Our crossing guards work hard to keep our children safe, no matter what the weather.

A crossing guard holds up a stop sign for pedestrians to cross the street

They are an important part of every community and are passionate about safety and connecting with those around them by helping school children and other pedestrians safely cross the street.

There are 24 full-time stations for students to cross in our community, and a crossing guard is there every day to make sure your students arrive to school and home safely.

Reminders to Drivers:
  • As of January 1, 2016, all vehicles and cyclists are required by the Ontario Highway Traffic Act to stop and wait until children and Crossing Guards have cleared the entire roadway at school crossings before proceeding.
  • Support your local School Crossing Guards:
    • Stop when a School Crossing Guard raises his or her stop sign.
    • Take notice of whether a Guard is on duty and slow down when approaching school crossing locations.
    • Obey the law. Remain stopped until all children AND the Guard have completely exited the roadway.
    • Proceed with caution – obey posted speed limits, and observe all NO Stopping and NO Parking signs – park in designated areas only.

School Drawing Contest - Crossing Guard Appreciation

A poster advertising a drawing contest

Do you have a school-aged child who loves to draw and make art?

The Ontario Traffic Council is hosting a province-wide Crossing Guard Appreciation Drawing contest as part of its commitment to recognizing and appreciating the invaluable contributions of School Crossing Guards.

Children aged 4 to 14 years-old are invited to participate in this contest. 

The winning drawings will be featured on thank-you cards distributed during School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week (June 3 to 7, 2024).

Please note: Submission deadline is March 29, 2024. The Ontario Traffic Council will not accept late submissions. 

Full contest details are listed below. 

 

How to Participate
  • Each child may submit one drawing.
  • Submissions should be emailed to [email protected] along with the child's first name, age,
    school, municipality, and contact information.

Artwork Guidelines

1. Size and Format:

  • Drawings should be on an 8.5 x 11 inches paper.
  • Accepted formats: JPEG, PNG, or PDF.

2. Medium:

  • Children are encouraged to use any drawing medium of their choice.

3. Theme Representation:

  • Illustrate the theme "Celebrating Our School Crossing Guards" in a positive and appreciative manner.

4. Originality:

  • Entries must be the original work of the participant.

5. Inclusivity:

  • Encourage diversity and inclusion in the drawings, reflecting the different aspects of the community.
Submission Deadline

All entries must be submitted by March 29th, 2024. Late submissions will not be considered.

Winners will be announced on April 15th on the School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week
webpage. Individual notifications will also be sent to the winner’s school.

Contest Winners

The winning drawings will be featured on the official thank-you cards for School Crossing Guard
Appreciation Week and provided for distribution throughout Ontario.

Important Note to Parents/Guardians from Ontario Traffic Council

By submitting an entry, parents/guardians consent to their child's artwork to be used on thank-you
cards and for promotional purposes related to the School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week along with their first name and City or Town.

Schools are encouraged to participate and help spread the word among students.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to contact the Ontario Traffic Council at [email protected]

 

Become a crossing guard

Crossing guards make a big impact and a positive difference in our community, providing safe crossing during the start and end of the school day, when vehicle and pedestrian traffic is at its peak each day.

There are many great reasons to become a crossing guard. Working outdoors year-round provides a great way to stay active and be an involved part of our great community. 

This position provides a lot of flexibility. Outside of morning and afternoon hours for students coming and going, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy. Both shifts are short, and crossing guards also have summers, PA Days, March Break, and holidays off.

If you would like to become a crossing guard, please send us an email or give us a call at 519-941-0440 ext. 5240.

Shifts and times will vary depending on the assigned school and station.