Sharing stories and
making connections
in our community.
Jane’s Walk Golden
Jane’s Walk is an annual festival of free, community-led walking conversations inspired by Jane Jacobs.
What are Jane's Walks?
Jane’s Walk is a movement of free, citizen-led walking conversations inspired by Jane Jacobs.
Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) 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.
The festival encourages people to share stories about their neighbourhoods, discover unseen aspects of their communities, and use the art of walking as a way to connect with their neighbours.
Jane’s Walk was founded in Toronto in 2006 by a group of Jane Jacobs’ friends and colleagues as a way to honor her life and activate her ideas. That first year, there were a handful of walks in Toronto. Over the next decade, the movement saw rapid global uptake by urban activists around the world. In 2017, 1,700 Jane’s Walks took place in 225 cities around the world, spanning 37 countries and 6 continents. The movement continues to grow every year and has now reached over 500 cities!
There are four unique walks being held in 2025.
- Walk’s typically last around 1 hour.
- Dress for the weather and wear suitable walking shoes.
- Families are welcome.
- No registration required.
Walk |
Meet |
Date |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Walk | At the Art Gallery of Golden | Thursday, May 1, 2025 | 4.30/5pm |
| Historic Downtown Walk | By the pedestrian bridge | Friday, May 2, 2025 | 5pm |
| Library Block Walk | Outside the library | Saturday, May 3, 2025 | 2pm |
| Canyon to Confluence River Walk | By the pedestrian bridge | Sunday, May 4, 2025 | 2pm |
Learn more about the unique walks below:
Golden Art Walk
When: Thursday May 1, 2025 4.30pm/5pm
Where: Gather at the Art Gallery of Golden.
4.30 pm Join the optional bonus Art Gallery Tour: talk to staff and learn about local artists in the Columbia Valley.
5pm Arts Walk: guided walking tour through downtown Golden & Kicking Horse River.
Join Frances for this year’s Arts Walk on a guided walking tour through downtown Golden and along the Kicking Horse River, where we’ll look at a few different art displays and have open conversations about how our community transforms from a place to a space through the arts.
Frances Morphy is a writer and creative, and loves to share stories. Golden has been her home for the last three years and through her work and play she has come to know this rugged, down to earth community with its rustic sparkle. She is excited to dive into a treasure trove of stories and share conversations about the arts and community in Golden.
Historical Downtown Golden Walk
When: Friday May 2, 2025 at 5pm
Where: Gather beside the pedestrian bridge at the Spirit Square.
Join Glen on a walk around downtown to explore the history and tales of Golden’s past. This walk begins with the historical Kicking Horse pedestrian bridge.
Glen Ewan has had an active role in the community of Golden for nearly 50 years. He and his wife raised their three children in Golden and he is a grandpa to several grandchildren being raised in the community today. He is passionate about Golden and has a wealth of knowledge about its history.
Library Block Walk
When: Saturday May 3, 2025 at 2pm
Where: Gather outside the library.
Join Laura for the library block walk, starting at the library, focusing on the history of the library in Golden and the area around it’s current home.
Laura Larose is the Community Librarian at the Golden Branch of the ORL. She grew up in one of Golden’s historic houses, where she developed a love of books and history! She now lives close to the library with her husband and two children.
Canyon to Confluence Initiative (C2Ci) River Walk
When: Sunday May 4, 2025 at 2pm
Where: Gather beside the pedestrian bridge at the Spirit Square.
Join Larry and Brace for a Riverside stroll starting from Spirit Square to explore the vision for the Canyon to Confluence Initiative (C2Ci) – A Community Connected to its Rivers. This will be a great opportunity to explore the initiative and converse with project staff.
Larry Sparks moved to Golden in 1995 to pursue a river guiding opportunity on the Kicking Horse River and never left. An enthusiastic river person who sees the big picture and the opportunities that lie within for our community.
Brace Lee came to Golden in 2020 to give his growing family the opportunity he had as a child, to live in a small connected community with rivers and mountains to explore and appreciate.
Contact us if you have any questions.
