"Research suggests that while 68% of Canadian children live within a 30 minute walk from their school, only 36% walk as a rule".
- Active & Safe Routes to School Resource Guide
Benefits include: 
- increased daily physical activity
- promotion of social interaction
- reduced traffic congestion near the school
- reduced air pollution in school area
- greater sense of community
- fun!
What can your school do?
- International Walk to School Month (iWALK)
- Winter Walk Day
- Spring into Spring
- Walking School Bus
- WOW (Walk/Wheel on Wednesdays)
- iWALK Club
- No Idling at School Campaign
These school programs are provided in conjunction with our partners at Green Communities Canada and the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.
Local Participation:
Winter Walk Day 2011
St. Margaret School celebrated Winter Walk Day 2011! Special Olympian guests joined the students in an assembly and celebration of healthy, active living. The event reminds students that winter is not a time to hibernate but to be active and walk to school. Active transportation helps increase daily physical activity, improve road safety, reduce traffic congestion and decrease air pollution.
It's winter. Don't hibernate. Walk to school and celebrate!
Celebrating Sidewalks on International Walk to School Day 
Mayor Lynn Peterson led this year's International Walk to School Day celebration in Thunder Bay by cutting the ribbon to the new Windsor Street sidewalk. Students, parents, community residents, school board officials, city partners and the Active & Safe Routes to School committee joined the Mayor in encouraging Thunder Bay students to use our sidewalks and walk to school.
Watch the news story here and read the full newspaper article here .
Clean Air Day Celebration! Spring into Spring and Walk with the Mayor! 
Mayor Lynn Peterson led the celebration of Clean Air Day by guiding a walk around Holy Cross School. School staff and students participated in the Active & Safe Routes to School challenge to "Spring into Spring" and protect the air we breathe. Thunder Bay schools were invited to take the Earth Week to Clean Air Day challenge by encouraging students and parents to choose active modes of transportation for travelling to and from school. Holy Cross School was selected to participate in this special celebration. Walking, cycling and rollerblading are all great options for active transportation! Let's all Spring into Spring!
Ecole Gron Morgan School Walks with Wolfie on Winter Walk Day!
Winter Walk Day was celebrated with the Lakehead University ThunderWolves mascot, Wolfie.
International Walk to School Day:
Saint Bernard School Walks to School with the Mayor! 
Saint Bernard School won the International Walk to School Day "Walk with the Mayor". All schools registered to participate in iWALK day were entered in a local draw. The winning school, Saint Bernard, hosted a school-wide walk to school on October 8, 2009. The students, parents and staff met at a designated area and walked, wheeled and rolled together to school. Some students that regularly traveled by school bus were even dropped off at the meeting place to allow them to participate in the walk. Many schools are encouraging parents to park a few blocks away from school and walk the remaining distance with their students. This action allows for physical activity and also helps to decrease traffic congestion (also increasing safety) and reduce air pollution in the immediate school area. The iWALK event was also recognized in the Canada Walks Walkolution newsletter (see left hand side of page 4).
Congratulations Saint Bernard School!
Page last updated on Friday, October 12, 2012
