York Region in partnership with OPPI is hosting a walking tour of the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC) entitled Walk & Talk with York Region’s Chief Planner. The VMC is one of York Region’s fastest growing urban centres where future growth is being directed. It is transforming into a vibrant location for people of all ages that brings a diverse mix of new jobs, shops, services as well as housing and transportation options.

Come and hear from York Region and the City of Vaughan’s planning staff, York Region economic business analyst and York Region Transit (YRT) staff, on how the VMC is being developed as part of the Region’s larger city building initiatives. The 45 minute tour will cover a short loop within the VMC plus a view of the entire area from within the KPMG building. Wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. The tour will begin and end at the YRT welcome tent in Transit Square (east of the KPMG building at 100 New Park Place).

York Region is currently undertaking the Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) process to update the Regional Official Plan. The updated Official Plan will guide decisions on land use planning and infrastructure delivery, while building on direction provided through provincial planning documents. Use york.ca/mcrgetinvolved to stay informed.

Please note the following:

• Waiver - In order to participate in this walking tour, OPPI will require all participants to sign a waiver onsite. Volunteers with OPPI will be asking participants to review and sign the waiver prior to the start of the walking tour.

• Video - As part of the MCR process, York Region is creating a video entitled “As You Said It” to get various perspectives from residents and business operations on growth in the community, future trends, opportunities and challenges and what future priorities should be the focus for the Region. York Region is hoping that you will participate in this; however, only those people who agree to be taped will be recorded.

• Post Tour Dinner - After the tour, we will be stopping in at St. Louis Bar & Grill (90 Edgeley Blvd.) for dinner and refreshments. Please indicate when you register if you plan on attending the dinner afterward so we can ensure the restaurant reserves enough room for all of us. Note that York Region and/or OPPI will not be covering the cost of this dinner. You are responsible for the cost of any food or refreshments you order.

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An evening with the Eastern District Book Club

On Wednesday, September 26th the Book Club will meet from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Fox & Feather Pub and Grill to discuss Dan Rubinstein’s book, Born to Walk: The Transformative Power of the Pedestrian Act. All are welcome to attend!

About Born to Walk
“The humble act of putting one foot in front of the other transcends age, geography, culture, and class, and is one of the most economical and environmentally responsible modes of transit. Yet with our modern fixation on speed, this healthy pedestrian activity has been largely left behind. At a personal and professional crossroads, writer, editor, and obsessive walker Dan Rubinstein travelled throughout the U.S., U.K., and Canada to walk with people who saw the act not only as a form of transportation and recreation, but also as a path to a better world. There are no magic-bullet solutions to modern epidemics like obesity, anxiety, alienation, and climate change. But what if there is a simple way to take a step in the right direction? Combining fascinating reportage, eye-opening research, and Rubinstein’s own discoveries, Born to Walk explores how far this ancient habit can take us, how much repair is within range, and guarantees that you’ll never again take walking for granted."

About Dan Rubinstein
”My name is Dan Rubinstein. I like to walk. And I like to write. So I decided to combine my two passions. The result was my first book, Born to Walk: The Transformative Power of a Pedestrian Act, published in 2015 by ECW Press, and available for purchase at bookstores (bricks-and-mortar and online) throughout Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Australia and New Zealand, with French and Portuguese editions also available.”

“My articles about walking have appeared in publications such as The Walrus, The Economist, the Globe and Mail, enRoute, Spacing, Cottage Life, Canadian Business, Ottawa Magazine, explore and Canadian Geographic, where I worked as the managing editor/acting editor. As part of the Born to Walk project, I’m also pursuing collaborations with storytellers who work in other fields, including film, visual art, music, radio and digital design. Because everybody walks … sometimes.”

For more information about Dan Rubinstein or Born to Walk, visit:https://borntowalk.org/about/ 

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