(Scarborough, ON): A chill, but beautiful day greeted walkers at Cedarbrook Park located at Markham Road and Lawrence. Walkers were there to participate in Walk in the Park sponsored by St. Paul’s L’Amoreaux Centre, Toronto Parks, Forestry, and Recreation, Toronto Heart Health Partnership and the Government of Ontario. The goals of the event were to promote walking as form of exercise for older adults and seniors and introduce participants to the many walking trails and green spaces the city of Toronto has to offer.
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Walkers were invited to participate in a Regular Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire, warm up and cool down exercises before and after the 20-30 minute walk. Prizes and giveaways were distributed to those who joined the walking activity.
The benefits of walking as a regular form of exercise can’t be overstated. Walking regularly can improve one’s quality of life and strengthen social connections. Physical activity can reduce the risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and many other health related problems.
"Walking is part of an active lifestyle that allows our seniors to live independently. Combined with healthy eating habits regular exercise can add many years of healthy life for older adults," Larry Burke, Executive Director of St. Paul’s L’Amoreax Centre explains. Burke’s words are echoed by seniors who enjoy walking for health and socialization. Walk participant, Rosemary Digby, says “I believe in walking. It’s very healthy, you’re outdoors, you see a lot of interesting things and it’s sociable too.” Walking groups not only strengthen social ties but they bring peace of mind for older walkers. “A lot of people would like to walk but it could be dangers,” Digby says. “That’s why walking groups are a good idea.”
Manon Boissonneau, maintains a very active lifestyle by walking twice a week, swimming and cross country skiing. “People don’t’ like to move,” she says. According to Boissoneau, older adults needs to have a healthy, physically active regime. “That’s the secret,” she states.
Many city dwellers need to be reminded that Toronto has many pockets of green space. Gordon Glynn, Program Coordinator with Toronto Parks, Forestry, and Recreation says, “Toronto has one of the largest green spaces in North America. There are over 1,800 named parks, plus open spaces and ravines as well.” Glynn further reports that the city is trying to increase its park canopy by an incredible 30% over the next 5-7 years.
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There are many walking programs and exercise workshops at public parks and community centers offered throughout the city. St. Paul’s L’Amoreaux Centre, a community and housing services agency for seniors in Scarborough, initiated the Scarborough Multicultural Physical Activity Leadership Capacity Building Project this summer. St. Paul’s organizes walking events which include discussion on the benefits of physical activity, and demonstrations of safe and easy exercises are offered in Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tamil, Somali and English.
The Cedarbrook Park event was made possible by a collaboration of several agencies, St. Paul’s L’Amoreaux Centre, Toronto
