The WalkABle Alberta Experience (breakout presentation)

Background WalkABle Alberta started in 2011 in advance of the Walk21 annual conference in Vancouver. It was designed as an interactive community workshop engaging community stakeholders on short, medium, and long-term actions and recommendations to improve walkability that is created by the community, for the community. This work is based on Walk21’s the International Charter for Walking. Results are recorded in a community report which is provided to the communities. The process has been adapted to the Alberta context by Alberta Health Services and continues to evolve based on the needs of those who are making community walkability improvements (ahs.ca/walk). Description This session will cover: Why walking is important to the healthcare sector and to communities; WalkABle Alberta process adaptation to community needs; Evidence collected and used to guide the evolution of the process; Some examples of actions that have occurred in communities; and other work being done that is related to WalkABle Alberta. Outcomes The evaluation results demonstrate examples of community actions can provide some ideas of what is already happening in communities in Alberta and provided inspiration for future action. The preparation time and discussion with community champions is essential in determining community readiness and willingness to focus on walkability issues. Interest and buy-in to the process is a direct reflection of time spent with individuals to prepare for a community visit. Diversity of the stakeholder group and identifying who should be engaged and how to engage as a community stakeholder can be a challenge. Success in this depends on the community and the individual inviting attendees. Flexibility of the process to adapt to what the community identifies as important walkability issues was important in buy-in to the process and sustainability of actions identified. Implications A variety of community actions have been carried out by communities: Formed committees that focus on walkability; Organized community events; Engaged community stakeholders in initiatives that meet common interests; Increased the prioritization of walkability with their municipality; Change the built environment; Piloted walking initiatives; Health became a partner in municipal initiatives.