MEDIA RELEASE
The WALK30 2023 Challenge Returns! British Columbia- Are you ready to join the biggest walking challenge in the Metro Vancouver region?
The annual WALK30 Challenge is back, and the competition is getting more exciting year after year! In an oath of a community effort, BEST is coordinating with partners from four different municipalities and two health authorities in a five-week campaign. Save the date, because from April 10 to May 14th we want to see if you walk more than 30 minutes a day.
We are all committed to promoting walking as a convenient form of transportation that anyone can participate in. It can be as fast and far as you can. Whether you do one or multiple walking trips in one day, ensuring you get 30 minutes of walking is key to adding points in the leaderboard!
Last year, a total of 1.03 million walking minutes were recorded by 882 WALK30 participants under the motto: Walk to school, work, shop, or to play - every minute counts!
Every year, the WALK30 Challenge promotes weekly “walking themes” to keep participants motivated and engaged by highlighting the benefits of walking, active transportation, and being outdoors. This year’s challenge will focus on walking to access daily activities, walking for health, walking to make community connections, walking for climate reduction and walking as an accessible mode of transportation.
“Taking part in the WALK30 Challenge is a fantastic way to stay active, build connections with your neighbours and show your civic pride,” said Mayor Mike Hurley, City of Burnaby. “I encourage all Burnaby residents to find some time to get outside and enjoy a healthy walk around our wonderful parks and neighbourhoods during the WALK30 Challenge!”
“The WALK30 Challenge is back for a 6 th year, bigger than ever. New West has established a reputation for walking the walk and winning this challenge, but 2023 brings some new competition. The challenge is upon us,” said New Westminster Mayor Johnstone. “Walking on more of your local trips means you are reducing the traffic in our community, and taking a step away from pollution. It also has numerous health and wellness benefits as well. WALK30 is a great opportunity to start a new habit, and have some fun.”
“Walking is a fun, active, and affordable activity that supports our individual health as well as our environment. That’s why the City is pleased to welcome the WALK30 challenge back to the community for another year. We have many parks, trails, and greenways that make for an excellent walk for people of all ages and abilities. I encourage everyone to participate in this challenge and incorporate more walking into their daily lives.” – Mayor Linda Buchanan, City of North Vancouver
“Walking is a great way to reduce your risk of many diseases. Walking is a fun social activity. It is great for your mental wellbeing and improves sleep quality. I am excited to join this year’s WALK30 Challenge, and I hope to see you out there walking alongside us!” - Dr. Lindsay Bowthorpe, Medical Health Officer, Fraser Health
“Walking has many health benefits, supporting heart health, mental wellness, social connectedness and more. The WALK30 challenge adds friendly competition between the neighbouring Regional Health Authorities of Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health, as well as local governments. Every minute counts toward the challenge: commuting, recreation or other reasons to walk or roll with a wheelchair.”- Vancouver Coastal Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Michael Schwandt
Taking a walk outdoors, even if it is brief, can be beneficial to break the monotony and ease the stress of virtual meetings and classes, all while adding a dose of physical fitness to your daily routine.
Now that we are heading into spring, days will become longer and brighter, and with that, more time to fit a sunny walk into your day. WALK30 participants can track their daily walking minutes using a watch, phone, or fitness device and register them in the platform.
Education institutions are invited to form classroom or staff teams to compete together. Companies and organizations can encourage their employees to walk more by challenging other companies or departments to see who can walk more during the Challenge. You can even get creative and have outdoor “walking meetings” with your team!
From April 10-May 14, registered participants will track and share daily walking minutes online. Register now at www.walk30.ca
MEDIA CONTACTS:
BEST: Caroline Dunaux, Living Streets Coordinator 604-669-2860 walk30@best.bc.ca
City of Vancouver: media@vancouver.ca
City of North Vancouver: 604-983-7318 stremblay@cnv.org
City of Burnaby: 604-294-7468 po.sun@burnaby.ca
City of New Westminster: 604-515-3811 areynolds@newwestcity.ca
Vancouver Coastal Health: 778-237-2363 Navdeep.Nijjar@vch.ca
Fraser Health: 604-613-0794 media@fraserhealth.ca
The WALK30 Challenge is a program of Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST). BEST is a non-profit charity focused on walking, cycling, public transit and alternatives to privately-owned cars.
WALK30 is now Underway!
