Lace 'em Up

Edmonton, Calgary Hold Walks for Aga Khan Foundation
To Help Improve the Lot of World’s Poorest Countries

Engineers and geoscientists, start your sneakers. It’s time again for the World Partnership Walk in Calgary and Edmonton, and organizer Karim Abbany, E.I.T., encourages fellow APEGGA members to back up their ideals with their feet, May 30.

“Last year, the walk raised record funds of more than $3.25 million across Canada,” said the Calgary member. “Thank you to all the participants, volunteers, donors, corporate sponsors and awareness partners. Their efforts will go a long way in making a difference in the fight against global poverty.”

Put on by the non-profit Aga Khan Foundation, this year’s walk will raise money that’s likely destined for rebuilding Afghanistan, said Mr. Abbany. The foundation always puts its money to the best advantage, leveraging it by working with other organizations. The Canadian International Development Agency matches walk pledges, and none of the money raised goes towards administration of the foundation.

Mr. Abbany emphasizes that the foundation supports long-term, maximum-effect solutions in the poorest parts of Asia and Africa. The money is used for infrastructure, health, education, training and the like, and the foundation carefully monitors progress.

Mr. Abbany invites corporations, individuals and teams to take part in the 20th annual World Partnership Walk on Sunday, May 30, in Prince’s Island Park in Calgary and in the Edmonton Legislature Grounds. Even if you don’t walk this year, Mr. Abbany encourages you to show up and find out more about the foundation and its efforts. The event starts in each city at 11 a.m.

In Calgary, the walk is five kilometres long, and Edmonton participants can choose between three- and seven-km walks. Walks take place the same day in Victoria, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Kitchener, London, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

A great way to become involved is to set up corporate teams through the Awareness Partner Program. In the battle of Alberta last year, 45 of the teams in Calgary raised over $35,000. Edmonton’s 40 awareness teams raised over $30,000.

Many corporate heavy-hitters are already on board. TransAlta’s Jim Dinning, the Alberta Government’s former treasurer, is the honorary chair of the event. Matrikon, TransCanada PipeLines, Precision Drilling, Scotia Bank, Gowling, and Encana are also entering teams.

On request, the Calgary committee will put on lunch-and-learn sessions, which provide basic information on the walk and why you or your company should participate. A session takes about 20 minutes, with time for questions and answers.

Aga Khan Foundation is a non-profit international development agency established in Canada in 1980. As part of the worldwide Aga Khan Development Network, the foundation supports development projects that benefit the poor in Africa and Asia, without regard to race, religion or political affiliation.

The network is a non-denominational group of agencies established in 1967 by His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Imam, or spiritual leader, of the Ismaili Muslims. The first World Partnership Walk was held in Vancouver in 1985, after the Ismaili Women’s Organization there approached the Aga Khan Foundation Canada to find a way to help the poorest of the poor in Asia and Africa.

The first walk, held in Stanley Park, raised $30,000. Now, the total amount raised tops $23 million after 19 annual walks. About 60,000 Canadians are involved in some way, each year.

 

WORLD PARTNERSHIP WALK
11 a.m.
Sunday
May 30, 2004

Calgary
5 km
Prince’s Island Park

Edmonton
3 and 7 km
Legislature Grounds

Other Participating Cities
Victoria, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Kitchener,
London, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal

MORE INFORMATION

For more information or to take part in the World Partnership Walk,
Visit www.worldpartnershipwalk.com
Or contact
Karim Abbany, E.I.T.
e-mail wpwcalgary@shaw.ca
tel. (403) 730-3168



Home | Past PEGGs | PEGG Search | Contact Us