Jane’s Walk: Our Streets, Our Stories.

Jane’s Walk started right here in Toronto and is now global, there have been walks held in more than 500 cities around the world. The theme of the walks this year is “Our Streets, Our Stories”. We had a look at the list and there are at least 3 walks taking place super close. Spend some time on their website there may be more that we missed and there are many that are quite close.

Taking Stock – Rails to Regeneration, will take place on Friday, May 1 and starts at Stock Yards Village at 2:00pm. As the title hints, the volunteer guides will take you on an exploration of the rail lands near the old Stock Yards. High Park: An Arts and Crafts Inspired Tour of Eden Smith Homes, will take place on Saturday, May 2 and starts at Eden Smith House, 267 Indian Road at 2:00pm. Heavyweight Tour of the Junction: George Chuvalo’s Early Life, will take place at the same time, Saturday, May 2 starting at Watkinson Parkette, Junction, Keele and Dundas at 2:00pm.

Have you ever been on a Jane’s Walk, have you heard of the festival and do you know who Jane was? The walking tours of local neighborhoods are held every year on the first weekend of May. The walks were inspired by iconic urbanist and writer Jane Jacobs. Jacobs moved to Toronto with her family from New York after leading a successful movement to stop a highway from being built through her neighborhood. When she arrived in Toronto she found herself at the centre of a similar movement trying to stop the Spadina Expressway. The community won, the plan to extend the Allen Expressway through the Annex neighbourhood and connect it with the Gardiner Expressway was cancelled.

Check the website, some walks may require registration and in the past have filled up. Wear comfortable shoes and get out there and explore.