Crossing guards employed by the City of Sarnia are ready to hit the streets as the new school year begins.
Communications Manager Steve Henschel said crossing guards spent last week training in preparation for the first day of school on Tuesday, September 3.
"We have crossing guards again at 29 locations throughout the community based on proximity to schools, the road conditions, how busy those roads are, the volume of students crossing at that particular location, and the existing pedestrian infrastructure," Henschel said.
Some locations will also have a crossing guard during the lunch hour.
While motorists are reminded to keep an eye out for crossing guards, parents and guardians are also asked to review safety measures with their children.
"So reminding the kids to always cross at the marked crosswalk, follow the guards' instructions, only cross when the guard says it's safe and be aware of traffic, and ensure that cars have come to a complete stop when crossing," Henschel said. "Also, very helpful if the children can avoid horseplay and definitely listen to the direction of the crossing guards, they're there to keep everybody safe."
Henschel said no major changes have been made since the city began operating the program in-house in 2023 due to cost increases.
"These are now city employees so we're still reviewing after that first year but no significant changes," he said. "The program functioned fantastically last year and we wanted to keep that level of service in the community."
There are a total of 38 crossing guards this year.