Featured Schools

August, 2008

Running clubs, marathons and walking to school
St. Anne Catholic School in Kanata has worked hard during 2007/08 to create a comprehensive Active & Safe Routes to School program that encourages active travel to school with a strong emphasis on safety. The school kicked off the school year with the World Record Walk on IWALK Day with 500 participants and they conducted a neighbourhood walkabout with their Councillor, public health nurse, traffic engineering staff, school staff, parents and representatives from a neighbour school, Roch Carrier. One issue is the need for an adult crossing guard at a busy intersection and work continues on this with the local Councillor and City staff. The school council formed a 'safety committee' to address issues relating to student safety, including traffic and pedestrian issues.

In the spring St. Anne found out that they might lose some of their school buses so they prepared a presentation to their school board transportation department. To ensure the safety of the students on their way to school a winter safety newsletter was prepared and distributed to families, giving tips for safe winter travel and encouraging drivers to turn off their engines while parked. Walking School Buses and walking buddies are being suggested for the 2008/09 school year.

Spring into Spring was celebrated with a running club involving over 70 students who were to participate in a local children’s marathon (see www.runottawa.ca). Over 60 students actually ran the marathon.

An innovative safety program was created with a series of safety classes for about 60 students, consisting of pedestrian and cycling rules with general street safety. Several guest speakers visited with the classes and they conducted a walkabout with the school’s resource officer, practicing crossing the street at different types of intersections. The community lacks sidewalks on one side of each street so teaching the students how to walk safely is very important. Students were encouraged to take note of safe and unsafe places and to talk about it in class. This has really helped to keep the children focused on safety.

In the fall the school is considering adopting the Pace Car program (Adobe PDF) , an initiative supported by Safe Kids Canada. They are in negotiation with the local police division.

Celebrating traditional ways of life through walking
Local champion Laura Robinson has worked for the past few years with students from Cape Croker School in Wiarton, encouraging physical activity through cycling and cross country skiing. To further promote the idea of active transportation and relate it to tradition Laura worked with school staff and others on an exciting project focused on daily physical activity.

Some of the students have become avid mountain bikers and are competing in the Ontario elementary school mountain bike championships. A bicycle repair clinic, arranged with the assistance of Jolley's Alternative Wheels in Owen Sound, was held for the students and their families to teach bike repair skills. On an additional evening, Laura taught mountain biking skills to the students.

A community walk was arranged and two inspiring long-distance runners from the 1960’s, Charlie Nelson and Patrick Bruyere, offered to participate with the students, along with Violet Caibaisoai, a ‘water-walker'. The event kicked off with a talk from Violet and Charlie about the relationship between running and traditional life. They incorporated drumming into the talk and the grade 5-8 girls, dressed in their drumming skirts, drummed with the women's drums. Violet taught them a song which was extremely moving.

The walk, which took about one-and-a-half hours, incorporated an amazing water ceremony that mesmerized the students.