News Release

HRM to host Community Meeting on Walkability

(Monday, April 30 2007) – A team of international walking experts will be in HRM on Wednesday, May 2nd to conduct a community meeting on improving HRM’s “walkability”.

HRM encourages residents to come out and discuss how HRM can be more “walkable” or “pedestrian friendly”. The meeting is intended for all pedestrians who share the sidewalk - walkers, people with mobility challenges, strollers and wheelchairs.

The experts will be in HRM as part of a National Road Show, making stops in various cities across Canada. The results will be built into a model framework, and showcased at the Walk21 International Conference in Toronto from October 1-4, 2007.

A key focus of the Road Shows is to develop an international framework for creating and implementing local pedestrian strategies and plans.

The community meetings will involve both presentations from the experts and input from the public. The session is designed to develop an understanding of what is currently being done locally to encourage more pedestrian activity; to recognise what the priorities and barriers are for future policy and investment; and to identify what external supports could assist communities develop and implement effective local pedestrian strategies.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 2nd 2007 at Halifax West High School, 283 Thomas Raddall Drive from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

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Roxane MacInnis
490-4160
macinnr@halifax.ca

Kim Borgal
Corporate Communications
490-1539