FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - ALL WINNIPEG MEDIA

October 1, 2003

Over 25,000 Students Set to Take Part in International Walk to School Day!

On Wednesday, October 8th over 25,000 students from 107 schools will be lacing up for the big day. International Walk to School Day that is, the day when children, parents, and schools from around the world celebrate the environment, child health, and the many benefits of walking. Manitoba schools will join over 3 million children, parents and community members from 28 countries as they lace up for the walk to school.

In Canada, almost half of all school children are driven to school each day. “This can not only deprive a child of physical activity but also has long-term effects on the environment and the health of the community as a whole” says Program Coordinator Andrea Lamboo Miln of Resource Conservation Manitoba (RCM). “Promoting walk to school initiatives is a win-win situation for schools. Not only is walking a great way for children to build physical activity into their day but promoting walking to school can also helps schools address the growing traffic congestion experienced during drop off and pick up times” adds Lamboo Miln.

Set to join in the Walk is Winnipeg City Councillor Gord Steeves, St. Vital Ward. Councillor Steeves, Chair of the Civic Environmental Committee, will be walking with students from Lavalee School (505 St. Anne’s Road) in celebration of the event. "There was a time when kids could be seen everywhere in our communities. The way our city has developed has made it more difficult for our young people to participate in our cities' activities without a car. This should change and this day brings attention to that fact," says Steeves. Schools are encouraged to invite their Superintendents, School Trustees, City Councillors, Police Service School Resource Officers, and other role models/decision makers in their community who are committed to creating healthy and safe school communities.

International Walk to School Day is an event organized by RCM’s Active and Safe Routes to School Program, a program that works with elementary schools in Manitoba to promote walking to school on a year-round basis. Walk to School Day is just one component of the program, along with the development of walking school buses, Walking Wednesdays and Footloose Fridays Clubs and no idling zones at school. The goal of the program is to work in partnership with community schools to encourage physical fitness, share walking safety skills with children, bring safety to our neighbourhoods, reduce crime, address traffic congestion, cut pollution and reduce vehicle speed around schools.


For more information on International Walk to School Day, how to join the Walking School Bus on October 8th, and/or the Active and Safe Routes to School Program visit www.resourceconservation.mb.ca
or contact:

Andrea Lamboo Miln
Program Coordinator, Active and Safe Routes to School
Resource Conservation Manitoba
Phone: 925-3773
E-mail: asrts@resourceconservation.mb.ca

For information en français contact:
Serge LaRochelle
Program Coordinator, Green Commuting Initiatives
Resource Conservation Manitoba
Phone: 925-3772
E-mail: serge@resourceconservation.mb.ca


Participating Active and Safe Routes to School Schools:

Arthur E. Wright – Contact: Neil Sander, Physical Education Teacher, 632-6314
École Riverbend Community School – Contact: Peter Krahn, Principal, 334-8417
Linden Meadows School – Contact: John Macbeth, Principal, 489-0799
Oakenwald School – Contact: Elaine Hansen, Principal, 474-0269


Official International Walk to School Day Website:
www.walktoschool.org

See attached list for schools participating in International Walk to School Day 2003 in Manitoba. Look for a school in your area and consider doing a local story on a school in your community that is participating!

Winnipeg Schools:

Archwood School
Arthur E. Wright Community School
Athlone School
B. E. Glavin School
Bairdmore School
Beaumont Community School
Brock Corydon School
Buchanan School
Carpathia School
Chancellor Elementary School
Dr. D. W. Penner School
École Golden Gate Middle School
École Howden
École Julie-Riel
École Marie-Anne-Gaboury
École Riverbend Community School
École Robert H. Smith
École St. Avila
École St. Germain
Elwick Community School
General Byng School
George V School
Greenway School
Henry G. Izatt Middle School
Holy Cross School
Holy Ghost School
John DeGraff Elementary School
John W. Gunn Middle School
Joseph Teres Elementary School
Lavalee School
Linden Meadows School
Machray School
Maple Leaf School
Meadows West School
Oakenwald School
Radisson School
RHG Bonnycastle School
Ryerson Elementary School
Samuel Burland School
Shamrock School
St. Alphonsus School
Stevenson Elementary School
Stevenson-Britannia School
Sun Valley School
Transcona Collegiate
Tyndall Park Community School
Valley Gardens Junior High
Van Walleghem School
Victor Mager School
Victor Wyatt School
Westview School

Schools Outside of Winnipeg:

Westpark School Altona
Ashern Early Years School Ashern
Beausejour Elementary School Beausejour
Betty Gibson Elementary School Brandon
George Fitton School Brandon
Newdale Colony School Brandon
Waverly Park School Brandon
Philomene Chartrand School Camperville
Cranberry Portage School Cranberry Portage
Elm Creek School Elm Creek
Elmdale School Steibach
Fisher Branch Early Years School Fisher Branch
Ruth Betts School Flin Flon
Forrest Elementary School Forrest
Gillam School Gillam
Rock Lake School Grosse Isle
Sommerfeld Colony School High Bluff
Centennial Elementary School Lac du Bonnet
École Lagimodière Lorette
Tanner's Crossing Minnedosa
École Morden Middle School Morden
Brennan School Newton
Jack River School Norway House
Rossville School Norway House
Norguay Colony School Oakville
Ochre River School Ochre River
O'Kelly School Shilo
F W Gilbert Elementary School Pinawa
Crescentview School Portage la Prairie
Rapid City School Rapid City
Mennville Christian School Riverton
Rossburn Collegiate Rossburn
École Réal Bérard Saint-Pierre-Jolys
Sandy Lake Elementary School Sandy Lake
Daerwood School Selkirk
Robert Smith School Selkirk
Ruth Hooker School Selkirk
ABM School Shamattawa
Shoal Lake School Shoal Lake
Oscar Blackburn School South Indian Lake
Mapleton School St. Andrews
Stonewall Centennial School Stonewall
Heyes Elementary School Swan River
Omega School Teulon
Teulon Elementary School Teulon
Kelsey Early Years School The Pas
Mary Duncan School The Pas
Opasquia Middle School The Pas
Juniper Elementary School Thompson
Westwood School Thompson
Treherne Elementary School Treherne
Warren Elementary School Warren
George Saunders Memorial School York Landing


With any questions re: International Walk to School Day, please do not hesitate to call 925-3773.

Thanks.

Andrea Lamboo Miln
Program Coordinator, Active and Safe Routes to School

Resource Conservation Manitoba
2nd Floor, 70 Albert Street
Winnipeg, MB R3B 1E7
t: 204.925.3773
f: 204.989.8476

www.resourceconservation.mb.ca