We all know the importance of networking. There’s a common adage: “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” Where do you find your networks? At church, school, recreation centres, or places of worship? What about in your neighbourhood? For many of us, our neighbourhood networking may be lacking. We drive to and from home, ensconced in our car listening to music or the radio. That means we may not be developing social networks in our neighbourhoods, like we do in other areas of life. Instead, I’d like to recommend that whenever possible, you get out and walk.

Why walking? Well, we all know that walking has health benefits associated with it, but did you know that it also helps your neighbourhood to function, be a safer place, and to thrive? Walking to get to your destination increases your likeliness to network with people in your neighbourhood. Initially, it might just be a friendly smile as you pass, but if you pass them on a regular basis, one day it may turn from “good morning” to a full conversation.

As more people take to the sidewalks, we feel safer when we go out. There are more eyes on the street, which means that there becomes a sort of natural policing. And when there are people on the street, people in both businesses and residences are more likely to watch the streets and the activities going on there. Boyle Street is in a great setup for this, as most of our sidewalks face the front of buildings and businesses. It’s the blank walls and back of buildings that make walking feel a little less safe. Because our sidewalks are generally very public and easily seen, it means that those who like to people watch can keep an eye out, making our streets safer overall.

Looking for inspiration to get walking and develop your neighbourhood networks? The Boyle Street Community League and the City of Edmonton are joining together to create a Neighbourhood Walking Map. This map will include favourite walking routes of area residents, as well as landmarks such as parks, schools, grocery stores, places of worship, and restaurants. If you have a favourite route to walk and want to be part of making a map that makes our neighbourhood more accessible, get in touch and we’ll get you in on this exciting project. It’s not a big time commitment, but it will have a big impact.

Get walking, get involved, and let’s get connected in our neighbourhood.

_Maria Castle is the Neighbourhood Connector for the Abundant Community Initiative. She can be reached at boylestreettalk@gmail.com