Walk with the mayor

Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs says he would like to see the annual RBC Royal Bank Mayor’s Walk turn into a city-wide event in order to prevent crime.

The 12 annual Mayor’s Walk, held at the Current River Recreation Centre on Saturday, had more than 120 people walk in the event. Participants walked either two or 10 kilometres in support an agency or group of their choosing. The event raised more than $120,00 last year.
Hobbs said he wanted to take the opportunity to test the waters with an idea he had talked about during his campaign.

"I talked about a city wide walk during the evening hours throughout all neighbourhoods of Thunder Bay," Hobbs said. "That was one of my crime prevention initiatives. If we can get enough volunteers city wide, then every day we can have 20 or 30 people walking in each neighbourhood."

Hobbs said other walks such as Take Back Night and Evergreen: A United Neighbourhood have helped to decrease crime in some areas of the city and hoped his idea of a city-wide walk would have similar results.

"I think that will go a long way to cutting down crime," he said. "That was one of the initiatives I wanted to put forward in the strategic planning for policing. So when I get back on the Police Services Board that is going to be one of my first initiatives."

Hobbs, who participated in the United Way Run for Women Walk a Mile in Their Shoes last weekend, said he was glad to be in his regular shoes and not in high heels. He said he felt honoured to be mayor and was glad to participate in an event that helps charities and non-profit organizations.

Sandi Boucher, executive director for Volunteer Thunder Bay, said they hoped to surpass what they raised last year. She said the point of the walk was so residents could donate to the charity or non-profit of their choice and Volunteer Thunder Bay would do the work for them.

"We take in the money and we direct it to where you want it to go," Boucher said. "We’re hoping for a really good day but it depends on the pledges. Fifty per cent goes to Volunteer Thunder Bay for organizing the event and then 50 per cent to where ever you want it to go."

She said the event has last this long because it gives lesser known charities and organizations a chance to network and get their message across.