Today (9/6), the City of Hamilton received $100,000 as part of the Ontario Active School Travel Fund, a new program to support and expand active school travel for elementary school-aged children. In partnership with the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board and Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, Hamilton is one of 12 Ontario communities selected to receive funding made possible through financial support from Green Communities Canada and the Government of Ontario.
"It is often said that it takes a village to raise a child. Through our important partnership with the Government of Ontario, our school boards and Green Communities Canada, I can think of no better way to demonstrate this. Thanks to funding made possible through the Province, Hamilton can continue to ensure our youngest residents are healthy and safe, while working towards our vision of being the best place to raise a child and age successfully." - Fred Eisenberger, Mayor, City of Hamilton
"In recent decades, we have seen a significant decline in walking to school among children across the province. This initiative, including Ontario government funding and rich local partnerships, is a great opportunity to reverse this downward trend and rebuild a culture of active school travel. We look forward to collaborating with and supporting our local partners in Hamilton to implement this exciting project." - Kate Berry, Senior Program Manager, Green Communities Canada
This funding will amplify and strengthen the City of Hamilton's existing Active and Sustainable School Travel (ASST) program with the aim of increasing the number of students and their families choosing active or sustainable travel options. More walking, wheeling, and transit use means fewer cars on the road, less pollution, improved pedestrian safety and increased daily physical activity.
The Ontario Active School Travel funding will be used to:
- Increase the City's ability to deliver school travel plans to more elementary schools.
- Strengthen existing partnerships, collaboration, and coordination to support long-term active and sustainable school travel.
- Educate parents and caregivers of children and youth about the benefits of choosing healthier and environmentally supportive modes of travel to and from school
- Develop school site plan design guidelines that promote active and sustainable school travel.
"On behalf of the HWCDSB, I want to congratulate the City of Hamilton for being one of 12 communities selected by the Province for Active School Travel funding. This partnership goes a long way to creating a safe, healthy and sustainable community for future generations of students. Active school travel not only aligns with our commitment to Stewardship of Creation, but ensures a healthy and active lifestyle for our students." -Patrick J. Daly, Chairperson, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board
"We are very thankful for this provincial funding that will expand safe, active and sustainable travel to our schools. HWDSB values the teamwork involved today and the positive outcomes it will bring our students, schools and communities." - Todd White, Chair of the Board, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
Quick facts
- Since 2009, City of Hamilton has been working on school travel planning. Currently, 81 schools have a school travel plan and with this funding we can engage more schools. School travel planning is a school-specific, community-based initiative to shift travel behaviour away from sedentary travel to active travel. Actions to support this change could include installing bicycle racks, enhancing pathways and crosswalks, posting school zone and speed limit signage, and planting trees along sidewalks and school paths.
- In 2015, City of Hamilton, along with its partners Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board and Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, endorsed the Active and Sustainable School Travel Charter. This charter informs the long-term commitment to providing support, resources and training towards active and sustainable school travel.
- The Hamilton Active and Sustainable School Travel initiative supports the City of Hamilton's Strategic Plan by promoting actions that help make Hamilton the best place to raise a child. This initiative contributes to the following strategic goals:
- Healthy and Safe Communities - Hamilton is a safe and supportive city where people are active, healthy and have a high quality of life.
- Built Environment and Infrastructure - Hamilton is supported by state of the art infrastructure, transportation options, buildings and public spaces that create a dynamic City.
- Clean and Green - Hamilton is environmentally sustainable with a healthy balance of natural and urban spaces.
