Students from Ellison Elementary celebrate iWalk in 2014.
Image Credit: Contributed
September 17, 2015 - 5:00 PM
VERNON - The City of Vernon is inviting Vernon schools to participate in the upcoming International Walk (iWalk) event, an annual global event celebrated around the world that takes place each October to raise awareness about the benefits of active travel to school. Last year’s activities included “walking school buses” led by Vernon’s mayor and council members to encourage participation and awareness. So far, Ellison Elementary and Alexis Park Elementary in Vernon have signed up for 2015 events.
The general themes that are promoted during iWalk include increasing daily physical activity, improving safety, enhancing the environment, bringing the community together, reducing levels of crime, promoting social interaction and reducing traffic congestion, pollution and speed near schools.
Twenty-five years, ago 80 per cent of children from grades three to 12 walked or biked to school without an adult; now, only 20 per cent of Canadian children walk or bike to school. Today’s children face chronic health risks: increased rates of obesity — 26 per cent of Canadian children and youth are obese — that can lead to diabetes, heart attack and stroke in young adults. Walking is one way to decrease the incidence of chronic disease in children.
For more information on how to organize an iWalk event at your school, please contact wmajewski@vernon.ca or visit ww.vernon.ca/vernonmoves.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015