Photo courtesy of
Pixomar at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
For most of us in Ontario, the snow has arrived and the parkas have been taken out of the closet. But even though temperatures are dipping below freezing, there is no reason to stop walking! In fact, studies show that walking can chase away the winter blues. This
article has some fantastic tips to keep in mind when taking strolls in the cooler weather. Ontario has some of the most beautiful landscapes for winter walking in North America.
Let’s start with the Bruce Trail, Canada’s oldest and longest footpath which stretches from the
Niagara Escarpment to Tobermory. There are many access points for the trail and it spans over 885 km. For those of you who’d like an introduction before you venture out on your own, there are
nine different Bruce Trail Clubs throughout Ontario which offer guided tours and organized hikes.
The
Ontario Trails website is a hub of information for winter walkers, as is
hikeontario.com. Not only do they include activities listings but the Ontario Trails site also has
maps which highlight trails specifically for hiking and walking.
If access to a more remote walk location is a challenge for you city dwellers, why not try an urban walk? The Toronto Bruce Trail Club, for example, leads
walks through various parts of the city at different skill levels, all winter long. Walkers meet at a common location, such as a subway station, and spend the afternoon experiencing sections of their city in a whole new way.
Ottawa also offers
walking tours throughout the year and has a number of walking clubs that provide opportunities for meeting new people while exploring our nation’s capital.
For those who want an extra “thrill” when walking, try a haunted historical walking tour! Visit
http://www.ghosttoursofcanada.com/ to find out about haunted walking tours in your area.
And, if you’re looking for a walking buddy or interested in finding
MS Walk team-mates,
http://walkers.meetup.com/ might just be the site you’re looking for!
Next time you go to ask someone for a donation, instead of simply asking them to sponsor you, trying asking them for a certain amount. Tell them about the MS Walk and why are you walking and ask if they will pledge you, for example, $100. Don’t be shy, get in there, and be bold about the donation amount you are asking for. Even if someone says no to the large amount you have requested, they’ll probably offer an amount with which they are more comfortable, such as $25. This donation will likely be greater than if you simply ask to be sponsored.
Asking for donations is great; turning donation giving into a must-do can be a lot of fun, and really simple. Try flamingo flocking. Cover someone’s office or cubical with pink flamingo cuts, and leave a note explaining that in order to get rid of the flamingo’s they must pay a fee (i.e. $5), or they can choose to move the flamingo’s to someone else’s workspace for a bigger fee (i.e. $10) and finally for a large fee (i.e. $15) they can also find out who flocked them. If you hype this up you can get your co-workers really into it. A way you could get your coworkers excited about it is to preface this event with a warning letter to all your colleagues that they may be visited by some pink flamingos so keep an eye out. All you need is cut outs of pink flamingos and a little creativity.
The holidays are a great time to bring friends and family together, so this holiday season use these moments to tell the people you love why you are participating in the MS Walk.
