HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-015-07
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REPORT
COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Meeting:
GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
September 17, 2007 Resolution #:{jPf}~S41-o7
Date:
Report #: CSD-015-07
File#:
By-law #:
Subject:
UPDATE ON WORLD RECORD WALK - October 3,2007
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT ReportCSD-015-07 be received; and
2. THAT the Mayor on behalf of Council signs and supports the International
Charter for Walking.
Submitted by:
Jgs P. Caruana 1
ir ctor of Community Services
Reviewed bY:U ~ --.:-~
Franklin Wu
Chief Administrative Officer
JPC/SM/EM/j
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-5506
REPORT NO.: CSD-015-07
PAGE 2
1.0 BACKGROUND
1.1 The World Record Walk 0NRW) www.worldrecordwalk.ca will take place
extensively across Ontario and in other regions of Canada simultaneously at
12:30 p.m. EDT on October 3,2007. The walk will be one kilometre in length,
taking approximately 20 minutes to complete. Schools, communities, workplaces
and trail organizations are being urged to participate. The cumulative total will be
tallied in an effort to break the Guinness World Record for the largest
simultaneous one kilometre walk. The current record was set in September
2006 by Western Australia, with 100,915 participants.
1.2 The goal of the World Record Walk is to launch a "Walkolution" - to create a
culture of walking in our communities, encouraging employees to walk to work
and walk at work, encouraging our children to walk to school and walk at school,
and promoting walking to all as an excellent form of transportation and as an
excellent means of maintaining a healthy weight.
1.3 Through broad-based community participation and a focus on a healthy active
community, this event will encourage active transportation and recreational
walking, which will benefit both individual health and the environment. A healthy
active community is one which encourages residents to walk for pleasure and
walk as a means of active transportation.
1.4 The International Charter for Walking (Attachment #1) was created by Walk21, a
non-profit, international group that is "taking walking forward in the twenty-first
century".
1.5 The International Charter for Walking aims to create healthy, efficient and
sustainable communities where people choose to walk. It aims to create a
culture where people choose to walk through these strategic principles:
1. Increased inclusive mobility
2. Well designed and managed spaces and places for people
3. Improved integration of networks
4. Supportive land-use and spatial planning
5. Reduced road danger
6. Less crime and fear of crime
7. More supportive authorities
8. A culture of walking
1.6 The vision of the International Charter for Walking is as follows:
"To create a world where people choose and are able to walk as a way to travel,
to be healthy and to relax, a world where authorities, organizations and
individuals have:
1. Recognized the value of walking;
REPORT NO.: CSD-015-07
PAGE 3
2. Made a commitment to healthy, efficient and sustainable communities;
and
3. Worked together to overcome the physical, social and institutional barriers
which often limit people's choice to walk."
2.0 EVENT DETAILS
2.1 There are guidelines that will be followed in order to ensure our walk is eligible to
be included in the anticipated Guinness World Record (Attachment #2).
2.2 The walk must be a minimum of one kilometre in length. The route we have
mapped out for our event is approximately 1.3 kilometres long. The Municipality
of Clarington World Record Walk will begin at the Cenotaph at the Municipal
Administrative Centre heading south on Temperance, west on King Street, north
on Scugog Street, east on Church Street, across Temperance Street, south on
Division Street and back to the Cenotaph heading west along King Street.
2.2 Registration tables will be set up for one hour prior to the event for participants to
register and also ensure an accurate count of participants.
2.3 The event will begin with a welcome by Deputy Mayor Charlie Trim and a special
guest. This will be followed by a five minute warm up conducted by Fitness Staff
from the Courtice Fitness Facility. There will be an official start announced by
Deputy Mayor Charlie Trim at 12:30PM EST (to coincide with simultaneous
national walks).
2.4 Community Services Staff will secure the route and assist the walkers in crossing
intersections and provide first aid treatment where necessary. St. John's
Ambulance will also be on site to provide first aid treatment.
2.5 Local businesses have been contacted to encourage their participation as well as
to solicit for donations for the event. The businesses have also been invited to
set up a table top display I information booth showcasing their "green" efforts and
lor how they are helping to make a more active community. As a wrap up to the
walk, light refreshments, donated wherever possible, will be provided and
participants can browse local merchants' information booths at the Cenotaph.
2.6 At the event wrap-up there will be draws for door prizes which include an annual
membership to the Courtice Fitness Training Facility as well as numerous other
prizes donated by local businesses.
2.7 The outline for the day is as follows:
10:30am "Green" information booths set up at Cenotaph
11 :30am Registration begins at Cenotaph
Receipt provided for package pick up after walk (tracks
participants through completion of the walk)
REPORT NO.: CSD-015-07
PAGE 4
12:15pm
12:20pm
12:30pm
Welcome
Warm up - led by Courtice Fitness Staff person
Official start of walk by Deputy Mayor Charlie Trim - using
whistle / horn / shotgun
Walk wraps up at Cenotaph
Refreshments
Visit "Green" information booths
Participant package pick up
Door prizes
Booth tear down
12:45-1 :OOpm
1 :00-2:00pm
2:00-3:00pm
2.8 As of August 27,2007, there are 229 communities / organizations across
Canada participating in the World Record Walk; ofthose 162 are in Ontario.
