Our story: Exploring the world from home.

Just over a decade ago, John Butterill had an idea. A friend wanted to explore nature, but a health challenge restricted their ability to go outside.

So John, a photographer by trade, connected virtually to bring his ill friend on a real-time interactive walk despite being hundreds of miles apart. Using the front-facing camera on the smartphone, his friend was able to connect by video to experience the walk and interact with John along the way.

John's walk that day turned into dozens, then hundreds, and eventually, thousands of virtual walks over the years using the secure conferencing platform Zoom. This opened the world again to isolated people who couldn't travel.

Fast forward to 2023, LiveWalks became a Canadian non-profit offering real-time, interactive experiences for people with limited mobility, health issues or disability. Volunteer guides provide experiences ranging from hikes along the coast of British Columbia to experiencing the Cherry Blossoms at Ueno Park in Japan and viewing the Chaiwan Forest Temple in Udon Thani, Thailand.

Attendees experience these adventures in real-time, using a secure moderated Zoom room where they can ask questions, interact with others, and even request the host to turn the camera for a better view.

LiveWalks is powered by people motivated, just like John was that day, to help a loved one, friend, or neighbor who may not otherwise be able to explore. We work with organizations like hospitals, hospices, and associations that support those with health needs.