Walk This Way leads the Sean Egan Wellness Walk

Free public walk through Almonte honours long-time wellness advocate

More than 100 children and youth from BGC Ottawa’s Walk This Way program will lead the Sean Egan Wellness Walk through the historic streets and trails of Almonte on Saturday, April 26. The walk, which will get underway at 9:30 a.m., will honour the late Dr. Sean Egan, an Almonte native, wellness scholar and passionate advocate for youth health. The family and friends of Dr. Egan will be on hand to cheer on all participants.

The event features a 2-kilometre and 5-kilometre route, both departing from the Mississippi Mills Public Library (155 High Street, Almonte, Ont.). Designed to be accessible to walkers of all ages and abilities, the walk celebrates community wellness, physical activity and youth empowerment.

“It is an incredible honour to see my father’s legacy continue through this amazing program,” says Dr. Egan’s son, Seamas, who is thrilled with Walk This Way's success over the past two decades. “He was deeply passionate about pediatric health, and this focus on getting kids outside and active is making a real difference. He would be immensely proud to know his vision lives on.”

Community members are encouraged to join BGC Ottawa and the Egan family on April 26 for the Sean Egan Wellness Walk by registering in advance here, and to make a donation to BGC Ottawa in Dr. Egan’s memory to ensure children and youth have access to Walk This Way for years to come.

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About Dr. Sean Egan

Dr. Sean Egan was a professor of Human Kinetics, an endurance athlete, and a lifelong advocate for human potential and wellness. A champion for public health, he was a passionate advocate for children’s health and wellness. Believing that early physical activity and play are vital in setting the foundation for lifelong well-being, he worked tirelessly to promote this message to educators, families and communities. In 2005, at the age of 63, Dr. Egan set out to become the oldest Canadian and Irish-born climber to summit Mount Everest. Tragically, he passed away from a suspected heart attack at base camp while preparing for his final ascent. His life’s work inspired the launch of Walk This Way.

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About Walk This Way

Walk This Way is a goal-oriented wellness program hosted by BGC Ottawa that targets inner-city children and youth. The program, which runs each spring, consists of a series of weekly training walks. Participants have the opportunity to explore neighbourhoods, communities and landmarks they might never otherwise see while training for Ottawa Race Weekend. Since its launch in 2005, more than 5,000 children and youth have participated.

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About BGC Ottawa

For more than 100 years, BGC Ottawa has provided children and youth with a safe place between the realities of home life and the pressures of school – a place of positivity and belonging where they can play, create and learn what it takes to become their best selves.

As one of Ottawa’s largest child and youth-serving charitable organizations, BGC Ottawa provides free life-changing programs and services to thousands of young people each year. The Club serves 31 neighbourhoods through its Neighbourhood Ambassador Program, operates four Clubhouses located throughout the city, a satellite location in Kanata and Camp Smitty, our overnight camp in Eganville.

We provide safe, supportive places where all kids and teens, of all backgrounds, can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, and develop confidence and skills for life. From anti-racism to Reconciliation to 2SLGBTQ+, food security to scholarships to job readiness, our Clubs battle systemic issues with systemic solutions – equity, acceptance, support and opportunity.   

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