Each year, in honour of the late legendary urbanist Jane Jacobs, people across the world celebrate by connecting with others and walking through their own cities. As local walk leader Soren Henrich says, “Jane’s Walk is about expressing the local context in conversation, making deeper community connections.”
Bowker Creek
Last weekend, Victoria hosted its fifth annual Jane’s Walk festival. On May 6th, walks were led by members of the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network as well as the Walk On, Victoria group in the downtown core. Topics included downtown pedestrian causeways and Victoria’s public squares. On the morning of May 7th, Soren Henrich led a walk that meandered along the Bowker Creek from Oak Bay High into the North Jubilee Neighbourhood. Participants learned about daylighting efforts by community members interested in this important waterway. Two walks on May 8th wrapped up the festival with lovely tours of the Gonzales neighbourhood and Esquimalt’s Rockheights neighbourhood.
Victoria Squared
The festival introduced many community members to urban design principles and touched on community history and advocacy. The next Jane’s Walk festival will be held on the first weekend of May next year.
(Photo credits: Ray Lister and Soren Henrich)
Guest Author Bio
Ray Lister is an active member of Greater Victoria Placemaking Network.
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