The school year is off to an active start in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (WDG). Thanks in part to support from the Ontario Active School Travel (OAST) Fund, the WDG Active and Safe Routes to School Committee is now operating four Walking School Bus (WSB) routes serving three schools: Holy Trinity CES, Ken Danby PS, and Mitchell Woods PS. Sixty-eight students (with 20 more waitlisted) are benefiting from the pilot project that is enabling more families who live within walking distance of school to choose an active travel mode.
Recently, the committee hosted a “Walk in Their Sneakers” event, where special guests from the Guelph Police Service came out in support of the WSB. Officers Kevin Dahl and Sherry Pettapiece learned about the students’ trip to school while sharing school zone safety tips and traffic information.
To continue the WSB momentum, more special events are planned. On Hallowe’en, for example, there will be a “Spooky Walk” where students can come dressed in their costumes. And the committee will be working with area schools to increase participation in upcoming walk and wheel celebrations.
Follow the movement @WDGASRTS.
The WSB pilot in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph is led by Wellington-Dufferin Student Transportation Services, in partnership with the Upper Grand District School Board, Wellington Catholic District School Board, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, and the City of Guelph. It is one of 28 projects receiving support from the OAST Fund.