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New Walk Map Promotes Downtown
Sponsorship by Victoria’s new Downtown Victoria Business Association and other local funders will make the map available to area residents and visitors. The map was well received by hundreds of walking experts attending the conference who got a chance to explore the city on foot.
“Victoria is Canada’s most walkable city”, said Luton. “More people travel by foot here than anywhere else in the country and we are letting everyone in on the secrets of our success.”
The map highlights 6 one hour-long loops starting from Tourism Victoria’s Info Centre on the Inner Harbour. Walks take in downtown, neighbourhood “villages” on Cook St. and in James Bay, treasures like the Selkirk Trestle, and the quirky lanes and alleys that connect between many downtown streets and courtyards.
New to the map are routes connecting to Victoria’s cruise ship terminals and a top ten list of best places to take photos in the downtown.
Luton said the map was essential for the conference and generated a lot of interest across the Capital Region. He also said that last year’s Downtown 2020 conference helped inspire the map by focusing on the importance of promoting downtown to locals and visitors alike who are essential to the city’s prosperity.
“Walking through our downtown neighbourhoods brings people into contact with local business and will focus attention on the many reasons why Victoria is such an appealing destination for so many visitors.”
“The initial response from the downtown business community is very strong”, says Ken Kelly, General Manager of Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA), “we’re excited about all of the information that this map offers and the fact that there is a walking route – that many have had input in creating - that offers people the opportunity of seeing so much of our downtown”
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For further information: John Luton at 250-886-4166 (cell)
Background: Map Sponsors
The Capital Bike and Walk Society works to promote the development of walking and cycling infrastructure and promotes product, programs and strategies that help support that choice.
The Downtown Victoria Business Association: A new organization launched to bring downtown business together to promote the city.
Go for Green, a national organization working to promote active living strategies across Canada.
The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority
The City of Victoria Engineering Department
Windmill Developments and Vancity Savings – Developers of the Dockside Green project in Vic West.
Provincial Capital Commission – Celebrating and Connecting the Capital with all British Columbians.
Principal Map Designer: George Allen
CBWS projects are supported by grants from VanCity, the City of Victoria, Saanich, View Royal, the Provincial Capital Commission, the Province of BC, Translink, Mountain Equipment Coop and private funders. Support for this project does not necessarily imply VanCity’s or other sponsor endorsement.
rls walk map june.doc 7/13/2005
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The successful Walk Downtown Victoria Map promoted at
last September’s Pro Walk/Pro Bike conference has bumped its 2nd
edition print run to 100,000 copies says Capital Bike and Walk Executive
Director John Luton.