2024 Jane’s Walks
Jane’s Walk is an annual festival of free citizen-led walking conversations inspired by Jane Jacobs.
On the first weekend of May every year, Jane’s Walk festivals take place in hundreds of cities across the globe. Jane’s Walks encourage people to share stories about their neighbourhoods, discover unseen aspects of their communities, and use walking as a way to connect with their neighbours.
Created in 2007 in Toronto by friends of the urban thinker Jane Jacobs, the annual series of free, volunteer-led urban walks has grown from 27 to over 500 walks, from Calgary to Canberra and Sao Paulo to Saskatoon.
There are many walks across Edmonton. For more information and to register, visit https://janewalksyeg.wordpress.com/
A selection of this year’s walks near Strathcona:
Date & Time: Saturday, May 4, 10:00 A.M. Approx 1.5 hours
Old Strathcona’s Latter-Day Saint Heritage
Walk Leader: Erik Backstrom
Starting location: Public washrooms at Whyte Ave & Gateway Boulevard (10260 Whyte Ave)
Date & Time: Sunday, May 5, 11:00 A.M. Approx 1.5 hours
Reimagining the Public Realm in Old Strathcona
Walk Leaders: Cherie Klassen of the OSBA & Marco & Carley of the City of Edmonton
Description: The Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy team, together with the Old Strathcona Business Association, are excited to share how they’re working with Edmontonians to envision a new future for parks, plazas, parking lots, sidewalks, alleys and streets for the area.
This Jane’s Walk will highlight a few of the draft strategy’s proposed (future) actions while showcasing some of the OSBA’s recent investments to improve the visitor experience.
Starting location: Strathcona Back Street – Parklette south of the Strathcona Farmers Market (By Sugared & Spiced)
Date & Time: Sunday, May 5, 11:00 A.M. Approx 1.5 hours
Building a Queer Community
Walk Leader: Michael Phair
Description: Michael Phair, and special guest, will lead another fun and fabulous queer history walking tour filled with stories, gossip, and frivolity. Starting and ending at Michael Phair Park, this tour gives you the opportunity to learn about the defining moments that helped shape Edmonton’s queer community, including stories about Gay Alliance Towards Equality(GATE) and the gay disco district of 104 St.
Starting location: Michael Phair Park 10124-104 Street NW