More than 5,200 students from all 11 elementary schools in Bradford West Gwillimbury walked, biked or rollerbladed to school today as part of this year’s Walk ‘n’ Wheel Wednesday.
The event was launched three years ago to get kids to promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce reliance on motor vehicles.
“We all know that healthy bodies contribute to healthy minds,” Bradford Coun. Gary Baynes said. “The original objective of Walk ‘n’ Wheel Wednesday was, of course, to strongly encourage walking and wheeling to school, to increase physical activity” and reduce traffic congestion in front of school properties.
The event was an initiative of the town’s Active Transportation and Recreation Committee, and Baynes, who is committee chair, was hoping to engage both public and Catholic elementary schools twice a year.
Only a couple of schools signed up for the inaugural event, but Baynes said he is happy all elementary schools now participate.
He said he is also thrilled by the level of support from the community.
Bradford’s Canadian Tire donated 22 bicycle helmets – two per school – to be used as prizes or rewards; Food Basics provided 5,000 apples; and No Frills sent apples to St. Angela Merici Catholic School.
As well, housing development company Cachet Homes donated brightly-colored ribbons that read “I Walk to School,” which are handed out to kids who used active transportation to get to class.
“We’re actively involved in Bradford,” said Cachet representative Marcus Gagliardi, who came out to help greet the students. “With all of the communities we build, we believe in active transportation (and) walkable communities safe for pedestrians.”
At every school, teaching staff staff and civic leaders, including town councillors, police officers and firefighters, greeted the walkers and wheelers.
Mayor Rob Keffer joined the team at St. Charles Catholic School in the Green Valley area. It was participating for the first time.
For the past two years, construction on Simcoe Road, combined with a lack of sidewalks, kept the school from signing up, said principal Cassandra Medve-Racine.
This year, with the road done, sidewalks installed and the Simcoe Road bridge replaced, it was pleased to get involved: “I think it’s important that our students and parents become active,” she said.
“It gives families the realization it’s not as hard as they think. They try it once, and it’s not that hard. They weren’t that tired, they didn’t have to get up that early.”
Although a fair number of students are bused to the school, many families chose to walk or bicycle. Even the staff, noted Medve-Racine, parked down the block at the Portuguese Cultural Centre, and walked up to the school.
“They were committed,” she said.
Ten schools participated in the May 9 event, with Sir William Osler Public School scheduled to take part May 10 as part of Mental Health Week.
