The Latest from Twitter
Stop, Drop and Stroll
November 7, 2011
“Stop, Drop and Stroll” - Human-sized pylons at St. Stephen’s Elementary in Halifax took over the streets around handing out coffee and traffic safety information during drop-off time.
Read more here.
News Release: More Kids on the Street
October 3, 2011
More Kids on the Street
Be on the look-out for kids on the streets this week. Students from elementary to high school will be taking to their feet to mark the beginning of International Walk to School Month in October. Over 100 schools in Nova Scotia will participate in the event, also known as IWALK. Read more here.
Paddle to the Ocean
My name is Zac Crouse. I am a musician, recreation therapist, educator and sometimes an expedition sea kayaker.
Recently, with the help of my friend & documentary filmmaker Kelsey Thompson (Locals Only) I filmed my journey from the Ottawa Valley (Beachburg, ON) back home to Halifax, NS. I was by myself for more than half of the 82 day, self-supported trip call Paddle To The Ocean. This trip was accomplished using my sea kayak for the majority of the time, with a couple of bike & trailer assisted portages.
Over the course of the summer and across 4 provinces I was able to paddle my 17-foot boat through everything from class IV rapids to historic canals, play in tidal bores and learn how to use the world’s most powerful tides to assist in my progress. There were more than a few challenges: finding clean drinking water, a place to camp for the night, or dragging my boat through inter-tidal mud flats - all while filming the whole experience.
The goal of Paddle To The Ocean is to help Canadians realize the benefits of active transportation and to inspire people to lead healthier, more balanced lifestyles. I strongly believe that walking & biking are the most practical, sustainable and accessible ways to improve your physical & mental health, to save money, and get to know your community.
,p>I also chose to use this trip as an opportunity to tour my new solo album. I decided there has to be a better way to spread my music than driving everywhere in a van. Sea kayaking isn’t the most predictable method of transportation, especially considering the tidal currents, huge transport ships and hydro dams I was forced to contend with. But it sure beats blowing all my CD sales money on gas.
My final - and most important - reason for doing Paddle To The Ocean was to remember my friend Corey Morris. Corey was an amazing friend - kind, generous, and fun to go on adventures with. Tragically, Corey died in 2009 while we were kayaking on a creek in NS (Bass River of 5 Islands). I really miss Corey and it was very difficult for me after he died. I used this trip to remember him, but also to help me heal & to deal with the loss of my friend.
I don’t expect that Canadians will see Paddle To The Ocean and decide to start kayaking everywhere. I chose the kayak as my method of travel because it allowed me to tour my music without spending money on gas - and it is what I am most passionate about besides music. I do hope to encourage others to make space in their lives for physical, creative and expressive activities that will improve the quality of their lives. We don’t have to define ourselves so much by the jobs we do for money.
If you would like to see a preview of the Paddle To The Ocean documentary, please go to my website: http://www.zaccrouse.com.
I really want to express my thanks to The Ecology Action Centre & TIC for their support & encouragement. Also, a HUGE “thank you!“ to Mike Gibbs of Bike Again. Mike spent a lot of time overseeing the design & construction of the bike trailer I used to tow my sea kayak for almost 200km of portages. I could not have done the trip without his help.
If you want to learn more about making your school or community a better place you can look at the Ecology Action Centre’s Making Tracks manual. Its full of fun games & strategies to teach parents & kids to walk or bike more.
September 8, 2011
News Release: Reduced Speed Limits Will Save Children’s Lives
April 19, 2011
The Ecology Action Centre is calling on the Nova Scotia government to reduce speeds in school zones and child play areas to help make our streets safer for children and youth. Over 15 organizations, including the Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association and the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, also support such a change in the Motor Vehicle Act. Read more here.
News Release: Walking School Buses Catch on During Walk to School Month
News Release: Walking School Buses Catch on During Walk to School Month
October 6, 2010
View it here.
News Release: Walking student safety…
News Release: Walking student safety: families, drivers, schools & Province have roles
August 26, 2010
View it here.
News Release: Bus strike could create student-car conflicts
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Read the full release here.
Bus strike could create student-car conflicts release
News Release: Walk to school solves traffic danger, inactivity, climate change
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Read the complete release here.
News Release: Back to School
Active & Safe Routes to School offers traffic safety solutions for the back-to-school scramble. Click here for our News Release.
