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. 

Travel Tips: Starting area of this walk is accessible to #3 and #9/99 Bus lines, and 10 minutes away from Broadway/City Hall Station. We will be going along the Ontario Street Bikeway for much of this walk. There may be street parking available within the Mount Pleasant Neigbourhood.

Starting Place: The concrete benches outside Science World, toward Terminal Ave

Ending Location: Small Victory Bakery, 1089 Marinaside Crescent, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2Z4

Duration: 90 mins

Accessibility: Busy sidewalks, Breaks offered along the way, Will use speakers/voice amplification (Walk Leader to provide), Strong odours, Family-friendly, Wheelchair user-friendly, Pet-friendly, This will be an entirely step-free walk, mostly along the seawall path, suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Most stops will include a place to sit.

About the walk: I moved to Vancouver specifically in 2017, after wanting to live here for many years. Since I arrived, I have heard many longtime residents express the view that Vancouver just isn't that great - it's not beautiful or inspiring like other cities. I strongly disagree, and I want to talk about what I see in Vancouver that's unique and exciting to me (and also what might make it even better).

About the walk leader: I grew up in Boston and lived in Seattle before moving to Vancouver, and that (plus some travel to other places) causes me to notice and appreciate some things about Vancouver that are maybe less obvious if you've lived here for a long time.  Vancouver isn't perfect (no place can be), but I'm excited to share some things about the built environment that make life better for me and people I know (and that are the envy of my American friends!)

How to identify the walk leader: I will be on a mobility scooter with a Jane's Walk bandanna on a stick.

Travel Tips: There is public parking next to Science World and the gathering area is on the seawall path for great access for bikes and pedestrians. 

*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. 

Starting Place: McDonald's, 3444 E Hastings, outside the entrance

Ending Location: Main St and Mountain Highway in North Vancouver

Duration: 80 minutes

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Stairs, non-accessible curb cuts, or other barriers, Mud or poor drainage, Will use speakers/voice amplification, Strong odours, Loud noises

About the walk: You may have heard the headline recently that the Ironworkers/Second Narrows Bridge is the most congested bridge in the region.

Many often call for a third crossing, or a rapid transit link to the North Shore. Is that a good idea? 

You may have also heard about a RapidBus being extended from the North Shore to Burnaby in September, along with a future Bus Rapid Transit being in the works. 

We're going to discuss all that, but we'll focus on the things that can be done in a matter of months to make transit significantly better across the Second Narrows. 

We're going to walk around the north and south ends of the Ironworkers Bridge to witness first hand:

What measures are already in place to make buses faster; and what more could be done!

This means lots of loud cars, exhaust, and potentially rain. We will ride a bus across the bridge, so be ready to pay with your Compass card, or credit/debit card.

NOTE: Please Register for this walk here. It is hard to navigate a big group onto a bus so we are capping this group at 20. 

https://actionnetwork.org/events/janes-walk-2026-the-solution-to-north-shore-traffic

About the walk leader(s): Denis Agar (he/him) is the Executive Director of Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders. In that role, he pushes for faster, more reliable, more frequent, more affordable public transit!!

He came to that role after spending 10 years as a transit planner at TransLink, so his obsession with transit has been going for a while. At TransLink, he worked on designing the first five RapidBus routes, and on the team that encourages municipalities to install bus lanes. He could see that it would take more public pressure to overcome some of the barriers to better transit (which we'll talk about on the walk). 

How to identify the walk leader: I'll be the only one standing outside the McDonald's looking like he's about to host a tour.

Travel Tips: You can park on a residential street or, there is pay parking at the Empire Fields lot. The tour starts near Kootenay Loop and ends near Phibbs Exchange so there are a lot of transit options. The bus we're taking only has room for 2 bikes, so you'll have to park it at the start of the tour.

Starting Place: The Roedde House (1415 Barclay Street Vancouver)

Ending Location: West End Community Centre: Art in the City (870 Denman St)

Walk leader will be wearing a t-shirt that reads: Making Money Writing Poetry 

Duration: 120 mins

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Stairs, non-accessible curb cuts, or other barriers, Busy sidewalks, Bicycles welcome 

About the walk: On our annual poetry-themed Jane’s Walk through the West End, we’ll be looking and listening with the assistance (and insistence!) of poetry. While the bulk of the walk will take us by several artful spaces, poetry will be read by some of Vancouver’s most engaging poets who will explore art on and off the page in the broadest sense possible. How much is a poem like a piece of art? What is the relationship between visual art and literary arts? How can poetry help us observe things more closely?

Join us to hear poetry and the many types of connections it fosters. Acknowledging that the West End is on the traditional, unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, it’s important to be mindful of this deeper sense of history and the ways it shapes our current world. Colonial violence that occurred in the past has a very real impact on the present and we encourage you to learn about this through articles such as “History of the West End - Vancouver” at http://westendbia.com, which touches upon some of this history, or “Vancouver: Unceded Land Tour” at roeddehouse.org. Some of this will be drawn upon for the beginning of our walk.

