Put on your walking shoes!

If you’re new to Canada (or even if you’ve lived here for a while), here’s a chance to get acquainted with your home city and get some fresh air at the same time

Ð’ субботу, Май 1 и воскресенье, Май 2, cities across Canada are hosting “Jane’s Walks,” a series of free neighborhood walking tours.

Празднование наследие Джейн Джекобс (1916-2006), a noted urbanist, активист, и автор, Jane’s Walks inspire people to get to know their city — and each other — by getting out and walking.

Более 60 cities worldwide, Ð’ том числе 30 в Канаде, are holding Jane’s Walks in 2010.

Джейкобс родился в U.S. but immigrated to Canada in the 1960s. Ее 1961 книга, Жизнь и смерть великих американских городов, introduced innovative, новые идеи о развитии городов.

Jacobs championed cities that were higher density and mixed-use but still walkable and human scale. Because of her belief that local residents should have input on how their neighborhoods develop, Jacobs encouraged people to get better acquainted with their local communities.

Among the Canadian cities hosting Jane’s Walks this year are:

• Ванкувер
• Торонто
• Оттава
• Монреаль
• Калгари

Ð’ прошлом году, I took an interesting Jane’s Walk though the Vancouver neighborhoods of Страткона и Гастаун that highlighted those communities’ Jewish roots. Среди прочего, I learned that vaudeville performer Джек Бенни встретил свою будущую жену в Ferrara Court building на Восточном Hastings Street. (The Еврейский музей и Архив B.C. hosts similar walking tours с июня по август.)

For a complete list of 2010 Jane’s Walks across Canada, check the Jane’s Walk website.

Фото © Carolyn B. Хеллер