Starting Place:  Commercial Drive & Broadway, SE corner (former CIBC & Skytrain Station exit). 

Ending Location: Trout Lake Beach (south end)

Duration: 90mins

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Busy sidewalks, Breaks offered along the way, Bicycles welcome, Pet-friendly, culturally significant

About the walk: Find out how mountain views are currently protected at Trout Lake and Commercial Drive. We will visit proposed high-rise development sites that now threaten these views. 

As well as new tower sites and view cones, the walk will examine the urban context, gentrification and renter displacement/demoviction. The potential for Broadway to work as a Parisian Boulevard; creation of public space at the station; and the unique platting of house lots against Trout Lake and John Hendry Park.

About the walk leader: Lewis and Stephen have been walk leaders for over 5 Jane's walks in the past 16 years. Both have professional backgrounds in architecture, planning, landscape architecture and urbanism.

How to identify the walk leader: The walk leaders will have printed photos of Trout Lake.

Starting Place:  Olympic Village Square by The Birds (Myfanwy MacLeod, 2010)

Ending Location: Hinge Park

Duration: 1 hour

Accessibility: Bicycles welcome, Pet-friendly

About the walk: Themes around nature based solutions as infrastructure and contributing to livability.

About the walk leader: Cameron is an Urban Planner and a Landscape Architect, with over 20 years of experience. He brings a range of international experience from master planning urban developments to habitat restoration. 

Cameron is notably a key architect of the City of Vancouver’s award-winning Rain City Strategy. His current practice is focused on integrating nature based solutions into engineering servicing strategies. Hot off the presses -- check out St George Rainway tour as well!

How to identify the walk leader: I'll be standing in Olympic Village Square by The Birds (Myfanwy MacLeod, 2010)

Starting Place:  Mole Hill Community Room - Rear of 1157 Pendrell Street

Ending Location: We will end in the Mole Hill Community Room for refreshments.

Duration: 1 hour

Accessibility: Stairs, non-accessible curb cuts, or other barriers, Family-friendly, Bicycles welcome

About the walk: We will tour Mole Hill, Vancouver's oldest, best preserved heritage block. The block contains 32 listed heritage properties, more than any other location in BC other than Barkerville. The block contains 170 social housing suites operated by a non-profit housing society, along with three daycares, community gardens, an art gallery and other community assets. We will explore the history of the block and tell the story of how it came to be preserved.Mole Hill is an exemplification of the best social housing in the province, as well as the preserved houses being an example of living history. 

About the walk leader: We are employees of Mole Hill Community Housing Society and will share the story of this notable historical area.

How to identify the walk leader: We will be waiting in the courtyard beside the Community Room.

Starting Place:  Northeast corner of Terminal Avenue and Main Street at the Main Street-Science World Skytrain Station

Ending Location: 441 Industrial Ave, Vancouver, BC (see station 6 on the left map)

Duration: 2 hours

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Stairs, non-accessible curb cuts, or other barriers, Busy sidewalks, Will use speakers/voice amplification (Walk Leader to provide), Strong odours, Loud noises

About the walk: Join us for an immersive journey through the rich tapestry of history, industry, and culture woven into the fabric of False Creek Flats in Vancouver. This Jane's Walk includes a preparatory online component (hyperlink “online component” with link https://youtu.be/1McDm0EVFAg?si=utB2dJWLUhfsbo9x) and will take you through six stations, each revealing a unique aspect of this dynamic urban landscape. 

Those interested in joining are recommended to indicate their participation here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/productive-lands-from-past-to-present-tickets-1986677604194?aff=oddtdtcreator

Please note the EventBrite is not hosted by Jane's Walk Vancouver. The walk leaders are overseeing their own Eventbrite page.

About the walk leaders: Robin A. Chang is a currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Community Housing Canada research partnership based at the University of Alberta (CA).  Liam Cormack is a graduate student in the Master of Urban Studies program at Simon Fraser University. Meg Holden is a professor of urban studies and environmental planning at Simon Fraser University and a Registered Professional Planner.  Ned Jacobs, a resident of Vancouver's Riley Park neighbourhood, grew up in the industrial/residential/commercial fringe of Greenwich Village. Louise, Schwarz, co-owner of Recycling Alternative, a local recycling collection and processing operation, Terraforma Systems and Regenerative Waste Labs, all 3 operations are located in the Flats. Pooja Thatte, an emerging urbanist, is currently pursuing a Masters of Urban Studies. 

