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When Sharon Yeo, a special projects coordinator with Catholic Social Services (CSS) in Edmonton, heard about the Community Walking Project, she was pretty sure it would be a good fit for her workplace. “My co-workers have often said I should start a walking group. The Community Walking Project pointed me in the right direction—and it’s working! Now I’m joined by about a half-dozen of my co-workers when I head out for my noon-hour walk.”
Dianne Gillespie, project coordinator for the Community Walking Project, helped Sharon get her walking group started—along with five other walking groups in Edmonton. The groups range from just a few walkers to close to a dozen.
Dianne believes the walking groups benefit from the flexible format of the program. “Our goal was to ensure that the project could meet the needs of anyone who wanted to walk. The size of the group, the age of the groups’ members, the times and locations of meetings—none of this matters. As long as people are walking, we consider the program a success.”
The purpose of the Community Walking Project is to encourage people in neighbourhoods and communities to incorporate regular walking routines into their daily lives.
In particular, the Community Walking Project focuses on diabetes prevention and management through walking. The project is operated by the Alberta Centre for Active Living and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Why Walking?
In our fast-paced society, walking may seem a somewhat old-fashioned activity to promote. But Dianne argues that walking is the perfect exercise for many people.
“Walking gives us the chance to slow down a bit,” says Dianne. “When we walk, we have the time to enjoy one another’s company and to take a look around.”
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The primary goals of the Community Walking Project are to promote active, healthy living and community building. When a neighbourhood group, a group of workers or other groups are formed, the health benefits are real, such as:
- physical activity increases, so health benefits are gained
- muscle strength and flexibility are improved
- feelings of physical and mental well-being are enhanced
- individual walkers are less isolated or lonely, by joining the group
- opportunities are created for growth of friendship and camaraderie
- communities become safer, more friendly, and connected
For the CSS walking group, the benefits are far reaching. Sharon says, “I always feel better after a walk—more energized, and ready to tackle the afternoon.” Her walking partners agree with Sharon’s assessment, but also acknowledge the importance of connecting with fellow workers. Sharon notes, “Our office provides several different programs and our staff are spread out across two floors. The walking group helps us to connect with our fellow workers.”
Walking Group Leaders
The most successful walking programs are the ones with dedicated group leaders, reports Dianne. The Community Walking Project has held informal training sessions for volunteer walking group leaders and Dianne suggests that such leaders will help the project to live on after the scheduled project completion date of March 31, 2011.
Participants in the walking group leader training session learned about the benefits of walking and proper walking technique. Anne McNabb, a member of the Millwoods Seniors Activity Centre walking group, attended one of the training sessions. “We learned all kinds of things,” said Anne. “To me, the most important thing is learning to start slowly and to stretch when we’re done walking.”
In Pleasantview, Emma Wilkins is poised to lead the one of the project’s recently formed walking groups. She says, “I volunteered to lead a walking group in my neighbourhood because I felt I could use my enthusiasm for walking to pique other’s interest as well. Also, I wanted to become more connected with my community. I thought this would give me the perfect opportunity to do so.”
Under Emma’s leadership, Dianne is confident that the Pleasantview walking group will be sustainable and become an important part of the community.
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Apart from the efforts of such programs as the Community Walking Project, Dianne enthusiastically promotes other walking-related resources, such as the Walkable Edmonton initiative in the City of Edmonton. The Walkable Edmonton committee encourages citizens to walk because walking:
- provides free and easily accessible transportation
- sparks community vitality and improves quality of life
- minimizes resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
- reduces the impact on other travelers and the transportation system
- fosters health, fitness, social interactions, and relaxation
What About the Weather?
For fair weather walkers, Edmonton’s winters can be pretty intimidating. But slippery conditions, moreso than the cold, deter most walking groups.
“Slippery sidewalks can lead to falls—and we don’t want that,” says Dianne. “If it’s just cold out, we bundle up. That’s part of living in a cold, northern climate. But once the sidewalks are slippery it makes more sense to walk indoors.” For indoor walks, some groups head to the local mall, others to recreation centres. As long as the building is spacious enough for walking, the groups are happy.
Walking is an accessible and convenient activity. As long as you have a pair of shoes, you can walk. Dianne encourages anyone interested in forming a walking group to give her a call. “Why not walk?” she asks. “After all, it’s fun, it’s free, and it’s friendly.”
To join one of these groups, or to start a group in your community or workplace, please contact Dianne Gillespie at dianne.gillespie@ualberta.ca or call her at (780) 952-4451.
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Learn More
Learn more about the Community Walking Project and the health benefits from walking
Check out Community Walking Project events and groups
Learn more about Walkable Edmonton
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