Jane’s Walk Takeaways

On May 2, 2026, we hosted a Jane’s Walk - a community based walking and rolling tour where we talked to our neighbours about our community and how we can make it better.

We went from 106 St to 93 St, to reflect on redevelopment opportunities in the public realm. Trees, benches, patios, and more! We discussed how to build a Whyte Ave that prioritizes people and transit! This ride included a short ETS bus ride from 101 St to 96 St. At the east end of the Ave, we discussed Whyte Ave in the context of the French Quarter.

Some key takeaways

• Width creates both challenges and opportunities: it can feel exposed or unsafe for pedestrians, but it also represents flexible space for redesign - patios, wider sidewalks, greenery, or programming.

• Pocket Parks are a  “small intervention with big impact.” They are a modest extension of public space that changes how people gather and linger. The Old Strathcona Business Association has noted that there is interest in creating more of these spaces, especially near bar entrances, to help with night-life and safety.

• Patios succeed because of density and clustering - multiple destinations close together create energy that one-off patios cannot - and there is the space for this!

• Scramble crossings prioritize pedestrians by allowing movement in all directions, including diagonally. They are an example of a people-first design intervention, but note that it’s just one piece of a much larger corridor transformation.

• Transit is the backbone of the corridor, with many people relying on buses along Whyte Ave every day because it is one of the most used transit corridors in the City.

• Improving Whyte Ave isn’t just about aesthetics or business - it’s about equity, access, and community wellbeing.