Poetry offers the potential for fusion and vision. Come join us for our 2-hour walk to see what you think!

About the walk leader: 

Kevin Spenst is keen to connect with neighbours and strangers, a chatty way of being which often fuels his writing. He's the author of four full-length books of poetry and 19 small books of poetry (chapbooks!) An assortment of my lyric essays, interviews with neighbours, and personal accounts from others make up Stanley Park Manor: a Collective History, out with Anvil Press in 2026. This will be his fifth year leading a poetry-themed Janes Walk.

Rahat Kurd is a poet and writer based in Vancouver. The Book Of Z, (Talonbooks, 2025), is her second full-length work of poetry. Her previous titles with Talonbooks are The City That Is Leaving Forever: Kashmiri Letters, (2021), co-authored with Kashmiri poet Sumayya Syed, and Cosmophilia, (poems, 2015).

Justyna Krol is a writer and graphic designer from Lublin, Poland, now living on the traditional and unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl ̓ilw̓ ətaʔɬ (TsleilWaututh) Nations, also known as Vancouver, BC. Her writing has appeared in the Off the Map anthology, Room, Hayo and Sad magazines, and she has a chapbook of poetry published with Frog Hollow Press entitled You Are Doing Excellent Work (2021). She hates mornings, loves sugar, and uses the latter to get through the former.

Natalie Lim (she/her) is a Chinese-Canadian poet living on the unceded, traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples (Vancouver, BC). She is the author of a full-length book of poetry, Elegy for Opportunity (Wolsak & Wynn, 2025) and a chapbook, arrhythmia (Rahila's Ghost Press, 2022). Winner of the CBC Poetry Prize and Room Magazine’s Emerging Writer Award, her work has been published in Arc Poetry Magazine, Best Canadian Poetry and elsewhere.

Marc Perez is a Filipino poet and writer living in the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations. His fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry have appeared in The Fiddlehead, EVENT Magazine, decomp journal, CV2, PRISM international, and Vallum, among others. A recipient of grants from the BC Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts, he has a BFA from the UBC School of Creative Writing. He is the author of the chapbook, Borderlands (Anstruther Press, 2020), and Dayo is his first full-length poetry collection.

How to identify the walk leader: Walk leader will be wearing a t-shirt that reads: Making Money Writing Poetry 

Travel Tips: It would be best to walk or cycle to the Roedde (parking in the West End might be difficult). 

Starting Place:  Broadway and Commercial, NE corner by the A&W.

Ending Location: Nanaimo and Hastings, SW corner. 

Duration: 90 mins - 2 hours.

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: We will be walking through the neighborhood of Commercial Drive North, from Broadway to Hastings. We will be exploring the alleys of the neighbourhood looking for gems that have been discarded or left out intentionally for people to take and repurpose or reuse. We will also stop at several of the numerous corner "libraries" that are in the area.

About the walk leader: I am a Jamaican-born Canadian I have a variety of interests and skills, and am very resourceful,  which will help when rummaging in the neighborhood of the Drive.

How to identify the walk leader: I will be wearing a Green and Yellow Jamaica baseball cap.

Travel Tips: There is limited parking in the area for drivers, so it is strongly recommended to take Transit. There is a Sageway on the SE corner however it is your responsibility to adhere to their parking regulations. The Commercial-Broadway skytrain station is at the meeting location and there are several busses that go there. 

Starting Place:  21st & Main Parklett Plaza. 

Ending Location: Riley Park Community Garden, at Ontario Street and West 30th Avenue

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. 

Travel Tips: Minimal amount of parking nearby, bicycle and bus great source. 

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: Bisou Bakehouse 1188 Bidwell St

Ending Location: Greenhorn Cafe 994 Nicola St

Duration: 60 mins

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

About the walk: Almost 5% of Vancouver's street trees are missing. They have been cut down due to damage, disease, or development and not replaced. An injection of $4M in funding hasn't turned the tide, with more stumps appearing all the time.  The West End is the perfect place to look at the causes and impacts of missing street trees. 

About the walk leader: Natalie is a West End resident and past board president of the Stanly Park Ecology Society that is passionate about trees, especially street trees. In addition to an educational background in environmental sciences, Natalie has spent a lot of time contemplating West End street trees while walking her senior rescue dog, Oliver.

How to identify the walk leader: Walk leader will be wearing an orange bandana

Travel Tips: There is limited parking in the West End. The number 5 or 6 bus is a good option. 

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.

Travel Tips: Parking is very available but not cheap at Jericho Sailing Centre so please walk/bike/cab/bus if you can!  

Starting Place: Lower Hume Park turnoff (just by the pedestrian crossing of North Road and Hume Park road), New Westminster 

Ending Location: same as starting point 

Duration: about 60 min

Accessibility: the path is a level dirt road through the forest. It is a bike route and a dog-walking area (dogs on leashes); bike, dog and family-friendly 

About the walk: Join me on a forest-bathing walk! We will enjoy birdsong and late afternoon sun along the Brunette River - a bit of nature in the city! 

