Information Sessions & Workshops
walkON has developed two workshops that are facilitated at a community level to build awareness for the need and identify changes required in a community to support walking. The Walkable Communities Information Session is focused on building awareness while the Walkable Communities Workshop’s primary objective is to facilitate change at a local level.
Walkable Communities Information Session: Local information sessions facilitated by walkON's Heart Health Coordinators are available to interested community groups and stakeholders. The information session is 20-30 minutes in length and covers the following topics:
- Benefits of a walkable community;
- Changes that can be implemented to make a community more walkable;
- How YOU can make your community more walkable;
- Information about the programs and resources offered by walkON.
If you are interested in an Information Session in your area, please click here for contact information.
Walkable Communities Workshop: The Walkable Community Workshop is a three-hour facilitated session focused on developing a community-based plan to make your community a walkable community. The workshop brings together community groups/members, politicians, city staff, public health, recreation and other groups to work together to identify how to build a walkable community in your neighbourhood. Follow-up sessions are also offered and usually occur 6-12 months after the initial workshop.
Workshop Facilitators: Paul Young and Gil Penalosa
Paul Young
Paul is a registered landscape architect with a Masters in Urban Planning. He has over 15 years experience in urban design and landscape architecture. Paul runs a small urban design office specializing in participatory planning and design. The work focuses on neighborhood and transportation planning as well as park design.
Paul believes that sustainable and healthy communities emerge from a design process that involves the community. Projects become interactive learning opportunities for both participants and designers.
Paul Young’s urban design experience is complimented by 10 years working in community development and health promotion at the South Riverdale Community Health Centre in Toronto.
He is an avid cyclist who promotes active transportation.
Gil Penalosa
Gil is a multicultural executive having earned an MBA from UCLA and 22 years of senior management experience in the public and private sectors. He is a global thinker and marketing strategist with various experiences in Canada and Latin America, in such fields as parks, recreation, urban development, placemaking and strategic planning. He is passionate about walking and cycling as activities, and about urban parks, trails and greenways as great places because of their impact on the quality of life for everyone.
Gil is also a renowned international speaker on walking and cycling, as well as parks, trails, and open spaces and their links to improved environment, economic development, transportation and personal/public health.
Gil is Executive Director of the Canadian non-profit Walk & Bike for Life. He also works as Director of Healthy Places Initiatives with NYC's Project for Public Spaces and as Senior Consultant for the renowned Danish firm Gehl Architects.
Gil lives in Ontario, Canada and enjoys outdoor activities with his wife and their three children.
Workshop Package:
- Information for Interested Host
- Coordinator Checklist
- Possible Workshop Attendees
- Promotional Poster – Large
- Promotional Poster – Small
- Workshop Invitation
- Media Release
- Workshop Agenda
- Workshop Evaluation Form
- Follow-up Workshop Invitation
- Follow-up Media Release
- Follow-up Workshop Agenda
- Follow-up Workshop Evaluation Form
Note: Workable copies available upon request.
If you are interested in hosting or assisting with a Walkable Community Workshop in your area, please click here for contact information.