Huron County, Ontario – Jane’s Walk Huron is looking for passionate local volunteer storytellers to lead community walks across Huron County this spring as part of the Jane’s Walk Festival, held worldwide the first weekend in May.
Named after the renowned urbanist Jane Jacobs, Jane’s Walk is a global movement that organizes free, citizen-led walking tours in communities around the world. These walks offer an intimate glimpse into the heart of neighborhoods, highlighting the stories, histories, and issues that define them. From hidden gems and historical landmarks to local legends and grassroots initiatives, each walk offers a unique perspective on a community and its inhabitants.
Huron County Cultural Services will be hosting Jane’s Walks across the County May 4-5, 2024, and is seeking storytellers to lead walks in a community or neighbourhood anywhere in Huron County. Volunteers from all ages and all walks of life are welcome. Whether someone has a passion for local architecture, planning, social justice, or simply love sharing anecdotes about favourite local spots, there’s a place for all to join this diverse community of storytellers.
“Everyone has a story to tell about their neighborhood,” said Karen Stewart, Cultural Development Officer for the County of Huron. “Through the power of storytelling, we can foster a deeper connection to our communities and celebrate all that makes them vibrant and resilient.”
As a walk leader, volunteers will have the opportunity to:
- Lead a walking tour that showcases the unique character of their neighbourhood;
- Share personal stories, historical anecdotes and local insights with their community;
- Connect with like-minded people who share a passion for community engagement;
- Contribute to a global movement that celebrates community vitality.
No prior experience is needed to become a Jane’s Walk Huron storyteller – all that’s needed is a love for community and a willingness to share local stories with others. Each walk is between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours long, and will be scheduled on May 4 or 5, 2024. Training and support will be provided to help storytellers craft engaging narratives and lead memorable walking tours. To join Jane’s Walk Huron as a volunteer storyteller visit: Jane’s Walk 2024 | Huron County Connects or contact Karen Stewart, Cultural Development Officer at kstewart@huroncounty.ca or 519-524-8394 x2730. Submission deadline is March 7, 2024.
About Jane Jacobs:
Jane Jacobs was a writer, urbanist and activist who championed a community-based approach to city-building. She had no formal training as a planner, and yet her 1961 book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, introduced ground-breaking ideas about how cities function, evolve, and fail that have become conceptual pillars for today’s architects, planners, policymakers, activists, and other city builders.