by Deb Lee
‘Bridgeland Walks’ has been “a thing” in our community for over ten years, but how did it get started?
Around 2010, Christine Bennett, the City of Calgary community social worker, was working to create stronger social ties in the community. She invited people to join her in walks around the community. Unfortunately, Christine was reassigned to a different community and Deb Lee, a recently retired nurse decided to continue with Christine’s initiative. Since 2013, ‘Bridgeland Walks’ has been a weekly evening activity – happening from May to the end of September.
The informal walks evolved to become organized around a different theme each week. Monthly posters included additional information such as the walking distance and challenges such as hills to be encountered. This made the walk more predictable and easier for people to join in.
How many Calgary communities could do up to sixteen guided walks every spring and summer and cover a different theme each week?
Bridgeland-Riverside is blessed with a uniqueness because of the diversity of people who have come to live here. Our historic buildings and topography have made it easy to offer varied walk routes. Themes have included our parks, churches, and schools or cultural groups such as Italians, Ukrainians, and features such as gardens, Tom Campbell’s Hill, and river pathways. There’s been steady participation in the walks with one to two people on a cold windy day up to almost 30 for one year’s kick off walk but averaging ten to twelve a week.
Over time other Bridgelanders joined in and shared the planning and leadership of the walks. Thank you to Laura M, Nony H, Janine D, and Enza C. We also benefitted from the expertise of guest leaders from our nearby communities of East Village, Renfrew, and Crescent Heights – thanks to Kate R, Dee N, Linda T, and Bev B. From time to time, former residents of Bridgeland have also joined our walks. We’ve enjoyed hearing about “how it was” in days from the past.
During Covid, we had to pause our group walks. So, Allan McIntyre and I created about ten guided walks with maps that enabled people to get outdoors on their own and explore and learn about our community. These guided walks are still available on our BRCA website.
In addition to learning more about our community and its interesting history and quirky corners, ‘Bridgeland Walks’ has introduced walkers to their neighbours. This is important as so many new people have come to live in our community. Being able to recognize and say hello to others on the street adds to a feeling of belonging here. We’ve seen new friendships and walking buddies develop.
It’s the end of the eleventh season for ‘Bridgeland Walks’. And it’s time for me to step down from leadership of the walks. Perhaps there is interest to continue the walks, or to do something different in future years. If you’ve got ideas or a willingness to get involved, feel free to contact [email protected].
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