About the walk leader(s): I'm a New West local, a birdwatcher and a walking advocate and I'd like to share my favourite walk in New West! 

How to identify the walk leader:  I will be holding a sign saying "Jane's Walks" and will be waiting in the small gravel parking lot just off of North Road  

Travel Tips: There is car parking available and bike racks nearby; the nearest Skytrain station is Braid and there is a bus along North Road. 

Starting Place: Mount Pleasant Community Fridge | 273 E 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC

Ending Location: JFS/Farm To Plate Marketplace

Duration: 90 mins

Accessibility: Stairs, non-accessible curb cuts, or other barriers, Busy sidewalks, Mud or poor drainage, Breaks offered along the way, Triggering content, Loud noises, Family-friendly, Bicycles welcome, Pet-friendly

About the walk: In Canada almost half of the food we produce is never eaten. At the same time, 1 in 4 Canadian households are food insecure. This walk will cover a wide range of topics including food waste, food recovery, food insecurity and dignified food access. It will focus on Mount Pleasant and the community of like-minded groups working on these challenges, but will also discuss issues broadly in Vancouver and Canada.

About the walk leader: We are a few of the staff members at Food Stash Foundation, one of Vancouver’s largest food recovery charities. We spend our working hours collecting good, surplus food that otherwise would have been wasted, working with volunteers to diligently sort it, and running programs to distribute that food in dignified ways to our community. We are passionate about serving the community, protecting our planet and building connections. 

How to identify the walk leader: We’ll be wearing Food Stash t-shirts or sweatshirts

Travel Tips: Parking in the area can be quite difficult. There is limited street-parking available (most spots are 1H or 2H limit), however, it is often full. Whenever possible, we encourage folks to bike, take transit, car-share or arrange for a drop-off and pick-up from the location. The community garden is conveniently located near the 1st Ave bike route, a few blocks away from Science World train station, and is accessible by many bus routes (#3; #84).

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.

Travel Tips: Commercial/Broadway Station is the starting point, bike racks are available, parking in side streets

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.
Travel Tips: There is no parking provided. Bikes are fine. The closest bus route is the #6, bus stop is at Davie Street at Bute Street.

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)

Travel Tips: Lots of street parking or underground at the Community Centre. Walking distance from Expo Line's Main Street Station or Canada Line's Olympic Village Station. You're welcome to push your bike along as we walk!

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 

Duration: 2 hours

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Stairs, non-accessible curb cuts, or other barriers, Busy sidewalks, Will use speakers/voice amplification, 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 (access online component HERE). 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

Travel Tips: Skytrain is the fastest way to get to meeting point (Southeast Entrance of Main Street-Science World Skytrain Station. Along Terminal Avenue.)

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

Travel Tips: The starting location is a 10 minute walk from Rupert Sky Train station. If driving, there is typically free street parking available on Cornett Road or Natal Street. Bikes welcome, take the Central Valley Greenway to its end, then right on Rupert, left on grandview, right on Bentall, right on Cornett Road

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

Travel Tips: Routes are located close to or along major transportation routes, street parking along same routes

Starting Place:  Broadway and Commercial, NE corner by the A&W.

Ending Location: Nanaimo and Hastings, SW corner. 

Duration: 90 mins - 2 hours.

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: We will be walking through the neighborhood of Commercial Drive North, from Broadway to Hastings. We will be exploring the alleys of the neighbourhood looking for gems that have been discarded or left out intentionally for people to take and repurpose or reuse. We will also stop at several of the numerous corner "libraries" that are in the area.

About the walk leader: I am a Jamaican-born Canadian I have a variety of interests and skills, and am very resourceful,  which will help when rummaging in the neighborhood of the Drive.

How to identify the walk leader: I will be wearing a Green and Yellow Jamaica baseball cap.

Travel Tips: There is limited parking in the area for drivers, so it is strongly recommended to take Transit. There is a Sageway on the SE corner however it is your responsibility to adhere to their parking regulations. The Commercial-Broadway skytrain station is at the meeting location and there are several busses that go there. 

Starting Place:  Mt. Pleasant Community Centre - #1 Kingsway

Ending Location: McAuley Park - Kingsway & Fraser

Duration: 90 mins

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Busy sidewalks, Loud noises, Pet-friendly. 

About the walk: Kingsway is an intriguing street with a fascinating history, diverse cultural landscape, important transportation function, and layers and layers of change. This walk will weave together a variety of themes and invite participants to think about the implications and opportunities that come with change on the street.

About the walk leaders: Andrew is the founder of the Vancouver Public Space Network and a city planner. This walk will be showcasing some of the work that the VPSN has been doing to explore placemaking and public space opportunities along Kingsway.

How to identify the walk leader: We will be wearing an orange walk leader bandana.

