Montreal West Parent Outraged Over Student Image in Bus Shelters

Parents at Royal West Academy in Montreal West have expressed relief after a crossing guard was assigned to a busy intersection near the town’s train station, following concerns about student safety.

The assignment comes after two students from the school were struck by vehicles in separate incidents, prompting community action and a petition calling for Quebec to expand its crossing guard policy to include high schools.

According to local reports, the crossing guard began monitoring the intersection of Westminster Avenue and Ainslie Road in late February 2026, a location identified by parents as particularly hazardous for students walking to and from school.

Pierre Obendrauf of the Montreal Gazette captured images of parents protesting at the corner on February 24, 2026, holding signs and urging authorities to act after the accidents.

The protests were driven by fears that existing safety measures were insufficient for older students, who are often excluded from crossing guard programs that typically serve elementary schools.

In response to the incidents, a group of parents launched a petition urging the Quebec government to revise its policy so that crossing guards are assigned not only to elementary schools but also to high schools, arguing that adolescent pedestrians face similar risks.

The petition gained traction after a high school student was hit by a vehicle, reinforcing concerns that current protections do not adequately cover all age groups in school zones.

Royal West Academy, a public high school in Montreal West, serves students from across the Montreal area, many of whom rely on public transit and walk significant distances to reach the campus.

The assigned crossing guard now helps students navigate the intersection during peak morning and afternoon hours, when traffic volume increases due to commuters and school arrivals.

Local officials have not yet announced whether the assignment will be made permanent or expanded to other intersections near the school, but parents say they will continue to advocate for broader safety measures.

The development marks a shift in community-led efforts to address pedestrian safety, with families pushing for policy changes that reflect the realities of how older students travel to school.