Mayor David Miller announced in November 2006 that May 4 would officially be “Jane Jacobs Day” in Toronto.

On Sunday May 5, 2007, it will be Jane's Walk Day in Canada.

Proclamation

Jane Jacobs Day May 4, 2007

WHEREAS Jane Jacobs was born on May 4, 1916 in Scranton, Pennsylvania and moved to Toronto in 1968. Until her death in 2006, she inspired and taught the world how to understand and value our cities, almost single-handedly transforming our ideas about urban life.

Jane Jacobs was a writer, outspoken urban activist, a philosopher of everyday life and an innovator. Her book "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" brought into focus the premise that cities are engines of growth whose vitality stems from the variety of activities people engage in. In other books she analyzed how cities function with one another and how to live in a world of conflicting moral principles.

Jane Jacobs' arguments were from the ground up, with in-depth observations of everyday places, teaching us about 'eyes on the street', life on the sidewalk and that walkable, dense, compact and diverse neighbourhoods were the hallmarks of a healthy city, where people join their creative energies.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mayor David Miller, on behalf of Toronto City Council, do hereby proclaim MAY 4, 2007 as "Jane Jacobs Day". I encourage all Torontonians to celebrate and honour the foremost urban thinker and activist of our times by participating in the first annual "Jane's Walk" on Saturday, May 5, in neighbourhoods throughout the city.

[signed]

Mayor David Miller