Posted by: Betty MacGregor
We are so fortunate to have such conscientious and pleasant crossing guards in our neighbourhood. Let’s all come together and thank them for their great job! We live in a neighbourhood with high levels of traffic and a lot of drivers who break the law by running red lights and ignoring pedestrians crossing the street, especially on Bank Street.
Our littlest citizens can feel well protected when a crossing guard is in place. Old Ottawa South has crossing guards at Grosvenor Ave. and Sunnyside Ave. (thank you Greg Lisle, who has done the job for two years); two at Sunnyside Ave. and Bank St. (Andrew Spicer and another who modestly wishes to remain anonymous); and one at Riverdale Ave. and Avenue Road (who we were unable to contact for this article). The later intersection has a crossing guard due to frequent non-observance of the stop sign by drivers.
Since Andrew has been at the very busy and dangerous intersection of Sunnyside Ave. and Bank St. without fail for 8 years, we’d like to particularly highlight the job he’s been doing. The kids and the community love and trust him. Today as I watched the hundreds of kids cross that intersection, many gave “fist pumps” as they crossed from one side of Sunnyside Ave. to the other and from one side of Bank St. to the other. Andrew enthusiastically engaging with the pedestrians young and old while always keeping his eyes on the traffic. Many drivers passing here are impatient and rude and downright break the law by racing through on the red light. Andrew is always so calm, in charge and polite. This is one amazing young man! We are so very lucky to have him. It’s no exaggeration to say he’s saved many pedestrians from injury.
Thanks to Andrew and Greg and your fellow crossing guards! We are in awe of your persistence and kindness, and, yes bravery.
Betty MacGregor is a member of the OSCA Traffic and Safety Committee.
Featured in the June 2024 OSCAR.