WCDSB’S Active Transportation
Active transportation is any self-propelled method of transportation, like walking, cycling, scootering, or skateboarding. The WCDSB supports active transportation as the preferred method of transportation to school because it is a healthy choice that has proven links to greater student achievement. To show this support, the Board of Trustees approved the Active Transportation Charter on May 16, 2011.
Earn up to 8 EcoSchools Environmental Stewardship points for Active and Sustainable Transportation!
Active and Safe Routes to School Workgroup
Members of WCDSB staff have been involved in active school transportation in the form of the innovative cross-sectional Active and Safe Routes to School Waterloo Region workgroup for over ten years. The workgroup discusses methods to make active transportation an easier choice and it also includes representatives from the Region of Waterloo (Public Health and Transportation Demand Management), City of Waterloo, City of Kitchener, City of Cambridge, Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region, Waterloo Region District School Board and the Ministry of Transportation.
School Travel Planning
The WCDSB collaborates with partners to employ a dedicated School Travel Planner who works with school committees to develop comprehensive action plans that result in more students choosing active travel over the long term. The action plan items are chosen by the school community to address the unique issues of that school. A complete School Travel Plan defines goals and details concrete activities involving communications, active transportation programming (like walking buddies), Walking School Buses, and road/sidewalk infrastructure or maintenance improvements.
How to Get Involved
- If you think your school is a candidate for School Travel Planning, please speak to your principal and/or contact the School Travel Planner listed below to request a school review.
- Register for the STEP IN weekly walk day encouragement program led by Region of Waterloo Public Health.
- Register for International Walk to School
- Celebrate Winter Walk Day with body-warming activities.
- Spring into Spring by encouraging students to walk more often!
Further Information
Active Transportation and Active and Safe Routes to School materials, Region of Waterloo Public Health
National Active & Safe Routes to School materials, Green Communities Canada
School Travel Infographics, Metrolinx
Dates and Deadlines
To support EcoSchools and Healthy Schools programming, please register your involvement with active transportation activities within the following timeframes:
- October: International Walk to School Month
- October 4, 2017: International Walk to School Day
- Dates for 2017/18 TBD: Winter Walk to School Day
- Dates for 2017/18 TBD: Spring into Spring events
- April 22, 2018: Earth Day
- Ongoing: STEP-IN
- School Travel Planning: ongoing, consult your school’s Principal
Please order stickers and posters here by the second week of September to receive them on time. You may also print your own.
Registered Schools
All of our WCDSB schools are promoting active transportation to school such as walking, biking, rollerblading, and taking the public transit. Here is a list of schools that have worked closely with the School Transportation Services of Waterloo Region.
STEP IN Schools & Schools Celebrating Special Walk to School Days
- Blessed Sacrament
- Canadian Martyrs
- Christ the King
- Holy Rosary
- Monsignor Doyle
- Monsignor Haller
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Sir Edgar Bauer
- St. Agnes
- St. Anne (C)
- St. Augustine
- St. Bernadette
- St. Gabriel
- St. Luke
- St. Matthew
- St. John Paul II
School Travel Planning Schools
- St. Anne (C)
- St. Gabriel
- St. Matthew
- St. John Paul II
Sample Active Transportation Activities for Your School
- Celebrate International Walk to School Day, Winter Walk to School Day, and/or Spring Walk to School Day with contests, events, special guests, and prizes
- Join STEP IN – to run a weekly Walk & Roll program supported by Region of Waterloo Public Health
- Install bike racks/ scooter racks or move them to a more visible space
- Form a Walking School Bus, Trottibus, or Block Walkers program*
- Organize a Walking Buddy Program wherein children are appropriately matched to other student walkers
- Provide Cycling into the Future education for all Grade 5 students
- Participate in a School Signage Project with Region of Waterloo Public Health
- Hold contests to encourage walking
- Develop or expand Student Safety Patrol programs
* To develop walking groups led by adult volunteers or older students
Leslie Maxwell
School Travel Planning Supervisor
School Transportation Services of WR
(519) 650-4934, ext. 224
Leslie_Maxwell@stswr.ca
As your School Travel Planner, Leslie provides a number of supportive tools for your walking projects, and she provides communications assistance as needed. Leslie also maintains connections between schools and regional/municipal resources that can address traffic and engineering problems as they arise and she facilitates cross-school projects.
Jennifer Passy
Manager of Planning
WCDSB
(519) 578-3660, ext. 2253
Jennifer.Passy@wcdsb.ca
Jennifer is responsible for the acquisition and disposition of property, leases and agreements, and the capital plan. She is also involved with obtaining funding for new capital projects, accommodation reviews, and enrollment projections.
Brigitte Webster
Healthy, Active Living Consultant
Waterloo Catholic District School Board
(519) 578-3660, ext. 2279
Brigitte.Webster@wcdsb.ca
As WCDSB’s Healthy, Active Living Consultant, Brigitte provides support to principals and staff as they implement Active and Safe Routes to School. She assists with the alignment of initiatives with School Improvement Plans and the Foundation for a Healthy School framework. She also shares best practices from previous successful projects.
