An elderly woman wearing glasses, a gray hat, a blue jacket, and a green patterned shirt, sitting at a table with a dessert topped with whipped cream in front of her, inside a cafe.

In April 2026, I walked to all 100 Toronto Public Library branches over several days to honour my mother and raise funds for TPL. Read on to discover why…..

Toronto Public Library does an incredible amount with limited funding, and some of its most meaningful work happens quietly. One area that really matters to me is how TPL supports older adults. For many seniors, the library is one of the last truly free, welcoming places they can access — a place to show up, learn something new, and feel part of the city rather than pushed to the edges.

And when seniors can’t get to a branch — because of mobility issues or illness — the library goes to them. Through donor-supported programs, TPL delivers books and materials to people at home or in care settings, helping preserve routines and small daily joys. These programs aren’t flashy, but they matter deeply. I saw that with my mom. When getting out became harder, the library still found ways to reach her — and that connection mattered.

That’s why this walk isn’t just about distance or blisters. It’s about sustaining a resource that makes Toronto kinder, fairer, and more connected — one library card at a time.

What the heck is this all about?

A smiling woman with curly hair tied back, wearing a black long-sleeve shirt and a floral backpack, standing outdoors with green shrubbery and trees, mountains and a glacier in the background.

Seen on: CP24 (!!!) and featured in Toronto Life magazine.
An elderly woman with gray hair, wearing a gray hat, glasses, a blue jacket, and a green tropical print shirt, sitting at a table in a cafe with ice cream in front of her.

About the walk

My mother held a Toronto Public Library card for 50 years before she died this past April. A few days before she passed—literally in the same conversation we had about her funeral—she reminded me to return her library books so that “other people can enjoy them too."

Growing up, my mom brought me to story hour most weeks and let me check out far too many books. Those visits taught me that libraries are more than buildings—they're proof that access, curiosity, and community matter more than what’s in your wallet.

Now, one year after losing her, I walked to all 100 Toronto Public Library branches to say the thank you that's long overdue (please don’t tell my knees).

This walk is my thank you to her, to the Toronto Public Libraries and to everyone who believes public spaces still matter.

I called it Every Library T.O.

It’s original name was Every Blister T.O. but then The Runner’s Shop & Lululemon stepped in and sponsored me with swanky, new and very functional walking gear!