MEDIA RELEASE

Friday, August 21, 2009

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SAVE THE DATE! WINNIPEGGERS TAKE BACK THE STREETS WALKING, BIKING AND JOGGING AS BROADWAY CLOSES TO TRAFFIC

WINNIPEG, MB—Mark your calendars for Ciclovia! On Sunday, September 13, the north side of Broadway from Main Street to Osborne Street closes to traffic from 8 am-6 pm as people walk, bike or jog their way from Assiniboine Park to The Forks. With free programming running all day, Ciclovia promotes active transportation, healthy living, community development, and the environmental benefits of using non-motorized forms of transportation. This event is being held by the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ along with Manitoba Homecoming 2010 and the City of Winnipeg.

Ciclovia, meaning "bike way", first began in Bogotá, Colombia, where every Sunday major roads are closed to traffic. Millions of people then fill the streets running, biking and walking while enjoying free outdoor fitness classes. Ciclovia events have been held all over the world, but Winnipeg will be the first city in Canada to stage this exciting event.

Street closures begin at 8 am on September 13 and free programming begins at 9 am. Free yoga and aerobics classes will be offered along with horse-drawn wagon rides, live bands and dozens of buskers. The event also includes a farmers' market, kids' zone, food vendors, coffee lounge and hay maze.

The route takes advantage of the city's regular Sunday street closures so Winnipeggers can make their way from Assiniboine Park all the way to The Forks free from traffic. The festivities end with a concert by the band Oh My Darling at The Forks Oodena Circle at 4 pm. Broadway will stay closed to traffic until 6 pm.

"We're thrilled to be the first Canadian city to stage this important event," says Stefano Grande, Downtown Winnipeg BIZ executive director. "It will go a long way to fostering community development and promoting alternate forms of active transportation."

For more information, please contact:
Nisha Tuli, Manager, Communications & Marketing
Ph: (204) 958-4626, nisha@downtownwinnipegbiz.com

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