Travel Tips: Main St #3, Broadway #99 B-line or #9. Bike and car parking are available at Mt. Pleasant Community Centre.

Starting Place:  Totem pole in front of the Seaspan building, which is in between the Lonsdale Quay Market and Polygon Gallery

Ending Location: Nemesis Coffee Polygon, 101 Carrie Cates Ct #110, North Vancouver, BC V7M 2E4

Duration: 60 mins

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Stairs, non-accessible curb cuts, or other barriers, Busy sidewalks, Mud or poor drainage, Breaks offered along the way, Loud noises, Pet-friendly. 

About the walk: Discover North Vancouver’s vibrant patchwork of creativity and industry on this hour-long Jane’s Walk. “Creative Juxtapositions” reveals how art and commerce thrive side by side in unexpected places. Start at the bustling Shipyards District, where public art and murals inject colour into historic industrial spaces. As you stroll along Esplanade, breweries rub shoulders with auto repair shops and machine suppliers, creating a lively, eclectic energy.

The walk continues past creative studios and mechanics, showcasing North Vancouver’s knack for blending the imaginative with the practical. Each block tells a story of adaptive reuse, where artists, brewers, and tradespeople share space and inspiration. Join us to see North Vancouver through a new lens where art thrives in the spaces between industry.

About the walk leaders: Gian Franco is a Peruvian urbanist and architect with relevant international work experience in Peru, Australia, and Canada. He is passionate about transit-oriented communities and placemaking initiatives. Gian loves hand-drawing and the power of storytelling to connect with people, stories, and places.

Eryn is an urban planner who grew up on the North Shore. Living and working across different cities and continents sparked her curiosity about how the natural and built environments shape people's behaviour, and vice versa. She is the happiest in public spaces that are shaped by culture and instill a sense of belonging for everyone.

How to identify the walk leader: We will be holding a sign that says "Jane's Walk"

Travel Tips: Taking transit is encouraged and is the easiest way to get here! Take the 15-minute seabus ride from the Waterfront Station in Downtown to Lonsdale Quay. On-street parking is limited.

Starting Place: Barclay Heritage Square Park

Ending Location: Mole Hill tiny library (Jepson-Young Lane between Bute and Thurlow)

Duration: 90 mins

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

About the walk: Explore the history of the West End as told by its trees. Enjoy a walk along the neighbourhood's shady streets while learning about planting and management trends of the last 100+ years. From chestnuts to cherries, from lawns to rain gardens, what we plant in our boulevards says a lot about our values and our goals.

About the walk leader: Natalie is a West End resident and past board president of the Stanly Park Ecology Society that is passionate about trees, especially street trees. In addition to an educational background in environmental sciences, Natalie has spent a lot of time contemplating West End street trees while walking her senior rescue dog, Oliver.

How to identify the walk leader: The walk leader will wear an orange bandana 

Travel Tips: Parking is limited in the West End. The number 5 bus down Robson is a good option.  

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.

Travel Tips: The starting location is easily accessible by transit. Parking is available in the nearby mall. The end location in Queens Park also has transit access from 2 buses, taking people back to the starting point. 

Starting Place: Britannia Public Library Entrance

Ending Location: We will return to Commercial Drive

Duration: 90 mins

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Breaks offered along the way, Fast-paced, covering lots of ground, Family-friendly, Wheelchair user-friendly

About the walk: We will be walking a small portion of East Van to encourage folks to get out of their cars and onto their feet to enjoy the slow process of walking by gardens, artwork, and historical spaces.  We hope that people will view these neighborhoods as an important part of community and social networks.

About the walk leaders: We are both long time residents of the Commercial Drive area.  Jenn is a photographer with a studio and home in the area and Jo Anne has worked in environmental and reconciliation communications for many years. We both eat and shop on the drive and are both keen walkers and cyclists. As we walk we like to share the community that chooses to live in and enjoy this great alternative neighborhood.

How to identify the walk leader: We will have a Jane's Walk sign

Travel Tips: If driving there is parking off Venable in the Britannia Community Center lot.

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, 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. 

Travel Tips: Commercial/Broadway Station is the starting point, bike racks are available, parking in side streets. 

Starting Place: Grays Park, at the corner of Windsor St and 33rd Ave

Ending Location: St. Catherine’s St @ Kingsway.

Duration: 60 mins

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Breaks offered along the way, Bicycles welcome, Pet-friendly, We will be walking along sidewalks and crossing streets.

About the walk: Gardeners are always looking for new spaces where to place plants and expanding the garden outside the property line is very common in many Vancouver neighbourhoods. It seems so in tune with our temperate rainforest environment where plants thrive if given the chance to do so. I consider gardening outside the fence a gift to the community as it is available to everyone to enjoy. It provides extra green spaces that are equally welcoming on grey and sunny days. This walk will give us the opportunity to observe some examples of these spaces.

About the walk leader:  Angeles is a gardener and has studied about gardening practices. She is passionate about creating green spaces and supporting nature-based solutions in the urban environment.

