkable and livable and all people, not cars. She was quite the protester. She ended up getting charged with mischief and all that other kind of stuff, so she moved to Toronto … and then took on the planning commission in Toronto. She’s made a big impression on the world. She was quite the person.”
Jane’s Walk events are now held in more than 200 communities around the world. They are held annually on May 4 to coincide with Jacobs’ birthday. The city has an event planned for Friday from noon to 1 p.m. The free guided tour of downtown will be hosted by the City of St. Albert’s planning and development department. It will focus on topics related to downtown development including the Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan (DARP) and upcoming work on the Municipal Development Plan, among other things. It will start from the plaza of St. Albert Place, rain or shine. More information can be found on the city's website at www.stalbert.ca.
Jones will host her own Jane’s Walk on May 13 in order to take advantage of the leisure of a Sunday afternoon. Naturally, that means a Mother’s Day tea afterward. While the walk is free to attend, the fee for the tea will be $25 although it is free for children 12 and under. That will take place from 2 to 4:30 p.m at the St. Albert United Church. Tickets can be purchased in advance through www.janeswalkstalbert.ca and all proceeds will go to support the Canadian Progress Club – SILKS group in St. Albert.
That walk starts from the church on Green Grove Drive at noon. Musée Héritage Museum director Shari Strachan will lead the participants along Founders’ Walk through the historic Perron District. Some of the sights along the 2.5-km route will include the Healing Garden, the Father Lacombe Chapel and the Grain Elevator Park.
