Walk in the Park: Vancouver FAQ

Who is eligible for the program?

We are looking for Indigenous elders and seniors (60+) who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) who enjoy walking outdoors and are excited to play a leadership role in the community.

How do I become a walk leader?

Email us at jralamboarisoa@parkpeople.ca, call us at 778-383-7234 ext: 111, or fill out the google form by June 13th, 2022 by 5 pm. We will reach out to you within a week and schedule a brief 20-minute phone or zoom call with applicants to learn more about the potential leaders, review the program details and walk leaders prior to training.

Who needs to attend the training sessions?

All walk leaders are required to attend the training. Training will include community outreach, the basics of hosting a walk and engaging walkers of varying abilities, considerations for trail selection, risk management, and tips for keeping walkers engaged. 

When are the training sessions?

There will be mandatory half-day training in the first week of July. If you are interested in the program but unable to attend the mandatory training, please contact us for more information.

You will receive a document outlining the confirmed location, date, and time of the training sessions when you are accepting the role of a walk leader.

Park People will support you As the program continues to grow, we may have more training sessions for new walk leaders in the future!

What resources or equipment are Park People providing?

Ensuring the well-being and safety of walk leaders and participants, we will cover insurance, and provide a walking backpack, first aid kit, safety vest, walking pole, pedometer, whistle, sunscreen, nutrition bars, and more for each walk leader. We also encourage you to enroll in a first aid training class by offering reimbursement. We do our best to support walk leaders, if you need further assistance or support don’t hesitate to contact us.

Who will I be working with?

You will be working with two other walk leaders in your walking club. Together, you will plan and lead at least nine walk sessions for participants in parks or green spaces in Metro Vancouver. Feel free to invite your friends to become fellow leaders! It’s also a great way to make friends with peer leaders with similar interests as well!

How will I receive the honorarium?

Each walk leader will receive the $600 honorarium when your walking club of 3 leaders has completed 9 walks.
We will send you a google form, which you will receive when you have accepted your role as a walk leader, asking for your preferred option of receiving the honorarium (cheque or online e-transfer) and your personal information.

How do leaders recruit more participants to join their walking club? 

We encourage leaders to invite their friends and peers in local community groups and organizations to participate (people from all age groups are welcome). Park People Vancouver will assist leaders with event promotion as well. 

Who decides on the time of each walk? 

Leaders will select the time and date for each walk. From our past experience, we recommend you select a regular date, e.g all Mondays in August and September from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. This will help maintain the motivation for walkers. Additionally, morning walks during the week might work best for seniors. Consider your local community when deciding on the dates for your walks.

What counts as a park or green space?

Park People defines parks and green spaces as public spaces accessible to the public. Examples are city parks (e.g. Queen Elizabeth Park), social housing landscapes and other urban green spaces that are publicly accessible. If you have questions about your park or green space, please get in touch with us to confirm eligibility.

Do we need a permit to host our walks?

You do not need a permit from the City of Vancouver, as long as you keep your numbers of participants under 25 and ask people to register to your walking club.

Can leaders join other walking clubs? 

Yes, we encourage seniors to exercise more and build connections with participants in other walking clubs. 

What’s the next step after each walk session?

We are hoping you can fill out a 1-minute very brief survey letting us know the number of participants and some information of the overall walk session. Moreover, don’t be hesitant to send us photos and share your stories with us!