Royal West Academy parents push for permanent crossing guard at Westminster and Ainslie intersection
A temporary guard last school year boosted student safety feelings from 8.6% to 71.4%. Parents are mounting a new campaign as a new school year approaches.
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Parents at Royal West Academy in Montreal West are launching a fresh campaign for a permanent crossing guard at Westminster Avenue and Ainslie Road, where students have been struck by vehicles in recent years.
The push comes after a temporary crossing guard posted at the intersection from April through the end of the 2025-2026 school year made a measurable difference in how safe students felt. A survey of 210 Royal West students conducted by the parent safety committee found that 71.4 per cent felt "very safe" crossing with the guard present—a jump from just 8.6 per cent when no guard was stationed there. Students reporting they felt "somewhat unsafe" or "very unsafe" dropped from 50 per cent to 2 per cent.
"We feel like there haven't been many gains. We're very, very frustrated," said Joanna Duy, chairperson of the Royal West Academy Parent Participation Safety Subcommittee. The intersection has been a safety concern since a Royal West student was struck by a car in 2024. Another student was hit in February 2026 and taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Parents had previously launched a petition that collected nearly 3,500 signatures and was presented to Quebec's National Assembly in February. The SPVM had cited provincial guidelines limiting crossing guards to areas near schools serving children between five and 12 years old, excluding high school students as "adult pedestrians."
But in March, Quebec's Transport Ministry clarified that its Guide d'organisation d'une brigade scolaire adulte contains guidelines rather than hard-and-fast prohibitions. Ministry director general Youssef Dehbi wrote that municipalities have the authority to decide whether to use adult crossing guards near secondary schools. The ministry is also reviewing the guide, with a new version expected in 2027.
Parents have contacted elected officials in more than 20 municipalities and West Island communities represented by Royal West students and plan to raise the issue at an agglomeration council meeting later this month.
What is the timeline for the Quebec Transport Ministry's review of its crossing guard guidelines, and when will municipalities have updated policy direction?
Will the SPVM commit funding for a permanent crossing guard, or is municipal or provincial support still being negotiated?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
At a glance
Where are Royal West Academy parents pushing for a crossing guard?
Royal West Academy parents are campaigning for a permanent crossing guard at the intersection of Westminster Avenue and Ainslie Road in Montreal West.
How much did student safety perception improve with the temporary guard?
A survey of 210 Royal West Academy students found that 71.4 per cent felt 'very safe' crossing with the guard present, up from 8.6 per cent when no guard was stationed there. Students reporting they felt 'somewhat unsafe' or 'very unsafe' dropped from 50 per cent to 2 per cent.
Why was the intersection identified as needing a crossing guard?
A Royal West Academy student was struck by a car in 2024, and another student was hit in February 2026 and taken to hospital with minor injuries.
What changed regarding crossing guards at secondary schools in Quebec?
In March 2026, Quebec's Transport Ministry clarified that its Guide d'organisation d'une brigade scolaire adulte contains guidelines rather than strict prohibitions, and that municipalities have the authority to decide whether to use adult crossing guards near secondary schools.
