Evan Dunfee
Walking Champions de Marche (WCM): develops and delivers no-cost school-based programming introducing youth to the life-long benefits of walking as a means of enhancing physical and mental health; promotes walking in all its forms as broadly accessible activity that offers opportunities for social interaction, and transportation; and includes an optional competitive element that challenges students to emulate 2020 Olympic bronze medallist Evan Dunfee who acts as the program ambassador and promotes Olympism via WCM’s natural linkages with the Olympic discipline of race walking.
Guided by five-time Olympian, Tim Berrett, and with input from double Olympians Iñaki Gómez and Tina Poitras, as well as several international Olympic medallists, WCM adds a walking component to the Alberta Medical Association Youth Run Club (YRC), which is currently delivered to more than 24,000 students in over 500 schools by Ever Active Schools.
WCM is offered across Alberta (both in person and virtually), but will be scalable nationally as other partners are added. WCM helped promote Winter Walk Day in February along with Olympians from Poland, Australia, South Africa, and Canada and continues to leverage existing YRC initiatives targeting girls and indigenous communities. WCM will also promote the annual World Olympic Day and World Walking Day.
WCM is grateful for the financial and in-kind support provided by the following partners:
OLY Canada OLY Legacy Grant
Ever Active Schools
Government of Alberta Community Initiatives Program
Canadian Women & Sport Spotlight Grant
ParticipAction Community Challenge Grant
SHAPE (Safe Healthy Active People Everywhere) Alberta
Any Alberta schools interested in being part of the program are asked to email us directly.
Why Walking Champions de Marche?
Some research illustrating the importance and impact of walking:
Why Walking is Making a Comeback (Walking participation has considerable health benefits, 2022)
“Globally, walking is the most popular activity” (ASICS Global Research, 2022)
Active Transportation – Park the Car and Walk (Even short walks can impact health and the environment, 2022)
“Childhood walking behavior leads to stronger walking habits in adulthood” (US research shows lasting impact of walking, 2019)
“Solvitur Ambulando” – “It is solved by walking” (Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis)