Requesting a crossing guard & crossing guard criteria

Requesting a crossing guard is as easy as calling or emailing 311. The steps below detail the whole process, including what crosswalks qualify for crossing guards and how they are assessed.

Step 1: Check to see if your neighbourhood has a crossing guard

Before making your request, considering checking if your neighbourhood already has a crossing guard. Use the map link below to see if there are already crosswalks with crossing guards in your area.

Step 2: Call or email 311 to make your request

After you’ve confirmed there are no crossing guards, call 311 to make a request for a crossing guard through the Crossing Guard Program.

Step 3: Municipality assesses request (crossing guard program criteria)

For locations where a marked crosswalk already exists, the municipality will conduct a site assessment that includes two site visits to verify the following criteria:

Crossing Guard Program criteria

• Utilized in relation to elementary schools and their students;
• A minimum of 10 students AND 200 vehicles during peak hour (this would be independent of other factors);
• Traffic gap analysis (assessing the number of times cars pass a crosswalk);
• Collision history of greater than 1 collision per year over the last three years where the actions of a crossing guard may have prevented the same;
• Geographical conditions; for example, the number of traffic lanes; and,
• Posted Speed Limits, understanding that no crossing guard will be placed at any location with a speed limit of higher than 60 Km/hr.

For locations where a marked crosswalk does not exist, the request will first be assessed for a crosswalk by the municipality’s Traffic Management team, or the Provincial Traffic Authority depending on if it is a municipal or provincial road. If this assessment leads to approval of a marked crosswalk, the crossing guard assessment will being only after the marked crosswalk is installed.

Once the crossing guard assessment is complete, the completed assessment report is submitted to the Program Manager for approval.

Step 4: After assessment

If a crossing guard is approved for the requested location, the Crossing Guard Program program manager will determine the timeline to place a crossing guard at the crossing. This may be subject to budget or training requirements. 

Submitting a complaint about a crossing guard

Residents can submit reports of absences or incidents of perceived misconduct related to a crossing guard by calling 311. This will start a formal investigation. All concerns will be investigated and responded to accordingly.
When reporting a misconduct incident, please include the following details:

• location/intersection;
• date and time of incident; and,
• reason for call