How to identify the walk leader: Walk leader will wear a green jacket

Starting Place:  Cornett Road and Natal Street, at the granite seating stone area.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/PGApy5MDvmBo2cgd8

Ending Location: Beaver Pondering Lodge https://maps.app.goo.gl/2xydYPfEJqFHV33V6

Duration: 90 mins

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Loud noises, Bicycles welcome, Just want to note that loud noises will only be for a short period as we cross Grandview. 

About the walk: Join us for a guided walk along Still Creek, one of the last remaining visible streams in Vancouver and a vital urban watershed that continues to support returning salmon each year. This walk will explore the ecological services the creek provides—from habitat and biodiversity to water quality and climate resilience—while connecting participants to its past, present, and future.

We will begin at Cornett Road, where an open channel of Still Creek offers a rare opportunity to witness salmon returning in an urban setting. Here, participants will learn about the creek’s history, including its partial burial and ongoing restoration, as well as the stewardship efforts led by the Still Moon Arts Society. We’ll also discuss the City’s long-term vision to further daylight sections of the creek.

From there, we will continue to Falaise Park to explore a new green rainwater infrastructure project currently under development. This site will feature a constructed creek channel, biofiltration terraces, and a wetland designed to treat rainwater, improve water quality, and support base flows to Still Creek.

Our final stop will be the Beaver Pondering Lodge, where we will reflect on habitat loss for both wildlife and people, and consider what sustainable, watershed-based development could look like in this community—one that supports ecological health while fostering meaningful human connection to place.

About the walk leaders: Julie is a project manager at the City of Vancouver working on green rainwater infrastructure projects that support the health of Still Creek. Connelly is the Stewardship Coordinator with Still Moon Arts Society. We both care deeply about the health and well being of Still Creek and how it can help foster connections in our community. 

How to identify the walk leader: Orange t-shirts

Starting Place:  1445 W 8th Ave, Vancouver. 

Ending Location: Yew St and W 4th Ave

Duration: 1 hour

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Stairs, non-accessible curb cuts, or other barriers, Busy sidewalks, Breaks offered along the way, Will use speakers/voice amplification (Walk Leader to provide), Loud noises, Some parts of the walk will take place in back lanes, some parts of the walk will go through narrow spaces, one gap will include stairs

About the walk: This walk explores the informal gaps or leftover spaces between buildings—unplanned voids that fall outside formal design. These spaces vary in privacy and ownership, and are often used creatively by locals. 

Gaps challenge how we understand urban space and who it belongs to. Informal uses bring life, creativity, and a human scale into otherwise rigid systems. Recognizing their value opens possibilities for more adaptive, inclusive, and responsive design.

About the walk leader: I am a recent UBC graduate with Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urbanism. I enjoy exploring cities and hope to share some of my insights into liminal spaces of Vancouver.

How to identify the walk leader: Walk leader will be wearing a green frog shaped bag

Starting Place:  Cornwall & Burrard, by the Kitsilano log.

Ending Location: Choklit Park

Duration: 60-90 mins 

About the walk: Did you know Burrard Street used to have a different name, and you can still see the old one under your feet? That's the kind of thing we'll be getting into. Over the past few years I've collected a list of interesting facts about Vancouver, things that are right in front of us every day. On this walk through Kitsilano we'll use them as a lens to look at how Vancouver is changing and what might be ahead. There's no lecture here, bring your opinions, your own knowledge and your questions. If you leave with a few good facts to drop at your next dinner party, even better.

Accessibility: Busy sidewalks, Breaks offered along the way, Family-friendly, Pet-friendly

About the walk leader: Toly is a local realtor who loves learning interesting facts and history about the city, and for the last 4 years has been creating social media series called Fun Fact Friday. Toly has covered topics like where did the cherry blossom trees come from, why Burrard was renamed from Cider St, what's the oldest building in Vancouver, etc. Recently Toly got invited to collaborate with the Museum of Vancouver and invited to explore City Archives. 

How to identify the walk leader:  The walk leader will be wearing an orange toque.

Starting Place: Uptown Plaza on Belmont Street ( 605 Belmont St, New Westminster, BC V3L 3B4). 

Ending Location: Queens Park

Duration: 90 mins 

Accessibility: Busy sidewalks, Breaks offered along the way, Will use speakers/voice amplification (Walk Leader to provide), Family-friendly, Wheelchair user-friendly, Bicycles welcome, Pet-friendly

About the walk: ICBC data shows that in the past five years, 4,202 people have been injured in motor vehicle crashes in New Westminster — over 800 per year — with several fatalities. This is a significant public safety concern. While the city has made significant progress, there is still more work to be done. This walk will take place in Uptown New Westminster, where we'll go over some examples of the "best" and "worst" transportation designs in this area. We will draw a contrast between safe and unsafe road designs, exploring their context and challenges. 

About the walk leader: Mihai is a volunteer with Vision Zero Vancouver, have been with the group since its founding in 2022. We're an advocacy group aimed at reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads to zero. In my "other" life, I'm a scientist at a biotech in Vancouver. I grew up in New Westminster. 

How to identify the walk leader: Walk leader will be in a red t-shirt and have a sign

Starting Place:  City Hall Community Garden on the north side of City Hall

Ending Location: Mighty Oak at 17th and Columbia

Duration: 60-90 mins

Accessibility: Family-friendly, we move at a slow pace but much of the walk is uphill.

About the walk: A conversation about alternatives to lawn monoculture and the potential of native plants.

About the walk leader: Retired editor, and retired teacher, former  guides at Vandusen garden, 33 years resident in the City Hall Cambie Village neighbourhood. Have been leaders of this walk for about the years.

How to identify the walk leader: Guy in a hat near entrance to community garden

Starting Place:  Commercial Drive & Broadway, SE corner (former CIBC & Skytrain Station exit). The walk leaders will have printed photos of Trout Lake

Ending Location: Trout Lake Beach (south end)

Duration: 90mins

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Busy sidewalks, Breaks offered along the way, Bicycles welcome, Pet-friendly, culturally significant

About the walk: Find out how mountain views are currently protected at Trout Lake and Commercial Drive. We will visit proposed high-rise development sites that now threaten these views.

As well as new tower sites and view cones, the walk will examine the urban context. The potential for Broadway to work as a Parisian Boulevard; creation of public space at the station; and the unique platting of house lots against Trout Lake and John Hendry Park.

About the walk leader: Lewis and Stephen have been walk leaders for over 5 Jane's walks in the past 16 years. Both have professional backgrounds in architecture, planning, landscape architecture and urbanism.

How to identify the walk leader: The walk leaders will have printed photos of Trout Lake

Starting Place:  In front of Forty-Ninth Parallel coffee shop, Main & 13th Ave. Walk leader will be in front of the restaurant. Folks can access the washroom before leaving

Ending Location: We end at a café. Maurice is happy to spend more time there with anyone who wishes to stick around.

Duration: 90mins

Accessibility: Bicycles welcome, Pet-friendly

About the walk: Discover the Francophone quarter that estblished itself around the 1948 Saint-Sacrement church on Heather St. just south of 16th Ave. Over 1500 French-Canadians and Bretons chose to live close by, between Main & Oak, and Broadway and 20th Ave. As in other cultural communities in Vancouver, the descendants established themselves throughout the Lower Mainland, but the church and school still retain the cultural feeling of the founding community.

About the walk leader: Maurice is a historian and Executive Director of the Société historique francophone de la Colombie-Britannique, based in Vancouver. 

How to identify the walk leader: I will be in front of the restaurant. Folks can access the washroom before leaving.

*This walk is available by registration only. Registration for this walk is managed directly by the walk leader. Please click HERE to register if you would like to attend this walk. 

Note: Use the password JW in the Eventbrite link to enable the walk to be free of charge.

Starting Place: Cambie at 8th Ave at Home Depot Plaza

Ending Location: Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions

Duration: ~90 mins

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Busy sidewalks, Loud noises.

About the walk: Learn about industrial lands in the Mt Pleasant area of Vancouver. This walk will engage participants about 'what is industrial'. With over 20 years of experience in Metro Vancouver, Eric Aderneck is an expert in urban planning, land development, and industrial lands. Drawing on his published research and professional experience, he will guide participants through a unique part of the city and share new perspectives on the places around us.

About the walk leader: Eric is an industrial lands planner. 

How to identify the walk leader: Will stand atop plaza

Starting Place: Entry at Capstan Station.

Ending Location: Community Park near Capstan Village, Richmond

Duration: 45-60mins

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Busy sidewalks, Loud noises.

About the walk: This walk explores Capstan Village in Richmond—one of Metro Vancouver’s fastest-growing transit-oriented neighbourhoods. Together, we’ll look at how a new community is being built in real time, from infrastructure and density to everyday life on the street.

As an urban designer and an architect, we’ll share observations on how planning decisions translate into built form, while inviting participants to reflect on what makes a neighbourhood feel complete, livable, and connected.

About the walk leader: Mona and Erin are an urban designer and an architect living in the area! We like to observe the development, the community, the living experiences and architecture design in our daily life so we like to share that with people. 

How to identify the walk leader: Will wear orange walk bandana

Starting Place:  Crosstown Elementary School Yard. Walk leader will be wearing my rainbow and zebra print cowboy hat with a orange walk leader bandana

Ending Location: Batch 770 pacific Blvd

Duration: 1 hour

Accessibility: Busy sidewalks, Family-friendly, Bicycles welcome

About the walk: Explore the eras of transformation that have shaped the the North East False Creek lands or northern Skwachàys. Where tides both natural and human have produced a much contested landscape now and into foreseeable future. 

Explore the dynamic collision of forces ranging from the natural world to that of race, class, and egos that are producing the next iteration of this understated corner of our City Core.

About the walk leader: Craig is a downtown resident who has been involved in urban planning advocacy and education for nearly a decade. Building civic literacy around how neighbourhoods change and the avenues through which residents can proactively get involved in shaping what their communities can become. Bringing the perspective of times working on the outside as an advocate, then a private sector professional in land governance and now in the public sector with a peer municipality to Vancouver.

How to identify the walk leader: Will be wearing a rainbow and zebra print cowboy hat with a orange walk leader bandana.

Starting Place:  Main St & Union St - on the grass field.

Ending Location: La Casa Astilleros Chinatown

Duration: 1 hour

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Busy sidewalks, Breaks offered along the way, Will use speakers/voice amplification, Family-friendly, Wheelchair user-friendly, Bicycles welcome, Pet-friendly

About the walk: Hogan’s Alley was the unofficial name for a T-shaped intersection at the southwestern edge of Vancouver’s Strathcona neighbourhood. In the early 1900s, it became the heart of the city’s first concentrated Black community. 

Our guided walking tours bring this history to life. Participants learn about former residents such as Nora Hendrix and Vie Moore, visit significant sites in Hogan’s Alley and the broader Strathcona neighbourhood, and gain insight into what life was like in this vibrant community.

This walk also highlights the work Hogan’s Alley Society is doing today—including the community land trust being developed on the historic Hogan’s Alley Block—and how this legacy continues to shape Vancouver’s Black community. 

About the walk leader: Lama Mugabo is a community planner, educator, and storyteller based in Metro Vancouver. He is the Founding Director of the Hogan’s Alley Society, where he works to advance the recognition and revitalization of Vancouver’s historic Black neighbourhood, Hogan’s Alley, which was displaced by urban renewal policies in the 1970s. As an educator, Lama has served as a visiting lecturer at Simon Fraser University and currently co-teaches at the University of British Columbia’s School of Social Work, focusing on community organizing, anti-Black racism, and urban history. Through public speaking, walking tours, and storytelling, Lama continues to amplify the history of Hogan’s Alley while fostering dialogue about belonging, justice, and the future of inclusive communities.

How to identify the walk leader: Leader will be wearing a Hogan's Alley Society T-shirt.

Starting Place:  Aquabus/False Creek Ferry dock at the eastern tip of the island, near the Granville Island Market. Walk leader will be wearing an orange bandana

Ending Location: Off the Tracks Cafe, 1363 Railspur Alley

Duration: 1 hour

Accessibility: Busy sidewalks, Fast-paced, covering lots of ground, Family-friendly

About the walk: Granville Island is one of the most beloved urban spaces in Canada, with markets, galleries, and parks. But few people know that you are, technically, standing on federal land every time you visit. The City of Vancouver has no jurisdiction here. The island is owned by the federal Crown and managed by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), a quirk of history that made its remarkable reinvention possible and continues to shape what it is today.

About the walk leader: Alexandra is a law professor at UBC

How to identify the walk leader: Orange walk leader bandana

Starting Place:  Woodland & 2nd Ave Rain Garden

Ending Location: Trout Lake Farmer's Market (Lakewood Drive at John Hendry Park)

Duration: 90 mins

Accessibility: Breaks offered along the way, Family-friendly, Wheelchair user-friendly, Pet-friendly

About the walk: This walk will take participants through three rain gardens established by the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Parks Board in Grandview-Woodland. These nature-based solutions are part of broader City strategies to enhance healthy waterways, climate resilience, and urban biodiversity. Participants will learn about these rain gardens and, along the way, explore other community-run initiatives – such as Green Streets, pop-up plazas, roundabout and boulevard gardens – that help make the neighbourhood a healthy, vibrant, and connected place for people. 

About the walk leader: Owen is a recent graduate of planning school and a Stewardship Leader for the Woodland and East 2nd Ave Rain Garden, where I lead planting, maintenance, and community events with the site as part of the City of Vancouver's Seeding Stewardship program. I work as a researcher for a consulting firm in my professional life, and I have lived in the Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood for the last two years. I aim to bring my personal connection to the area, my knowledge of planning theory and practice from my graduate studies, and my first-hand experience in maintaining rain gardens and engaging community through the Seeding Stewardship program. 

How to identify the walk leader: Orange Bandana

Starting Place: 4562 Main St, Vancouver. Walk leader will be wearing a green frog shaped bag

Ending Location: 3068 Main St. Vancouver

Duration: 90mins

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Stairs, non-accessible curb cuts, or other barriers, Busy sidewalks, Breaks offered along the way, Will use speakers/voice amplification (Walk Leader to provide), Loud noises, Some parts of the walk will take place in back lanes, some parts of the walk will go through narrow spaces, one gap will include stairs

About the walk: This walk explores the informal gaps or leftover spaces between buildings—unplanned voids that fall outside formal design. These spaces vary in privacy and ownership, and are often used creatively by locals. 

Gaps challenge how we understand urban space and who it belongs to. Informal uses bring life, creativity, and a human scale into otherwise rigid systems. Recognizing their value opens possibilities for more adaptive, inclusive, and responsive design.

About the walk leader: I am a recent UBC graduate with Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urbanism. I enjoy exploring cities and hope to share some of my insights into liminal spaces of Vancouver.

How to identify the walk leader: Walk leader will be wearing a green frog shaped bag

Starting Place: Meet at the parklette at the corner of Maple St. and West 4th. (outside of Patagonia)

Walk leader will be wearing an orange bandana

Ending Location: Either Kits House or Arbutus Coffee

Duration: 90 mins

Accessibility: Busy sidewalks, Breaks offered along the way, Family-friendly, Bicycles welcome, Pet-friendly

About the walk: We will explore the street and park trees of Kitsilano, showcasing the many iconic native and imported ornamental species within the neighbourhood. Along the route will talk about the current themes of urban forestry within the city of Vancouver. 

About the walk leader: With over 20 years of experience working outdoors, Allison’s career has spanned both the private and public spheres. She is the Principal at Arborlight Consulting and most recently an instructor of the Horticulture Training Program at UBC Botanical Garden. She is certified as a Red Seal Horticulturalist, ISA Certified Arborist, and a Masters candidate in Urban Forestry Leadership at UBC. She is an educator passionate about building botanical literacy and teaching practical hands-on skills by leading workshops and tree tours for the public, businesses, and garden clubs. 

On a more personal note. Allison's work blends ecological knowledge with storytelling to make nature accessible, joyful, and memorable for all ages.

