Montreal Residents Call for Crossing Guards at Schools Following Concerning Accidents

Families in the Montreal area have called for enhanced safety measures outside schools, requesting the appointment of crossing guards to protect students after several children were slightly injured in pedestrian accidents at busy intersections.

In a message to parents, David Lee, principal of Royal West Academy, explained that around 400 students cross the intersection of Westminster Avenue South and Ainslie Road daily, which experiences heavy traffic near a railway crossing less than 200 meters away.

The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) urged parents to sign a petition at the Quebec National Assembly requesting permission to appoint crossing guards at high schools that meet safety standards, ensuring the safety of student pedestrians.

Parents pointed out that considering 12-year-old children as capable of crossing streets independently is not sufficient at busy intersections with multiple traffic lanes and no traffic lights, noting that the presence of a crossing guard could reduce risks and prevent more serious accidents in the future.

This initiative follows similar incidents in the area, most notably the injury of a 14-year-old student in November 2024 at the same intersection, which heightened concerns about student safety on their way to school.

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