The Jane's Walks festival take place the first weekend of May in cities all over the world. In 2020, social distancing will require a different format for the citizen-led group walk event.
Shawn Micallef reports on changes coming to Jane's Walks in the hometown of the event, Toronto, designed for this time of social distancing.
A celebration of community and community knowledge, walks are led by people who are not necessarily urban experts but who are passionate about a neighbourhood or place. Physical distancing has made the core experience of a Jane’s Walk — walking together — a non-starter.
The Jane's Walk organizational structure was born in Toronto, and the event's organizers there have resources to rethink the event, producing an array of virtual walks designed to provide digital access to the city.
"Last year there were 127 walks in Toronto, but he expects by May 1 they’ll have between 20 and 30 online and virtual walks ready for the revamped festival in three different formats," according to Micallef.
Read the full story: Walking together is a source of stress under COVID-19. So Jane’s Walks — and others — changed course
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