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to school Wednesday Five tread from Ennismore to St. Peter's Secondary School More than 10,000 city and county schoolchildren walked to school Wednesday as part of International Walk to School Day, including five high school students who tread all the way from Ennismore. Thirty-four schools participated in the event in Peterborough, which has grown consistently since it began four years ago, say organizers. The international event encourages children to lace up their sneakers and partake in physical activity. "All over the world, kids are walking to school today," says Jill Ritchie, health promoter in injury prevention at the Peterborough County-City Health Unit.
"We want to promote physical activity, traffic safety and concern for the environment." Jill notes not only do children get exercise when they opt to walk to school, the air quality improves and the streets are safer as a result of fewer vehicles. "It's a fun event but it does really have a message about daily physical activity."
Locally, students were in good spirits, decorating banners with glitter and paint and personalizing their running shoes with momentos. The unusually-warm October weather was appreciated, says Jill, noting the first year the event was held in Peterborough it poured. Some schools planned additional walking activities Wednesday, while others have signed up for the Across Canada Walking Challenge. Schools organize walking activities weekly and keep track of the progress on a map of Canada. The map has 28 footprints marking different cities and landmarks across the country. While International Walk to School Day targets elementary school students, five young people at St. Peter's Secondary School opted to walk to the city school from Ennismore. The local event was organized by the Active and Safe Routes to School Committee, comprised of representatives from the health unit, Peterborough Green-Up, Green Communities Association, Peterborough Lakefield Community Police and Health for Life. |
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