COMMUNITY
To celebrate Jane Jacobs Day, May 4, you are invited to participate in Jane’s Walk 2008, hosted by Catherine Hennessey as she tells the stories of the place and people of her downtown neighbourhood. Jane’s Walks are a series of free neighbourhood walking tours given by residents who care passionately about where they live, work and play.
When author and activist Jane Jacobs died in 2006, many of her peers, colleagues, friends and admirers discussed how best to honour her ideas and legacy. They settled on the idea of Jane’s Walk, a series of free neighbourhood strolls that reinforce her idea of walkable, dense and diverse heighbourhoods as the hallmarks of a healthy city. These characteristics help knit people together into a strong and resourceful community. Jane’s Walks also instill belonging and encourage civic leadership. Moreover, Jane’s Walks get citizens out connecting with and making their own observations about the city where they live. Walkers will learn more about their neighbourhoods and are encouraged to join in with their reminiscences about the area. These walks also serve to promote networking between neighbourhoods by introducing neighbours to neighbours.
Jane’s Walk began in Toronto and New York in 2007 and this year will include Charlottetown, Calgary, Guelph, Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg.
Jan Jacobs was a summer visitor to PEI. Catherine Hennessey, a friend and Jacobs follower will host a fun and engaging Jane’s Walk through her downtown neighbourhood on May 4 at 2:30 pm beginning in front of the Culinary Institute at the corner of Haviland And Sydney Streets. During this walk Catherine will “tell tales” of what has made her downtown an interesting place to live. She will also tell of an encounter with Jane sitting on a street bench with a couple of Charlottetown’s best known characters.