2.9 We are hopeful that costs associated with this event will be minimized through
donations by local businesses, however, should additional expenses be required,
they will be managed through the 2007 Community Services operating budget.
2.10 A communication plan is being developed in partnership with the
Communications Department to promote this event. The following methods will
be used:
o Mail outs to local groups and program registrants
o Fall 2007 Community Guide
o Posters in municipal facilities and local businesses
o Corporate Ads
o Presentation to Management Staff
o Municipal Website
o Media Releases
o TV spots / Radio spots (interviews)
3.0 COMMENT
3.1 The World Record Walk is an exciting opportunity for the Municipality of
Clarington to demonstrate a leading edge in the promotion of active
transportation and demonstrate our commitment to encouraging a healthy and
active lifestyle.
3.2 It is recommended that Mayor Jim Abernethy sign the International Charter of
Walking to strengthen Clarington's commitment to creating a healthy and active
community.
Attachments:
Attachment #1 - The International Charter for Walking
Attachment #2 - Guinness World Record Rules
CSD-015-07 - Attachment # 1
International Charter for Walking
Creating healthy, efficient and sustainable communities
where people choose to walk
l!We, the undersigned recognise the benefits of walking as a key indicator of healthy, efficient,
socially inclusive and sustainable communities and acknowledge the universal rights of people to
be able to walk safely and to enjoy high quality public spaces anywhere and at anytime. We are
committed to reducing the physical, social and institutional barriers that limit walking activity. We
will work with others to help create a culture where people choose to walk through our commitment
to this charter and its strategic principles:
1. Increased inclusive mobility
2. Well designed and managed spaces and places for people
3. Improved integration of networks
4. Supportive land-use and spatial planning
5. Reduced road danger
6. Less crime and fear of crime
7. More supportive authorities
8. A culture of walking
Signed
Name
Position
Date
www.walk21.com
CSD-01S-Q7 - Attachment # 2
GUINNESS RULES
FROM: Guinness World Records (www.Quinnessworldrecords.com )
Larf!est Simultaneous Walk and Run
The following act as a guide to the specific considerations and undertakings, in addition
to the general requirements, for any potential attempt on Largest Simultaneous Walk and
Run.
They should be read and understood by all concerned- organizers, participants and
witnesses - prior to the event.
Rules
This record is for the greatest number of people participating in a walk/run organized by
the same organization, simultaneously, at different venues.
I. A head count of walkers/runners must be taken before the event, either by turnstile
or some other form of counting. This is essential and must be done efficiently.
2. All walks/runs should begin at the same time therefore, all those attempting the
record must begin walking/running at the same time. This needs to be done so that the
record is clearly for the number of people actually walking/running and not just the
number of people attending the event as a spectator.
3. Events in different time zones must begin at the same moment: thus ifan event begins
at 12 noon at New York, it should begin at 9 a.m. in California..
4. Sufficient witnesses should be involved to ratifY that all the contestants fully
participate in the attempt - witnesses should be placed in such a way that every part of
the walk/run area is visible to the officials.
5. The number of venues used is not of importance in the context of the record.
However, this information does need to be included with the documentation. There is
no upper limit on the number of venues, but there should be a minimum of ten
walks/runs organised.
6. [( is the total number of walkers/runners attending that constitutes the record,
although there should be an average of at least 25 walkers at each venue.
7. The name of the company, organisation or person(s) organising the event should be
given, along with the date, venues, and course distance.
8. The walks must be a minimum of I kilometre long.
Guinness states re: Verification:
This may include cuttings from local or national newspapers, specialist or general
interest magazines and recordings of television or radio news reports.
Video footage ofthe record Attempt on VHS (PAL or NTSC) DVD or CD-ROM.
Where possible, the original footage should also be supplied on DV or Mini DV.
High Quality color photographs - may be submitted in digital format on CD-ROM or
DVD (taken at 300 dpi in a 15 cm x 15 cm size) or in traditional photographic print or
slide format. Color photocopies are not acceptable. Printouts of digital images are only
acceptable if the photograph is also provided in digital format.
Checklist for Submission
· Submit the Official Count Form
. Attach letters written on letterhead from two independent witnesses of
some standing within the local community (principal, vice principal,
manager, recreation coordinator, policeman, politician, etc) who have
attended the event and can confirm details of the event (number of
participants, distance, date and time).
· Attach at least one photograph or newspaper clipping to document your
event. These can be mailed, Faxed or sent electronically. These will
become the property of Guinness World Records and WILL NOT BE
RETURNED. SEE Guinness Rules.
The Official Count Form and Guinness Rules can be found here:
http://www.worldrecordwalk.ca/english/resources. asp
Send to:
World Record Walk 2007
Green Commnnities Canada
PO Box 928,
Peterborough, ON
K9J7A5
Ph -705-745-7479/1-877-533-4098
Fax - 705-745-7294
coun tusin(aiworldrecordwalk.ca