Letter from Mayor Haynes, District of Saanich, Re: Crossing Guard Services
Correspondence regarding the termination of crossing guard services at School District No. 61 and a request for the district to operate a new program.
Sent via email: trustees@sd61.bc.ca
July 6, 2022
Board of Education Greater Victoria School District No. 61 556 Boleskine Road Victoria, BC V8Z 1E8
Dear Board of Education of School District No. 61,
It has been brought to Saanich Council’s attention that crossing guard services provided by the Greater Victoria Crossing Guard Association (GVCGA) for School District 61 was terminated at the end of this past school year. Crossing guards are an important part of our community and help children and families choose active travel to and from school each day. This letter is to request that School District 61 operate a school crossing guard program funded by participating municipalities.
It is our understanding that School District 63 consistently operates a crossing guard program using Saanich funding to augment the various duties undertaken by educational assistants. This agreement has proven to be an effective and sustainable service model that could be mirrored within School District 61. The schools involved in this program not only have the available resources but also the local knowledge and connection with the children and families who use the service.
The District of Saanich is committed to improving road safety for our most vulnerable users and in the past five years we have made significant advances in this regard. We completed Active and Safe Routes to School Planning for all schools in Saanich which has led to new programs and education material within schools and numerous infrastructure improvements around schools. Most recently we have installed new school zone signage at all schools, placed speed reader boards at five schools, and are in the process of installing high visibility school zone markings at all 38 schools. However, a significant amount of work is still needed. Staff are updating our Active Transportation Plan and developing a Road Safety Action Plan based on the Vision Zero philosophy. Both are key planning documents that will continue to guide the advancement of safety for all road users but with particular emphasis on children traveling to schools.
The crossing guard program plays an important role in the District’s efforts to improve safety for our children but we can’t do it alone. We regularly partner with private and government agencies in our collective desire to transform our culture and improve transportation safety. We respectfully request that your school district seriously consider offering these services funded by participating municipalities in order to support active transportation and improve the safety of children in our region.
Please feel free to reach out to myself to learn more or have your staff contact our Director of Engineering, Harley Machielse (harley.machielse@saanich.ca or 250.475.5446) to learn more about how the program was supported previously.
Sincerely,
Fred Haynes Mayor
c: Esquimalt Mayor Desjardins and Council Saanich Council Victoria Mayor Helps and Council View Royal Mayor Screech and Council Deb Whitten, Superintendent of Schools Brent Reems, District of Saanich CAO Harley Machielse, District of Saanich Director of Engineering
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