On October 3, 2007 Ontario is starting a "Walkolution" and you're invited!

The Ontario WORLD RECORD WALK 2007 is aiming to break the existing Guinness World Record for the largest number of people walking one kilometer simultaneously (current record held by Western Australia with 100,915 Participants – September 2006 www.wagiantwalk.com.au/whatis.php).

Anyone can be part of this exciting event: Schools, Clubs, Community Groups, Workplaces, Municipal Governments and Individuals.

All Canadians are invited to join Ontarians to take on the World Record! Interested provinces/territories would be required to fund and coordinate their own World Record Walk activities. Green Communities Canada will provide the interactive website as the focal point for the event, incorporating downloadable resources ready for use and easy customization, in addition to the tracking software for cross-Canada results.

The World Record Walk 2007 will start a "walkolution" aimed at creating a culture of walking by:

• Connecting with the WALK21 (www.toronto.ca/walk21) message of "Putting Pedestrians First"
• Encouraging Municipal leaders to sign the International Charter for Walking (www.walk21.com).
• Putting the public focus on and educating the people of Ontario about the benefits of walking and active transportation (www.Active2010.ca).

Wednesday, October 3 is also International Walk to School Day (IWALK). We encourage schools to register for the World Record Walk and make it part of the IWALK celebrations. For activity ideas and resources designed specifically for schools please visit (www.saferoutestoschool.ca)

The World Record Walk is being organized by Green Communities Canada (www.greencommunitiescanada.org) with support from the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion (www.mhp.gov.on.ca).

"Be part of the "Walkolution" ... and help us set a new WORLD RECORD!"

• The Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection, working to make Nova Scotia a healthier and safer place to live, work and play. www.gov.ns.ca/hpp. Contact: Lucas Wide, Communications Officer, Department of Health Promotion and Protection, Direct Tel: (902) 424-7558, Email: widela@gov.ns.ca
• Resource Conservation Manitoba is a non-profit environmental education centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba with a focus on active and sustainable transportation, waste reduction and composting. www.resourceconservation.mb.ca. Contact Lise Smith at worldwalk@resourceconservation.mb.ca or (204) 925-3773.
• SHAPE Alberta (Safe Healthy Active People Everywhere) in partnership with many organizations and government departments is participating in the World Record Walk. In fact, Alberta set a new Guinness Record on May 26, 2005 with 79,815 people walking from 321 different locations. SHAPE encourages students in Alberta to walk to school. It's good for their health, education and the environment! www.shapeab.com; Contact Bev Esslinger, Provincial Manager at bev@shapeab.com or at (780) 406-8530.

Organizations Supporting the World Record Walk

	MMM Group We are pleased to announce that the MMM Group, formerly Marshall Macklin Monaghan Limited, has signed on as a sponsor for both the Toronto World Record Walk and the Walk21 Conference. MMM, with offices across Canada, is a multi-disciplinary consulting engineering and planning firm and is a recognized leader in pedestrian, cycling, trail, active transportation planning, design and implementation services as well as transportation demand management (TDM) and transit network planning, design and policy. www.mmm.ca
	Saskatchewan in motion Saskatchewan in motion is a province-wide movement aimed at increasing physical activity for health, social, economic and environmental benefits.  Our vision is that the people of Saskatchewan will be the healthiest, most physically active in Canada.  Our goal is to increase physical activity in this province 10% by 2010.  The movement has grown to include 370 schools, 470 workplaces and more than 800 champions and leaders across Saskatchewan.  Contact info@saskinmotion.ca or visit www.saskatchewaninmotion.ca.
	Get Your Move On... Making physical activity a Toronto thing A Toronto initiative focused on helping the people of Toronto to be more active. Get Your Move On works to help overcome barriers to physical activity and to teach people how to learn to love movement.
	Smart Commute Smart Commute is a partnership between the cities and regions of the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton that works to reduce car dependency and the associated problems of traffic congestion, air pollution and climate change. Smart Commute works with employers and commuters to explore commuting options such as walking, carpooling, cycling, transit, teleworking and flexible work hours. Walking is a cost effective and healthy way to commute to work. Visit the Smart Commute web site for information on how to get started. http://www.smartcommute.ca/choose/walk/
	Lettuce Make Thyme Inc. Lettuce help you Make Thyme for a healthy active lifestyle with our non-competitive, non-traditional activities. www.lettucemakethyme.com
	M.P. Russo and Associates Inc Supplying quality branded merchandise for your company or organization since 1983. www.mprusso.com
	Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD) The Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD) is a national, charitable, voluntary-sector organization whose primary concern is to influence the healthy development of children and youth by advocating for quality, school-based physical and health education. www.cahperd.ca/eng/index.cfm
	walkON walkON is a community partnership including local Heart Health Projects, municipalities, and Public Health Units. It promotes walkable communities by raising awareness and educating the public in Brant, Haldimand-Norfolk, Halton Region, Niagara Region, Waterloo Region and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph. This site is not available in French. www.walkon.ca
	CIRA Ontario CIRA Ontario is an incorporated, non-profit organization whose mission is to encourage, promote and develop active living, healthy lifestyles and personal growth, through intramural and recreational programs within the education and recreation communities. No French site (logo coming). ciraontario.mohawkcollege.ca
	Clean Air Champions Clean Air Champions work with respected athletes to improve air quality by motivating and educating Canadians to adopt practices and lifestyles that enhance both environmental and personal health. www.cleanairchampions.ca
	Celebration of Trails An annual autumn festival of trail events in east Central Ontario. www.celebrationoftrails.ca
	Walk and Bike for Life We promote Walking and Bicycling as activities and Trails, Parks and Open Spaces as great places, to improve the quality of life of ALL. www.walkandbikeforlife.com
	OPHEA OPHEA exists to support Ontario's school communities through advocacy, quality program supports and partnerships to enable children and youth to lead active healthy lives. www.ophea.net
	Waterfront Regeneration Trust Stretching from Niagara to Quebec along the Canadian Shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, the 650 kilometre Waterfront Trail is a celebration of nature and culture - where peaceful countryside, small towns, and big cities are linked. www.waterfronttrail.org
	Parks and Recreation Ontario Parks and Recreation Ontario (PRO) is an all-inclusive, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the people of Ontario. www.prontario.org
	Association of Municipalities of Ontario AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario's 445 municipal governments. AMO supports and enhances strong and effective municipal government in Ontario and promotes the value of municipal government as a vital and essential component of Ontario and Canada's political system. www.amo.on.ca