Students attending Calgary’s public school board were reminded about pedestrian safety this morning as they headed into class to start the year. 

The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) kicked off the first day of classes on Monday, Aug. 31, with a message about keeping students safe during their commute to and from school.

Chief superintendent Joanne Pitman was outside of an elementary school in the city’s northwest with members of the Calgary Police Service (CPS) and Alberta Motor Association (AMA) to share what the board has organized. 

“Traffic safety is a top priority,” she said.

“We need people to take a breath, take a moment and say, ‘What do I want for my child or somebody else’s?’ And let’s make sure we’re making good choices.”

Pitman said that the CBE has projected its enrollment for the upcoming school year at around 143,000 students, roughly 1,000 more than this time last year. However, fewer students have applied for yellow bus service following the board’s 40 per cent fee increase. 

Since then, advocates have warned that this could worsen congestion, making safety around schools an even bigger concern. Pitman thanked the city for its efforts to install traffic-calming measures and said that the board has continued partnerships to complement this.

Student patrollers lend a hand to help with safety

Michelle Noble, manager of community engagement at AMA, said they have coordinated with schools to deploy 13,000 volunteer student patrollers on campuses across the city during peak hours.

“These kids volunteer to be patrollers and help keep their classmates safe coming to school in the morning,” she said. 

“They’re learning great leadership skills. They’re also looking to make sure that the cars are stopping and it’s safe for everyone to cross.”

Noble said this is just one program offered by AMA and that they have also added new programs to support crosswalk complexity, such as adult crossing guides and lane patrollers. 

Anika, a Grade 6 student attending Ranchlands School, joined three other volunteers to patrol a crosswalk. Equipped with fluorescent vests, pylons, and handheld stop signs, she explained that they are trained to lock eyes with drivers until they come to a complete stop for pedestrians.

“I get to feel proud of what I do, for the patrolling that I do,” she said. 

“I believe I’m helping kids because we just have to stay out and keep our eyes peeled.”

Mark Novello, a school resource officer and sergeant in the CPS youth service section, said that he attends schools at the start of every year to help AMA with their student patrol program. He said that an increased police presence can be expected upon classes beginning. 

“Over the next few weeks, my team, specifically, is going to be out at a lot of the elementary schools working on traffic education,” said Novello.

“Just more for the parents, trying to get them to understand traffic and pedestrian safety in the area.”

Calgary launches new safety initiative

That same morning, Calgary police held a media availability to share traffic safety tips ahead of students heading back to school. Another CPS school resource officer, sergeant Leah Berti, explained that this is an exciting time but comes with concerns. 

“With 1,000s of students returning to the classrooms over the coming days, we also expect increased traffic around schools and playground zones,” she said. 

“For all drivers, we are reminding you to please slow down around schools, obey the posted speed limits, [and] put distractions, especially your cell phones, away.”

Along with these safety reminders came an announcement of new safety education initiatives by police. Sergeant Nick Wilsher, with the CPS’s crime prevention section, said that this includes a campaign called Simon Says, which is for children in Grade 5 and under. 

“The goal of the program is simple: help younger children build positive safety habits in life,” he said. 

“Through engaging, age-appropriate messages, Simon Says will share safety information through schools, newsletters, and outreach opportunities, making it easier for children and families to learn about personal safety in a way that is accessible and relevant.”

Additionally, Sgt. Wilsher said that the CPS’s efforts to post on social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, have continued to make information available to older youth in a language they understand.

“Our goal is to provide relatable, accessible content and encourage positive choices and help youth navigate today’s increasingly connected world,” he said. 

“By combining classroom engagement, community outreach, and digital education, we hope to equip young people with the knowledge and skills that they need to stay safe and succeed.”