Christine Whelan FEO, September 1, 2022, 2022, VOL. 4 ISSUE 1

The Town of Fort Erie is sending out a message of reminder and appreciation to everyone doing their part to keep our children safe.

Once the school year begins Tuesday, September 6th, the kids will be out, just after the sun rises, walking the sidewalks, crossing the streets, and morning drivers will not be used to this.

And then, of course, that bell will ring in the afternoon, sending them returning down those same streets and crossways, to their homes.

Jennifer Pennell-Ajie, who is the EA to Director and Division Coordinator for the Town of Fort Erie, runs the crossing guard program for the Town while Riley Todd is the coordinator on the ground.

“Riley helps all of the guards with their times off and if they call in sick in the morning.” Jennifer expanded with examples of his responsibilities.

She then began with the reminder. “This time of year, we send a message out to all the principals of the schools about the rules of the road and Bill 31 (2016). They can put it into their newsletters or however they communicate with their parents. We also use social media during this first week. The police usually do a campaign as well.”

A poster of Bill 31 was created as a reminder to all drivers and cyclists of the current road rules that are in effect.  The poster explains:

All motorists must stop and yield the whole roadway at —

• pedestrian crossovers
• school crossings where there is a guard displaying a school crossing street sign.

Motorists can no longer turn left, right or proceed through the crosswalk on the clear half of the roadway. They now must wait until the entire crosswalk is empty of both pedestrians and the school crossing guard.

STOP, when the guard signals you to stop, all cyclists and drivers must comply.

TAKE notice of and follow all speed limits, especially in school zones.

ONLY proceed when everyone, guard included, has returned to the sidewalk.

PARKING or stopping in prohibited areas in school zones is dangerous.

I was introduced to our world of crossing guards. Jennifer began with the broader scale. “We have a crossing guard group of all the municipalities here in Niagara. We also work with all the municipalities in Ontario that have crossing guards. So, we have quite a large group that we can pull from and get ideas from. In Niagara, we always talk amongst each other about what’s happening.”

They have a backup partnership. “The Niagara Regional Police (NRP) get involved so they usually send out a couple of officers to a couple of our higher incident locations to be present that first week of school, reminding and bringing attention to the fact that there are now more kids out and walking on the road,” Jennifer remarked that the NRP has been very supportive in the last couple years, coming out, not just during the first week of school.

“They also come out during Crossing Guard Appreciation Day in March. We’ve invited them to our meetings to talk about what they do and how they can help with managing traffic.”

Fort Erie’s Crossing Guards

“My team has been amazing, I have to say,” Jennifer spoke with such pride. “They’re over the top amazing. During COVID, we didn’t lose anybody. They were all really good at following protocols, sticking with us during all the ups and downs and school closures.”

The crossing guards are invited to the Town’s Safety and Service Banquet. “We honour employees who’ve been with us for a certain length of time. We honour the safety aspect of all departments and crossing guards are a big part of that. We have a great safety record here in town and the crossing guards are a huge part of that because they do their jobs so well.”

Jennifer said the guards care a lot about the kids. “Some of them go more than above and beyond their duties that they are given. They care about their crosswalk. They make sure it’s clean, tidy and in the winter, clear of snow. They take great pride in their corner like they have a personal stake in it. We have people here for 25 years.

When I shared with Jennifer that I’ve often been escorted across a street by a crossing guard in downtown Ridgeway, she explained, “Yes, that’s their mandate, to cross all pedestrians when they’re there. If an adult doesn’t want to cross with them then that’s their choice.”

They get to know the dogs. “Some of them carry dog treats so the dogs are so excited to see them every day. Most of our guards are seniors and it gets them out and about gives them something to do every day, gives a little bit of income.”

And then there are the Fort Erie winters. “In the blizzard of blizzards, the crossing guards have been out. When school buses are shut down but the schools remain open, they’re out. It’s amazing the dedication that they have. I never get a call from anybody on a snow day, calling in to say they don’t or can’t go. They know that it’s so important to us that the kids are safe. They feel so connected to the safety of the kids that they show up.”

Safety, connection, and relationships are three aspects of life that have become more valued in the last couple of years. “Some of them have been doing this for so long that kids that they have crossed in elementary school have grown, have their own families and some have their own children now crossing at their crosswalk.

“Full circle.”

Here is the webpage for reference for parents to go to see the times for guards and locations. https://forterie.ca/pages/SchoolCrossingGuardProgram

If you are interested in becoming a crossing guard, please contact Jennifer Pennell-Ajie, Crossing Guard Supervisor at 905-871-1600