In this special series called The Humans of Jane's Walk, produced in celebration of the 10th annual Jane's Walk festival we will feature profiles of some of the amazing people who lead the walks in the neighbourhoods they know and love. 

"Skateboarding is a tactile exploration of the urban environment. Youth can participate in the 'adult' conversation about important places by explaining what and why they do the things they do," says Ariel Stagni, Walk Leader, Skateboarding in the Financial District: A Wheeled Perspective. Stagni studied urban planning, and thought of skateboarding as a playful way to inject more life into public spaces during his graduate studies. Sine then, Stagni has developed multiple skateboard facilities around the world.

Skateboarding in Toronto has been picking up over the past decade. We’re witnessing many skateboarding parks dotting the city, and there is definitely an appetite for more to be built as part of Toronto’s Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan. We may even see a new skatepark emerge as part of the Under the Gardiner project, if  Toronto Skateboard Committee has its way. Skateparks aside, getting around the city on a skateboard offers a unique perspective.

Bring a skateboard to this walk, and meet Stagni and Carolina Zabas Roelandt who co-leads this walk at Nathan Phillips Square, at the ledges just south of the ice rink/fountain. The walk will wrap up at CBC ledges, where some skateboarding will likely take place, according to the description of the walk. Save the date for this walk and discover many other great walks happening all over Toronto here. 

In 2016, Jane's Walk celebrates its 10th anniversary

Jane's Walk is an annual festival of free, citizen-led walking tours inspired by Jane Jacobs. The walks get people to tell stories about their communities, explore their cities, and connect with neighbours. The 10th annual Jane's Walk festival takes place on May 6th, 7th, and 8th in neigbourhoods all across the GTA. 

This year, Jane's Walk decided to tilt the festival. Please donate $10 or more to keep Jane's Walk walking, share a story or help shape one by leading a walk! More information at www.janeswalk.org/toronto. Please also take a look at the newly launched Jane100.com website to keep track of the many events around the city, meant to celebrate the legacy of Jane Jacobs in what would have been her 100th year.