How to identify the walk leader: Orange bandana

Starting Place: King Edward Station, on the Cambie side. Walk leader will be wearing an orange bandana

Ending Location: Quenn Elizabeth Park (at the top)

Duration: 90 minutes + extra for those who would like to go up into the park

Accessibility: unknown

About the walk: In this walk, we will take a look at construction projects on or around the Cambie Corridor, near King Edward Station on the Canada Line.  We will look at projects such as land assemblies, projects that are in progress, and ones that have been completed.  We'll discuss the changes to the neighbourhood, and give participants a chance to voice their opinions. If we have time, we'll go up into Queen Elizabeth Park and talk about changes proposed there.

We will stop at the topiary on 27th & Cambie just for fun, then on 29th Ave. west of Cambie to look at larger and smaller construction projects.  We'll also look at the Little Mountain Holborn development on 33rd & Ontario.

About the walk leader: I'm an avid walker and cyclist, and I like to observe changes in the areas I frequent.

How to identify the walk leader: Orange bandana

Starting Place: 1140 Jervis Street

The labyrinth is located in the St Pauls church hall at 1140 Jervis Street, next to the red church at Jervis & Pendrell

Ending Location: 1140 Jervis Street. This is a one stop walk as the route we follow is the labyrinth

Duration: ~30 mins (the labyrinth will be open for 2 hours and walkers can expect to spend approximately 30 minutes walking the labyrinth but are welcome to stay for as long as they like)

Accessibility: Stairs, non-accessible curb cuts, or other barriers

About the walk: 3rd Annual World Labyrinth Day Walk & Sound Bath

Join us at the St. Paul’s indoor labyrinth for a peaceful drop-in experience as part of the Jane’s Walk Festival Vancouver. In honour of World Labyrinth Day, we will join the global “Walk as One at 1” for peace.Drop in any time. Registration not required. Please allow 20 to 30 minutes to walk the labyrinth. Shoes must be removed on the labyrinth. All ages welcome.

Saturday, May 2 | 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Doors open: 12:00 pm

Sound bath: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

Silent walks: 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Our indoor labyrinth is a 13-metre replica of the medieval Chartres labyrinth, offering a quiet space for reflection, contemplation, and walking meditation.

About the walk leader: Sally Hull is our Labyrinth Keeper and has been volunteering with the St. Paul's Labyrinth community since its inception in the 90s. Laura Kern is our resident musician and Janes Walk enthusiast!

Starting Place: 906 E 20th Ave

Ending Location: 942 E 23rd Ave (close to numerous cafes on Fraser St. to and Glen Park half a block to the East)

Duration: ~70 mins

Accessibility: Typical East Van sidewalks, meaning some sidewalks may be heaved and uneven. Please lock your bicycles before commencing the tour and do not bring them with you on the tour to allow everyone to move efficiently between stops and gather close enough to hear the speaker.  

About the walk: When we think about gardens, we usually think about lush plants and flowers that homeowners tend to right outside their front doors. Landscape architect Saba Farmand, is trying to change all that with his tours that showcase oft-forgotten pieces of land that people have been nurturing right under our noses.

Rather than plain ol’ grass growing between the sidewalk and the road, there are what Saba dubs “boulevard gardens”—spaces where residents beautify their community by planting flowers and shrubs which not only are pretty to look at (especially when spring hits) but are more environmentally friendly than grass as they require less watering and provide more habitat for native species of birds and insects.

About the walk leader: Saba is a Landscape architect and curator but better known in their community as the curator of @EastVan_Blvd_Gardens. Since 2021 he has been organizing tours of these plots of land, aiming to show how beautiful these small-but-mighty spaces are while also bringing together members of the community through philanthropic outreach. Saba explains that Boulevard Gardens are a framework used for lessons on environmental education, nature awareness and urban literacy. Throughout his walking tour, Saba talks about different educational aspects of urban architecture by stopping at seven different locations, and with each location comes a new discussion and learning topic.

Starting Place: 4562 Main St, Vancouver. Walk leader will be wearing a green frog shaped bag

Ending Location: 3068 Main St. Vancouver

Duration: 90 mins

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Stairs, non-accessible curb cuts, or other barriers, Busy sidewalks, Breaks offered along the way, Will use speakers/voice amplification (Walk Leader to provide), Loud noises, Some parts of the walk will take place in back lanes, some parts of the walk will go through narrow spaces, one gap will include stairs

About the walk: This walk is in Belarusian. 