How to identify the walk leader: I will wear a canvas white hat with a black stripe.

Travel Tips: Bus #33 stop at 33rd ave at Grays park. Street parking around the park.

Starting Place:   West Broadway and Alma Street.  North side of Joe's Italian Deli (2505 Alma St) and walk to Antwerp Lane & Highbury St. in the south-east corner of Jericho Lands.

Ending Location: End in Jericho Park.  Not far from Breka cafe on 4th at Highbury.

Duration: 60-90 minutes.  Dependent on level of discussion

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Wheelchair user-friendly, Bicycles welcome, Pet-friendly, part of the walk is in Jericho Park with designated pathways. not difficult terrain or elevation

About the walk: "Will the proposed MST development address the needs for livable, affordable, environmentally respectful and sustainable housing in our city?  A massive development of this scale on ecologically sensitive and scarce land must happen with sensitivity to sincere community engagement, and respect for city by-laws regarding protection of adjacent parkland and public views to our unique geographic setting."

About the walk leader: Members of the Jericho Coalition, a registered society, concerned about the proposed and City approved MSTLC development on the Jericho Lands in West Point Grey.  A group of local Vancouver citizens deeply concerned about the lack of civic engagement, the urban fabric inappropriateness, the unprecedented density proposed without adequate consideration of infrastructure, both physical and social.  Also the irreversible ecological, biodiversity and social impacts on the adjacent Jericho Parkland immediately to the north of the site.  

We have an architecturally rendered Alternative Proposal that achieves considerable density with built form at a human scale, focusing on livability, affordability, family and community oriented, environmental respect and sustainable construction methods and built form, including promoting mass timber materials, thereby supporting a local mass timber industry.

How to identify the walk leader: We have Jane's Walk bandana.

Travel Tips: Transit on Broadway (get off at Alma); on-street parking. 

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.

Travel Tips: cycling or transit are the best access, parking is difficult.

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.

Travel Tips: I encourage transit use. Paid parking on Main St, but then you'd have to bus or walk back.

*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. 

Starting Place: Volunteer Park, 2855 Point Grey Road. At its most eastern edge by the volunteer Park sign

Ending Location: Broadway at Bayswater St

Duration: We'll aim for 90 min

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Busy sidewalks, Family-friendly.
We will be meeting in and going through a park that should have adequate pavement paths for rolling but may be a bit tricky in spots. We'll also be walking a number of blocks without a lot of seating over likely 90 minutes but the pace will be measured. 

About the walk: We will walk a little slice of Kitsilano, from the beach and waterside park to Broadway Ave, Kitsilano's fun, eclectic commercial centre. En route, we'll enjoy some of the aspects that make Kits so wonderful - nature connections, interesting people and homes, quaint streets, lively local businesses. 

Although I love the idea of anyone just showing up for the walk, the narrow sidewalks and ensuring everyone can hear have led me to have a limited number of spots on the walk. Please sign up here. 

About the walk leader: I was a wannabe Kitsilano dweller as a teen and moved here as soon as I could in my 20's and have never looked back! Having lived in KIts this long I have a lot of memories and loves about the neighbourhood.  I've also been very involved in encouraging cycling, walking and transit as a way to get around (and enjoy getting there) as well as promoting neighbourhood street block parties. I'm interested in people's stories and facilitate that on my Jane's Walks, including by having other people speaking and not just me :) And encouraging everyone to connect with fellow walkers.

How to identify the walk leader: I'll wear a bright blue/green scarf

Travel Tips: Great area to walk or bike to and the bus number 2 takes you right there as well

*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

Travel Tips: Rain or Shine, there will be outdoor walking.

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

Travel Tips: taking transit is the best, very little available parking spot. 

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.

Travel Tips: Starting and ending locations are walkable to Stadium Chinatown Station. Paid parking also available in area. 

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

Ending Location:  Hunnybee Bruncheonette   

Duration: 1 hour

Accessibility: busy sidewalks, will use speakers/voice amplification, family-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.

Travel Tips: Street parking on Main, Union, and surrounding streets (Gore, Jackson, Princess) is limited with 2–3 hour daytime restrictions but easier after 6pm or early morning, particularly east of Gore Ave. Transit is often simpler, with buses right on Gore Ave and a10–15 minute walk to Main Street–Science World Station. For cycling, the area is very bike-friendly: Union St is part of a major bike route, there are public bike racks throughout Strathcona and near businesses, plus Mobi bike-share stations nearby, and even a free air pump at Union & Hawks; most racks are standard U-shaped street racks or corrals for short-term locking, while secure bike lockers are available at SkyTrain stations for longer stays.

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, busy street crossings; uneven terrain in some areas, especially in Trout Lake park to see the final rain garden, though sidewalks nearby allow for easier access to other areas of the park. 

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

 Travel Tips: We will be walking downhill most of the way, except for the final stretch through Clark Park to Trout Lake. Two blocks from Commercial Drive, where there are plenty of transit options. Parking is possible on side streets but not guaranteed. 

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

Ending Location: Main @ 14th 

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

Travel Tips: Routes are located close to or along major transportation routes, street parking along same routes

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!

Travel Tips: Meter parking is available on Davie Street. The nearest bus route is the #6 Davie / Downtown, which stops one block away at Davie & Jervis. 

Starting Place: The Longhouse Church (2595 Franklin St, Vancouver)

Ending Location: The Laughing Bean Coffee Co. (2695 E Hastings St, Vancouver)

Duration: ~60 mins

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

About the walk: "All real life is meeting" Martin Buber professed (from  his classic I and Thou).

And Simone de Beauvoir exclaimed in her memoir, All Said & Done, that the most important thing in her life had been her relations with others and many dated from long ago. 

Not that we can make every single conversation can be a meeting or cherishable into one's full, complete life. It helps, though -- if in the midst of competing noises, few actual opportunities for socializing especially for singles or loners, and urbanization that increasingly blocks out real light there could be identifiable "watering holes" that there could be,and are places -- there be opportunities for regular, open, small enough to be friendly, large enough for sharing spaces for  meaningful conversations that are more than talk of weather, and present, the element of trust.

About the walk leader: Barry Morris, with others, now a retired United Church of Canada minister and active volunteer and encourager/user of several significant watering holes in the surrounding areas. 

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

Ending Location: 33rd & Ontario 

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

Accessibility: Fully accessible sidewalks unless all participants are mobile enough to go through the lower part of QE Park. 

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 by sitting around a picnic table in QE Park if everyone is able to walk through the lower part of the park, and this will give participants a chance to voice their opinions. Otherwise, we will gather at a more accessible location.

Note:  We will stop at the topiary on 27th & Cambie [see photo] just for fun.  The walk will end at the Little Mountain Holborn development on 33rd & Ontario, although the walk leader can also lead people back to King Edward Station if they would like. 

About the walk leader: Laura is an avid walker and cyclist, and she enjoys observing changes in the areas she frequents. She has also been the main organizer of the Vancouver Walking Meetup Group since 2006, and she led her first Jane's Walk in 2024.

How to identify the walk leader: Orange bandana

Travel Tips: King Edward Station is readily accessible by Skytrain or bus (25, 33, or 15).  There is a bike lock-up at the station and bike racks outside of it.  Drivers should be able to find parking on side streets nearby.

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

Travel Tips: Parking is available on side streets off of West 4th Ave. There is no car access via Maple St. north of West 4th due to parklette installation.  Transit is readily available. Route start is right off of bike path. 

Starting Place: "THIS Gallery" (back alley entrance, 108 E Broadway)

Walk leader will be wearing a "Make Money With Poetry" t-shirt

Ending Location:  Dude Chillin’ Park (where the dude rests)

Duration: 120 mins

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

About the walk: On our annual Jane’s Walk through Mount Pleasant, we’ll be looking and listening with the assistance (and insistence!) of poetry. While the bulk of the walk will take us through several art galleries, poetry will be read by some of Vancouver’s most engaging poets who will explore art on and off the page in the broadest sense possible. How much is a poem like a piece of art? What is the relationship between visual art and literary arts? How can poetry help us observe our world more closely? Join us to hear poetry and the many types of connections it fosters.

Acknowledging that Mount Pleasant is on the traditional, unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, it’s important to be mindful of this deeper sense of history and the ways it shapes our current world. Colonial violence that occurred in the past has a very real impact on the present and we encourage you to learn about this through articles such as Christopher Cheung’s “Snapshots of Vancouver’s Many Mount Pleasants” at the Tyee, which touches upon some of this history, or a more embodied experience can be found through “Land Acknowledgement (For Mount Pleasant)” at https://thescore.ubc.ca/ Some of this will be drawn upon for the beginning of our walk.

Poetry offers the potential for fusion and vision. Come join us for our 2-hour walk to see what you think and feel!

About the walk leaders: 

Kevin Spent (organizer) is keen to connect with neighbours and strangers, a chatty way of being which often fuels his writing. He's  the author of four full-length books of poetry and 19 small books of poetry (chapbooks!) An assortment of my lyric essays, interviews with neighbours, and personal accounts from others make up Stanley Park Manor: a Collective History, out with Anvil Press in 2026. This will be his fifth year leading a poetry-themed Jane's Walk.

Elee Kraljii Gardiner is the author of three poetry collections, most recently sometimes, forest from Talonbooks as well as editor of two anthologies. A frequent collaborator, she works across disciplines and administers the Warland Award for hybrid literature. She also directs Vancouver Manuscript Intensive and is the seventh poet laureate of Vancouver.

Laura Farina is the author of two books of poetry, This Woman Alphabetical and Some Talk of Being Human, as well as the picture book This is the Path the Wolf Took. Her third poetry collection, Behold!, is forthcoming from Coach House Books. Laura is the recipient of the Archibald Lampman Award, and has been long-listed for both the Relit Award and the CBC Poetry Prize. She’s very temporarily the associate director of the Writer's Studio at SFU.

Alyssa Sy de Jesus is an avid indoor-hiker who is very grateful to be walking with fellow lovers of art and words. A museum-worker by day, she is also a poet of in search of the worded-artefacts of her family’s five-generation settlement in the Philippines from China, and eventual migration to Canada. Her work has been featured in: Chinatown Stories, Living Hyphen, Ginger and Smoke, Liars of Orpheus, and the Jade Music Festival. She was co-editor of de-comp Journal’s “Translate Me Not” issue. She is a proud graduate of the SFU Writers Studio.

Lauren Peat is a writer, lyricist, and translator from French. Her debut poetry chapbook, Future Tense, was published by Baseline Press in 2024, and her lyric prose has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her writing appears in local city buses and international magazines, and her many collaborations with composers are featured in the repertoires of acclaimed vocal ensembles across Turtle Island. In 2025, she served as Poet-in-Residence of Enabling Arts, a multidisciplinary creative space in the Downtown Eastside. Beyond the page, she co-organizes the Dead Poets Reading Series and facilitates low-barrier creative writing workshops throughout the city. She lives in Vancouver on the traditional, unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Learn more at laurenpeatwrites.com.

Hope Lauterbach is a Zambian Canadian writer and poet, founder of the Unbound Reading Series and graduate of The Writer’s Studio at SFU. Hope’s work has been commissioned for the Fraser Valley Literary Festival, and appears in Contemporary Verse 2, emerge 21 and Pearls. Hope currently resides in that place between sleep and awake.

RC Weslowski is a spoken word poet and storyteller, a clown performer, a playwright, workshop facilitator, event MC and a professional voice over artist. RC has performed at poetry and spoken word festivals around North America and Europe doing featuring presentations and leading performance/writing workshops.

How to identify the walk leader: Walk leader will be wearing a "Make Money With Poetry" t-shirt

Travel Tips: There is some parking by THIS gallery but cycling via 10th would be best.

*The walk can be attended without registration, however, the workshop component of this walk, requires registration. . Registration for this is managed directly by the walk leader. Please click HERE to register if you would like to attend the workshop and Maypole dancing. 

Starting Place: Inner Courtyard.  949 West 49th at Oak The two labyrinths are outdoors. We will meet at the courtyard labyrinth in the center of the three buildings. 

Ending Location: The other Labyrinth is on the east side of the property adjacent to Fremlin Street.

Duration: 30 min (The walk takes about 30 minutes, you can arrive anytime within the 1hr window between 1-2pm). 

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Wheelchair user-friendly, Most of the site is accessible. The Garden path Labyrinths is uneven and wouldn't be appropriate for a wheelchair. 

About the walk: Annual World Labyrinth Day Walk & Workshop

Join us at the Unitarian Center 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 appreciated and required for the morning workshop. Allow about 20 to 30 minutes to walk the two outdoor labyrinths. All ages welcome. Kids under 12 need to have an adult with them.

Registration appreciated 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgWvnuZf668D2vlRfMQ0_7jPcuzF6AVzFtM9iNBT5V6P-QAw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=104479574442572619377

Registration optional for walk. Required for workshop and Maypole dancing.

About the walk leader: Mary Bennett is one of the labyrinth enthusiasts at the Unitarian Church and has been sharing her enthusiasm for over 25 years. Mary has walked labyrinths in many cities given workshops and was one of the creators of the two on-site labyrinths.

Just drop by and walk the Labyrinth or come early for a workshop to learn about the history and how to create a finger labyrinth for yourself. 

How to identify the walk leader: I'll wear a scarf with stars on it.

Travel Tips: There is some free street parking and also a parking lot. Lots of buses stop nearby, the 49 and the 17. It's a short walk from the Langara skytrain stop or take the 49 bus along.

Starting Place: South Vancouver Neighbourhood House

Ending Location: Fraser & 48th plaza.

Duration: 1.5 hours 

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, busy sidewalks, breaks offered along the way, trigger content, family-friendly

About the walk: Through this walk, we will highlight existing social infrastructure, gaps and opportunities. 

We plan to start at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, then proceed to the South Community Health Centre, Culloden Court Social Housing, Memorial South Park Pollinator Meadows, Mountainview Cemetery, and conclude at the 48th & Fraser side street plaza.

About the walk leader: Prabhi Deol is a South Vancouver resident and community organizer. She is a part of the South Vancouver Reframing team and is passionate about advocating for an equitable distribution of municipal resources.

Aman Chandi is a social planner, creative and connector. She is interested in building community power and making visible and challenging systems and structures that limit civic participation and inclusive public discourse. She currently serves as the director of program and fundraising at Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders. She is also on the board of Women Transforming Cities.

How to identify the walk leader: We will wear pink shirts.

