What is the WVAO?

Our mission is to promote walking for good health and fitness among all Ontarians, especially seniors, youth and new Canadians. We will achieve this through increased public awareness, networking, flexible programs, and the organization of high-quality, year-round and seasonal walking events throughout Ontario. Our walking events are organized by 10 clubs and a Provincial Director in dozens of communities across the province. All are welcome. Depending upon the time of year, we also organize skating, snowshoeing, cycling and cross-country ski events each year.

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1. We are a not-for-profit Association incorporated in the province of Ontario. We are entirely volunteer-driven, and are a member of the Canadian Volkssport Federation, which offers hundreds of organized walking events across Canada. There are some 52 other such national organizations around the world.
   

2. Our goal is to share our enjoyment of walking for fitness in the many beautiful locations this province has to offer. We explore both the urban and rural environments, and try to use as many of the walking pathways in towns and cities as possible.
   

3. We organize safe, well-run walking events in dozens of communities across this province.
   

4. We offer a varied and flexible program to meet the needs of all - single-day events, year round events, events over multiple days, independent walking programs. Our walks vary from 5 km to 200 km, but most of our walks are either 5 km [1 hour] and 10 km [2 hours].  Shorter distance walks are possible through our Independent Walking Program.
   

5. We have a year-long program for people of all ages and ability - all are welcome.
   

6. We organize walking events for ‘fun, fitness and friendship’, and have an awards system to recognize and encourage participation and achievement.
   

7. In 2011, we offer approximately 80 single-day events and 63 year-round and seasonal events in dozens of communities where one can self-register at one’s convenience most days of the year.
   

8. We also offer flexible means to encourage Ontarians to walk wherever they are.
   

What are the advantages of becoming a member of a club?

1. Being a member of a club has many advantages: peer encouragement, social contact, newsletters, emails, shared schedules, awards programs, bus trips, etc. If there is no club near you, then you can register yourself and your friends or neighbours in our ‘Personal Walking Challenge’.
   

Other questions?

1. Consult our Frequently Asked Questions page for possible answers.