Гэтая прагулка даследуе нефармальныя шчыліны або пакінутыя прасторы паміж будынкамі — незапланаваныя пустоты, якія выходзяць па-за межы фармальнага праектавання. Гэтыя прасторы адрозніваюцца ступенню прыватнасці і формай уласнасці і часта крэатыўна выкарыстоўваюцца мясцовымі жыхарамі.

Шчыліны вымушаюць па іншаму паглядзець на тое, як мы разумеем гарадскую прастору і каму яна належыць. Нефармальныя спосабы выкарыстання шчылін надаюць жыцця здольнасць, творчасць і чалавечы маштаб падчас вельмі закасцянелым ўрбаністычным сістэмам. Прызнанне іх каштоўнасці адкрывае магчымасці для больш адаптыўнага, інклюзіўнага і рэактыўнага праектавання. 

[English translation]: It explores the informal gaps or leftover spaces between buildings—unplanned voids that fall outside formal design. These spaces vary in privacy and ownership, and are often used creatively by locals. 

Gaps challenge how we understand urban space and who it belongs to. Informal uses bring life, creativity, and a human scale into otherwise rigid systems. Recognizing their value opens possibilities for more adaptive, inclusive, and responsive design.

About the walk leader: I am a recent UBC graduate with Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urbanism. I enjoy exploring cities and hope to share some of my insights into liminal spaces of Vancouver.

How to identify the walk leader: Walk leader will be wearing a green frog shaped bag.

Starting Place:  16th & Ontario

Ending Location: “Mural Wings” (18th & Main) 

Duration: 90 mins

Accessibility:  Route may have uneven pavement, including sidewalks with tree roots underneath them. There will be some loud traffic noise when crossing Main Street. There are several restaurants near the end point, but no public washrooms (Field House at Prince Edward Park along the route) 

About the walk: This walk explores a series of small “Fairy Gardens” and similar tiny installations in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood of Vancouver. Through these whimsical creations, we will discuss: Why humans feel emotional connections to inanimate things; How small, unexpected objects on the street can transform our sense of place; Community-building through miniature placemaking; What happens when the mundane becomes enchanted.

Sensitive content warning: Our walk will include a stop where we discuss Orange Shirt Day and Red Dress Day and the legacies of colonial harm and violence against Indigenous people and Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people. The IRSSS operates a 24-hour crisis line (1 (800) 721-0066) to provide urgent emotional support for Survivors, families, and Indigenous communities across British Columbia and beyond.  

About the walk leader: We are four current students in the Langara Applied Planning program. We care a lot about the topic and bring diverse perspectives.

How to identify the walk leader: We may print a sign as provided with the Jane's walk logo, or wear some bright clothes. 

Starting Place: Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver entrance (950 W 41st Ave.)

Ending Location: Same as initial meeting point

Duration: 1 hour

Accessibility: Busy sidewalks, Breaks offered along the way, Family-friendly, Wheelchair user-friendly, the drawing exercise does favour folks who can see, but I welcome anyone to participate

About the walk: We will meet at the starting point of Rick's world tour, Oakridge Mall, where Rick set out on a two year world journey in his wheelchair to raise funds and awareness for people with disabilities in 1985.  Having just completed a book about the tour, Emma and Lorna are in a position to share some important details, including how the tour had setbacks before even leaving the Oakridge Parking lot, and still Rick persevered and met his goal. After sharing some stories, Emma will lead the group in a quick warm up drawing exercise, and then allow people some time to wander the neighbhourhood, taking note of both barriers and help for those with disabilities in a sketchbook, before reconvening and sharing as a group.

About the walk leader:
Lorna Schultz Nicholson is an author of many books for children and young adults, and wrote "The Man in Motion: How Rick Hansen's World Tour Broke Down Barriers for People with Disabilities" (Owlkids Books, April 2026) after meeting Rick Hansen at a hockey game.

Emma FitzGerald studied Fine Art in Vancouver, and Architecture in Halifax. She has written and illustrated city based books "Hand Drawn Vancouver" and "Hand Drawn Victoria" both with Appetite, and illustrated "The Man in Motion". 

