10,000 Steps for Life: When Walking Saves Lives

When you search “10,000 steps” on Google, you’ll find countless articles: Why You Should Take 10,000 Steps a Day, Time to Get Moving, and Do You Really Need 10,000 Steps? Recommended by the World Health Organization, the 10,000 steps concept encourages people to walk daily in order to be considered physically active.

While many countries, cities, and organizations around the world have adopted this standard, here in Vaudreuil-Soulanges, it’s been embraced and adapted by the Comité d’action locale (CAL V-S) with the help of Olympian Ahmed Douhou. The project encourages people to get moving—not just through walking, but also biking, swimming, or even yoga.

Move or Slowly Fade Away

"Move or die slowly," says Ahmed Douhou with conviction. Most people average between 5,000 and 7,500 steps daily in their normal routines. That means only around 3,000 more steps are needed to hit the magic number—roughly 30 minutes of walking (or 60 minutes of yoga, 20 minutes of swimming, or 30 minutes of housework).

Spending eight hours a day seated at a desk is a slow form of self-destruction, Douhou warns:

“With 10,000 Steps for Life, our goal is to introduce programs in companies, schools, and cities to fight sedentary lifestyles. Walking is simple, affordable, and doesn't require a coach. It’s the most basic therapeutic tool we have.”

He underscores his point with a striking statistic: sedentary lifestyles cause 5.3 million deaths globally each year—300,000 more than smoking. A sobering reminder... and a call to action.

A Partnership with the Centre

This initiative inspired Alain Belleville, General Director of CAL V-S, to change his own lifestyle. Since May, he’s walked over 2 million steps, incorporating daily walks into his busy schedule.
More convinced than ever about the urgent need to move, he and Ahmed Douhou are taking action—talking to officials, building connections with long-term projects like Horizon 2035, and encouraging collective participation:

“CAL V-S used to lead activities,” says Belleville. “Now the Centre takes that role. With projects like Horizon 2035, it’s clear—together we’re stronger.”

One idea is to map all walking groups in the region and invite solo walkers to register with their cities to receive a 10,000 Steps for Life card, which would allow them to walk indoors at Centre Multisports during the winter. Urban planners are also being engaged to rethink cities and make walking and biking more accessible—no small task in car-dominated infrastructure. But Belleville sees change, as demonstrated by the new Harwood Boulevard project in Vaudreuil-Dorion.

Creating Supportive Environments

Among the new initiatives, Douhou mentions installing signage showing time (instead of distance) between key walking points in participating cities.
Several pilot projects with schools and businesses are also underway.

But at the heart of this movement is a cultural shift:

“It shouldn’t be something we ‘add on,’” says Belleville. “It should be integrated into everyday life. You move without even realizing it.”

Next time you take a phone call, try walking while talking. Use a pedometer, smartwatch, or an app like Pacer—you’ll be surprised how quickly those steps add up. And the benefits, both personal and societal, are undeniable.

Who’s Who

CAL V-S

10,000 Steps for Life is part of the local Active Living initiative, which has been active since 2008. It emerged from a broad coalition of educational, municipal, and community partners in Vaudreuil-Soulanges, focused on improving health outcomes for youth aged 0 to 24.

Ahmed Douhou

A motivational speaker, athletic consultant, entrepreneur, and Olympian, Ahmed Douhou left Côte d’Ivoire at 17 to compete in three Olympic Games for France. Now a Canadian citizen and founder of ADS, he works to promote physical activity and personal development. He leads the 10,000 Steps for Life initiative.

Alain Belleville

Former professional volleyball coach and now Director General of CAL V-S, Belleville is deeply committed to the region. After the loss of his mother, he vowed to take charge of his health. He’s since lost 78 pounds, walking 8 to 9 kilometers daily—even with a packed schedule. “I’m proof that it works,” he says. “Even my dog lost 13 pounds!”