Waterloo Region participates in 12th annual Commuter Challenge
The 12th annual Commuter Challenge will take place nationwide June 5 to June 11, 2011 – it’s time to find out what moves you.
Commuter Challenge is a friendly week-long competition between Canadian cities and workplaces to promote active and sustainable lifestyles. It is a great time for you to get involved and active, make a difference and reduce your carbon footprint.
“The annual commuter challenge is a great opportunity to try something different,” said Ken Seiling, Regional Chair. “People may find it is easier than they thought - getting where they need to be without driving their cars.”
Give your car a break and join local politicians, individuals, workplaces, schools and organizations in participating in this year’s Commuter Challenge events:
June 6, 2011:
- Walk to Work Monday - Join other Commuter Challenge participants as they walk to work, walk to transit or walk to their carpool location. The workplace that logs in the highest percentage of their staff walking as part of their commute will win a pizza lunch for those who tracked their walk.
June 7, 2011:
- Great Commuter Race – Starting at 8:30 a.m., local politicians will enter into a friendly competition from Highland Hills Mall to Kitchener City Hall to see if it is faster to travel by transit, bike, or car. Light refreshments will be available at the finish line.
- 2-for-1 Transit Tuesday – bring a friend or colleague and ride Grand River Transit for one paid fare. A paid fare includes cash, ticket, monthly pass, day pass, school term and college pass, U-Pass or a corporate pass.
June 8, 2011:
- Bike to Work Day and get a FREE breakfast – Your bike and helmet are your ticket to a light breakfast from 7:30 to 9 a.m. in two different locations this year. Find us in front of the Clay and Glass Gallery in Waterloo and in Victoria Park (between the Victoria Park Pavillion and the bridge)
June 10, 2011:
- Briefcase Boogie – Join Rob Horne, Commissioner of Planning, Housing, and Community Services and others at 8 a.m. as they do the Briefcase Boogie down King Street from uptown Waterloo to downtown Kitchener. This event, to bring Commuter Challenge week to a close, is a gentle walk/jog from the Region’s Health and Social Services building at 99 Regina St. S. to Regional Headquarters at 150 Frederick St.
Throughout Commuter Challenge, visit http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/commuterchallenge for a daily listing of local events.
New to Commuter Challenge this year is the partnership with Greening Sacred Spaces, (www.greeningsacredspaces.net/waterloo) a program that helps faith communities take action to create more sustainable places of worship. Working with the Region of Waterloo, Greening Sacred Spaces is organizing and promoting Walk to Worship this year to show that active transportation can be a positive and active choice every day of the week.
In 2010, Waterloo Region had the highest participation rate in the province: 94,910 kilometres were travelled using sustainable modes by 1,440 participants from 60 registered organizations. These sustainable commuters reduced Waterloo Region’s carbon emissions by 27,158 kilograms, made $14,275.15 in vehicle savings, and burned 1,329,523 calories over the week.
To sign up to participate in commuter challenge visit www.commuterchallenge.ca, and you’ll be eligible for more than $1,000 in prizes that are available to be won.
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For more information, please contact:
John Hill, Principal Planner, Transportation Demand Management
519-575-4019
jhill@regionofwaterloo.ca