HISTORY
The first Walk to Remember was held in September 1986 in Chicago, Illinois, at the Fifth National Perinatal Bereavement Conference. Now, in the United States, tens of thousands participate in the walk, which is held various weekends throughout September and October.
Many chose October for their Walk because it is the month of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness, a time of national observance proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. The proclamation states: "National observance of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month offers us the opportunity to increase our understanding of the great tragedy involved in the deaths of unborn and newborn babies. It also enables us to consider how, as individuals and communities, we can meet the needs of bereaved parents and family members and work to prevent causes of these problems."
And the movement has only just begun across Canada.
New Brunswick and Ontario have each declared October 15 as Baby Loss Awareness Day, and Walks have already been held in Winnipeg, Ontario, and BC.
Alberta has the highest infant mortality rate in Canada and the importance of declaring October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month is essential to helping us make the community aware of, and begin to understand, our grief. Walk to Remember is our first step in accomplishing this goal.