The School Crossing Guard Program provides an important service for families in the municipality. School crossing guards help students arrive at their classroom safely and confidently and remind drivers and other road users of the presence of pedestrians at key locations.
At crosswalks that meet the municipality’s criteria, crossing guards help guide students across busy roads and intersections by making sure drivers and people cycling are aware of pedestrians crossing. They are trained to be attentive, patient and observant. School crossing guards wear bright, reflective vest and use a stop sign.
Crosswalk safety
Crossing guards help advance the municipality’s vision zero road safety strategy by helping keep all crosswalk and road users attentive to their surroundings, particularly at busy crossings close to schools. Crossing guards know the rules, are trained to and have high visibility safety vests and handheld stop signs to help ensure visibility.
Whether a crossing guard is there or not, we all play a role in keeping our streets safe. Here are a few tips to help you out:
- What can parents and guardians do?
Parents and guardians can help by teaching children at an early age, including practicing some or all of the following points with their children often:
- Use designated crosswalks whenever possible;
- Wait for the crossing signal or activate the crossing lights before proceeding;
- Stop and look both ways before you cross;
- Make eye contact with drivers (and make sure they are stopped) before stepping into the road;
- Keep your head up and put away distractions like mobile devices and even headphones; and,
- Wear bright or reflective clothing to help increase your visibility, especially at night.
- What can drivers and cyclists do?
Drivers and cyclists play a critical role in maintaining safety in school zones. Here are some points to remember:
- By law, all vehicles must come to a complete stop at school crosswalks when a crossing guard is present or when pedestrians are crossing;
- Drivers must yield the entire width of the roadway and wait until all pedestrians and the crossing guard have safely reached the sidewalk before proceeding; and
- Observe posted speed limit and school zone signs.
- What can pedestrians do?
- Cross at designated crossings whenever possible;
- Stop and look both ways and wait for the crossing signal or activate the crossing lights before proceeding;
- Make eye contact with drivers (and make sure they are stopped) before stepping into the road;
- Keep your head up and put away distractions like mobile devices and even headphones; and,
- Wear bright or reflective clothing to help increase your visibility, especially at night.
Crosswalk safety is everyone's responsibility
To learn more about the municipality’s road safety efforts, including vision zero and the safe systems approach, visit the road safety page.
Compliment a crossing guard
Our crossing guards aim to provide students with a positive experience in addition to assisting them with safely arriving to and from the classroom. If you would like to send a compliment or thank you to a crossing guard, it would be greatly appreciated.
Submit a compliment through 311
Please call or email your compliment to 311. Compliments must be related to a school crossing guard working for the municipality and will be shared directly with them.
Thank you for recognizing the important role school crossing guards play in keeping children safe.
- Submit other feedback 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
- reason for call