Put Spring into Your Step! Region of Waterloo Walk to School Day

Wednesday, April 18, 2012 is Region of Waterloo Walk to School Day – an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of children walking to and from school.

Students and staff from St. Mathew Catholic School in Waterloo will have the Mayor of Waterloo, Brenda Halloran, join them on their walk to school that morning. Mayor Halloran states, “I think it’s important for every child to enjoy the great outdoors. Walking to school gives kids the opportunity to get some exercise while socializing with their friends. What a great way to start and end the school day.”

Walking is healthy and contributes to the daily physical activity requirements. According to the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology, children aged 5 to 11 years need at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily. More daily physical activity provides greater health benefits. There is no such thing as bad weather – only bad clothing. Nunavut has the highest rate in Canada of students who walk to school, and they walk to school in the dark.

Region of Waterloo Walk to School Day is an activity of Active and Safe Routes to School (ASRTS), a comprehensive program that promotes safe, walkable communities. It engages both the school and the community to work together to make safe walking routes a reality for all children. Walking Wednesdays, International Walk to School Day, and the student-led Walking School Bus are other activities promoted by ASRTS.

The Active and Safe Routes to School Workgroup is comprised of representatives from Region of Waterloo Public Health, Waterloo Region District School Board, Waterloo Catholic District School Board, City of Kitchener, City of Waterloo, City of Cambridge, Green Communities and Ministry of Transportation.

Media contact: Ruth Dyck, RN, Public Health Nurse, Active and Safe Routes to School Workgroup, 519-883-2004, ext. 5332, rdyck@regionofwaterloo.ca.