8 crossing guard posts in Halifax cut for 2014-15 school year

HALIFAX – Kids walking to school in Halifax this fall will have fewer crossing guards to help them navigate city streets.

The Halifax Regional Police confirmed the staffing reduction in a news release Friday, saying it will affect eight intersections spread across Halifax, Dartmouth, Cole Harbour and Sackville for the 2014-15 school year.

The police said assessments were conducted to determine which areas to target, and aspects such as the number of students using the crosswalk, the presence or absence of signage, and the volume of vehicular traffic were considered.

The results showed that 21 intersections did not meet the necessary criteria for having a crossing guard, but police said only eight spots will be eliminated from the list due to safety concerns at the others.

Separate from the assessment, the intersection of Pinehill Drive and George Street in Sackville will also lose its crossing guard due to the closure of Sackville Centennial elementary school.

The police say they can assess or re-assess the need for crossing guards in a any area of the city, and residents can contact them directly or reach out to their city councillor for help.

The intersections that will no longer be staffed with a crossing guard for the 2014-15 school year:

• Duffus & Agricola Streets, St. Stephen’s Elementary School, Halifax
• Inglis & South Park Streets (currently vacant), Inglis Street Elementary School, Halifax
• Flamingo Drive & Oriole Street, École Rockingham School, Halifax
• Kearney Lake Road & Wedgewood Drive, École Grosvenor Wentworth Park School, Halifax
• Mount Edward Road & Brigadoon Avenue, Mount Edward Elementary School, Dartmouth
• Waverley Road & Montebello Drive, Michael Wallace Elementary School, Dartmouth
• Colby & Delta Drives, Colby Village Elementary School, Cole Harbour
• Riverside Drive & Candlewood Lane, Sycamore Lane Elementary School, Sackville