Up to $50,000 has been approved for the Greater Victoria Crossing Guards Association to continue its crossing guard program.
The funding also comes with a motion to staff to work with the association to come up with a plan for financial sustainability for future school years.
Prior to this, the association sent a letter to Victoria council saying it did not have enough funds to continue staffing crossing guard positions in the new year, so the service would be discontinued as of Dec. 17.
Council approved the funding to continue the program in the new year.
Coun. Ben Isitt says he brought the motion forward saying he felt it was important to ensure the service continues, while also looking at other ways to improve road safety.
“I do support a two-pronged approach. I support the overall approach of making our streets safer with pedestrian controlled crossings at the schools, with road diets, so narrowing the roadways around the schools to make it a shorter distance for children to cross, and to provide visual cues for motorists to slow down,” Isitt said.
“I think there’s also the benefit of having crossing guards where it’s a familiar face, it’s an added layer of safety, particularly for young children in the elementary school grades.”
All councillors voted in favour of the motion.
Laura Brougham