Starting Place:  Broadway and Commercial, NE corner by the A&W.

Ending Location: Nanaimo and Hastings, SW corner. 

Duration: 90 mins - 2 hours.

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: We will be walking through the neighborhood of Commercial Drive North, from Broadway to Hastings. We will be exploring the alleys of the neighbourhood looking for gems that have been discarded or left out intentionally for people to take and repurpose or reuse. We will also stop at several of the numerous corner "libraries" that are in the area.

About the walk leader: I am a Jamaican-born Canadian I have a variety of interests and skills, and am very resourceful,  which will help when rummaging in the neighborhood of the Drive.

How to identify the walk leader: I will be wearing a Green and Yellow Jamaica baseball cap.

Travel Tips: There is limited parking in the area for drivers, so it is strongly recommended to take Transit. There is a Sageway on the SE corner however it is your responsibility to adhere to their parking regulations. The Commercial-Broadway skytrain station is at the meeting location and there are several busses that go there. 

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.

Travel Tips: Not very much bicycle parking especially at meeting point, may have to lock bicycle on street sign poles, or at Glen Park (near the last stop) where there might be more bike locks.

Starting Place:  Mt. Pleasant Community Centre - #1 Kingsway

Ending Location: McAuley Park - Kingsway & Fraser

Duration: 90 mins

Accessibility: Uneven terrain, Busy sidewalks, Loud noises, Pet-friendly. 

About the walk: Kingsway is an intriguing street with a fascinating history, diverse cultural landscape, important transportation function, and layers and layers of change. This walk will weave together a variety of themes and invite participants to think about the implications and opportunities that come with change on the street.

About the walk leaders: Andrew is the founder of the Vancouver Public Space Network and a city planner. This walk will be showcasing some of the work that the VPSN has been doing to explore placemaking and public space opportunities along Kingsway.

How to identify the walk leader: We will be wearing an orange walk leader bandana.

Travel Tips: Main St #3, Broadway #99 B-line or #9. Bike and car parking are available at Mt. Pleasant Community Centre.

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

Ending Location: Main @ 14th 

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.

Travel Tips: Routes are located close to or along major transportation routes, street parking along same routes

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. 

Travel Tips: Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Stay hydrated throughout the walk. Respect the environment and local communities.  

Starting Place: Agnes Street and 4th ave New Westminster  

Ending Location: Sapperton Skytrain Station  

Duration: about 90 min

Accessibility: the path is along paved sidewalks and is fully accessible. A few blocks will be beside busy roads (but quite separated). Dogs are welcome but will have to be on leash. Bikes are welcome! 

About the walk: Let's explore all the new active transportation infrastructure in New West, with all kinds of good connections! We will walk along the new Agnes Greenway, past the new Stal̕əw̓asəm bridge to see how its active transportation infrastructure is shaping up, and then into Victoria Heights to join up with the Central Valley Greenway along East Columbia to Sapperton Station. Optional: join me for a beer at Brown's Social House after the walk! 

About the walk leader(s): I'm a New West resident and cycling advocate, and will be talking about all the new facilities that the City has put up for active transportation

How to identify the walk leader:  I will be holding a sign saying "Jane's Walks" and will be waiting in the small gravel parking lot just off of North Road  

Travel Tips: The starting point is just up from Columbia Station, so the best option is to use transit to get to and from this walk.  

Starting Place: West Entrance of Metrotown SkyTrain Station at Beresford and Silver next to the Info Map. 

Ending Location: Neptune Noodle Bar (Second Floor of Station Square) For Drinks and Dim-Sum treats - Holds the Bar License once associated with a hotel. 

Duration: 75-90min

Accessibility: Fast-paced, covering lots of ground, mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, busy sidewalks and corridors, stairs, non-accessible curb cuts, or other barriers (accommodations can be found).

About the walk: Shopping, Secrets, Scandals and SkyTrain! Metrotown is the largest shopping centre and transit connected neighbourhood of Burnaby. The Mall is turning 40 years old this year and the Neighbourhood Plan it landed on top of is turning 50. This walk will examine the historical urban development of Metrotown as an urban centre and look at how the connection of transit and shopping changed the evolution of both. We will discuss the death of department stores, bridges to no-where, and by-gone retail. We will lament lost arcades, infinite sushi, robots, and Rainforest Cafes. 

About the walk leader(s): Brigitta and Brendan are Metrotown mall rats that grew up, got married, and bicker regularly about how things got "this" way and where they could have gone. At one point in his life Brendan got a Planning education was briefly the assistant planner for the Metrotown neighbourhood. He also was an urban designer that worked on the Metrotown Skytrain Station. Brigitta has such a deep knowledge and memory of the mall's commercial development and vibes that she accurately corrects her spouse about cities on a regular basis.     

How to identify the walk leader: We will have a little Jane's Walk Flag 

Travel Tips: Plenty of parking in the mall, conveniently located by Metrotown skytrain and bus loop.