As we bid farewell to 2023, we are filled with happiness and gratitude. It's been a year of new beginnings, meaningful connections, and impactful initiatives. Through this blog, we're excited to share the major highlights that have defined our journey at Pedesting this year.
The year started on a high note with the launch of our Beta campaign. We're incredibly thankful to everyone who participated, testing the Pedesting app and sharing valuable feedback. Your insights have been instrumental in refining our services.
This year saw the addition of dynamic personalities to our team. We welcomed Josephine Mary as our Communications and Partnerships Lead and collaborated with TalentED YYC to bring on board two part-time interns in Videography and Digital Marketing.
A particularly exciting development was Pedesting's co-founder, Nabeel Ramji, becoming a Minecraft character, symbolizing our innovative spirit and commitment to accessibility in all realms. Learn more about this creative endeavor.
During National AccessAbility Week, we collaborated with champions of accessibility, students, and organizations dedicated to inclusion. Our partners, including Zachary Weeks, IncluCity Calgary, School of Architecture and Planning -University of Calgary, CNIB, Cerebral Palsy Alberta, and Deaf and Hear Alberta, played a crucial role in amplifying our message of awareness and inclusion for individuals with disabilities and mobility challenges.
Participating in events like Inventures 2023, Social West, Collision 2023, and Calgary Economic Outlook 2024, we networked with many incredible individuals. Along with many other speaking engagements we also spoke at the Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) 2023 hosted by the One Talks Conference and the ConfluenceYYC hosted by Calgary Chamber of Commerce. These events provided us with invaluable opportunities to share ideas and forge new collaborations.
2023 marked Pedesting's 3rd anniversary, a significant milestone for us. We celebrated by officially launching our app on Apple and Google Play. A highlight was our press conference with Mayor Jyoti Gondek, where we announced three new locations on the app, including Canada's largest conference center and a pioneering post-secondary institution on the Pedesting app.
Our Current Locations on the App:
Calgary Central Library
Arts Commons
Calgary Telus Convention Center
Stephen Avenue
Life Plaza
We're also excited to announce that Bow Valley College will soon be live on the app, further expanding our reach and impact.
Our #HowDoYouPedest awareness campaign garnered significant attention, amplifying our message of inclusivity. The app launch and press release were covered by major news channels like Global News and CTV, spreading our vision further.
A landmark collaboration was with the Marketing department students from Bisset School of Business as part of the AccelerateU program at Mount Royal University. Their research-based marketing project brought invaluable insights to Pedesting, paving the way for innovative approaches in our operations.
On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we focused on raising awareness and promoting inclusive language. Our collaboration with What's Good Calgary for an exclusive story on Pedesting emphasized our commitment to accessibility for all.
Throughout the year, we've been diligently updating our blog with simple, actionable ways to make our city accessible to everyone. We encourage you to explore these insightful posts. Here are some of our favorite topics covered this year:
Navigating Different Places with a Disability
Accessible Travel: A Must Know Guide for a Vacation
Beyond Stereotypes: A Guide to Inclusive Language
Varied Spectrums of Accessibility: What Accessibility Means to Different Persons with Different Disabilities
We also represented Pedesting on various platforms across Calgary, discussing accessibility and participating in panels like Confluence YYC and IDEA by Calgary Chamber of Commerce, and giving lectures on accessibility at the University of Calgary.
As we draw the curtains on this incredible year, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has journeyed with us. To our collaborators, organizations, individuals, supporters, friends, and mentors - your belief in our mission and your unwavering support have been the cornerstone of our success. Each one of you has played a pivotal role in making our dream of an accessible world a reality.
We also invite you to join us in this mission. Download the Pedesting app today and become a part of the change. Together, we can create a world that is more inclusive, navigable, and welcoming for everyone.
As we step into 2024, we're filled with excitement about the new possibilities and opportunities that await us. Stay tuned for some exhilarating developments that promise to take our mission to even greater heights!
Thank you once again for your trust, support, and partnership. Here’s to continuing this incredible journey together in 2024 and beyond!
For more details on our events and initiatives, visit our LinkedIn page.
Thank you for being part of our journey in 2023. Here's to an even more impactful 2024!