Students in Simcoe and Muskoka will be encouraged to walk and wheel to and from school this year, thanks to a collaborative project led by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit that launched on Wednesday, October 2 at an event hosted by St. Angela Merici Catholic School in Bradford West Gwillimbury. The event coincided with International Walk to School Day and celebrated the commitment to make active school travel part of regular routines.

The goal of the “On the Move” project is to increase the number of students using active forms of transportation to get to and from school. The Ontario Active School Travel (OAST) Fund, a program of Green Communities Canada (GCC) provided $110,600 for this project. 

Minister Lecce and Minister Mulroney were among many special visitors at Wednesday’s event, cheering on students’ efforts to walk and wheel to school. Also on hand was:

• The Mayor of Bradford West Gwillimbury Robert Keller
• Kate Barry, Program Director for Ontario Active School Travel
• Natalie Riewe, Acting Assistant Director, Community and Family Health, Acting Chief Nursing Officer, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
• Carol Corriveau-Truchon, Chair of the Board of Trustees for Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board
• Janice Hutchison, Carol Corriveau-Truchon, Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees for Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board and, 
• Deputy Chief Robin McElary-Downer, South Simcoe Police

The benefits of active transportation are clear - students who walk or wheel to school:

• Are more confident and independent
• They are more active and healthy
• They decrease pollution around the school and,
• They make our school safer for everyone by decreasing car congestion.

Bradford-West Gwillimbury’s Walk N Wheel are annual events that have happened on International Walk to School Day for many years. They are excellent examples of municipal, school and community working together to get kids moving on their school journey.

To learn more about the Simcoe Muskoka’s Active School Travel Project call Health Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.