Both Lorna and Emma have a passion for connecting with people and sharing Rick's hopeful story of overcoming difficulties and serving the larger community by way of making spaces and buildings barrier free and welcoming for all.

How to identify the walk leader: The walk leader will wear a pink raincoat and green ball cap. I will ask participants to bring their own pen and sketchpad. 

Starting Place:  21st & Main Parklett Plaza. 

Ending Location: Same as starting location 21st & Main

Duration: 2 hours

Accessibility: Busy sidewalks, Breaks offered along the way, Family-friendly, Wheelchair user-friendly, Bicycles welcome, Pet-friendly

About the walk:  Over the course of generations, Hillcrest, Sunnyside, City Heights and Riley Park are name tags that have been worn by Vancouver's original streetcar exurb. Enjoy a stroll up mid-Main Street and its environs with longtime residents Ned Jacobs and Varouj Gumuchian to learn how a lack of formal planning has contributed to the making of one of our city's most vibrant, liveable, and surprising neighbourhoods. 

About the walk leader: Varouj and Ned are urabanist and community activists. 

How to identify the walk leader: The walk leaders will be wearing large hats. 

Starting Place: Outside the Federal Store Luncheonette & Grocer (2601 Quebec St, Vancouver BC). This location can be accessed by the #3 and #9/#99 Bus lines, as well as by the 10th ave & Ontario Street Bikeways

Ending Location: 21st and Main Plaza (198 E 21st Ave, Vancouver). This location has access to public seating, coffee shops (Liberty Cafe + Coco et Olive), and is near the #3 Bus Route

Duration: ~90 mins

Accessibility: Breaks offered along the way, Fast-paced, covering lots of ground, Family-friendly, Bicycles welcome, Most of this walk will take place on neighbourhood sidewalks. Some book boxes are set further away from sidewalks and may not always be wheelchair accessible.

About the walk: Vancouver is home to over 350 book boxes, book exchanges, and free little libraries. This walk is an opportunity to explore the many book boxes and material exchanges which are stewarded within the West Mount Pleasant/Riley Park Neighbourhoods. 

Little Free Libraries, book boxes, and free book exchanges have been around for over 15 years and have only grown in popularity. These micro-urbanist interventions offer spaces for connection and community building within local neighbourhoods, as well as supporting literacy through increased access to free books for anyone who walks by them.        

Book boxes can be stewarded by individuals, community groups and organizations, or even small businesses. Each one is unique in its design and decoration; from simple wooden shelves to bespoke works of art and architecture. I am a huge fan of these libraries and want to share my love of them with as many people as possible! Guests are encouraged to bring a few books they would like to donate to a book box during this walk (though this is strictly optional).

About the walk leader: Morgan Martino is an interdisciplinary designer, artist, researcher, and educator living on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-waututh. Her research practice uses community- and place-based engagements to explore everyday objects, spaces, and interactions. Morgan loves to visit book boxes across Vancouver and is currently working on a zine series to document them. She holds a Masters of Design from Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

How to identify the walk leader: Walk leader will be wearing a bright orange shirt. 

Starting Place: Jericho Sailing Centre - by the parking payment machine. 

Ending Location: Jericho Sailing Centre cafe

Duration: ~1 hour

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Stairs, non-accessible curb cuts, or other barriers, Mud or poor drainage, Breaks offered along the way, Family-friendly, Bicycles welcome, There are mostly level paths, but there is some gravel, some sand. A wheelchair could *possibly* make most of it. Walkers ok - we don't go too fast. There is an elevator to the 2nd floor cafe in the Sailing Centre, with accessible bathrooms

About the walk: Habitat '76 was the world's fist global conference on housing and cities - it was by today's standards a very radical conference focused on equity, housing as a human right, and innovations in sustainability. This is is 50th anniversary! In the 1970s, Vancouver was aligning with many of its principles. Is it doing that today? 

About the walk leader: Lindsay is about to publish a book on Habitat '76 (UN Conference on Human Settlements) that took place in Vancouver in 1976 including at Jericho. I'm a subject matter expert in this area, and I was there as a kid. I have led this Jane's Walk on numerous prior occasions.

How to identify the walk leader: Walk leader will be draped in the original large UN-blue Habitat flag that was used at the site.