Ottawa Safety Council seeking additional crossing guards for new school season

The Ottawa Safety Council (OSC) is looking to hire more crossing guards a with a new school season just around the corner for many students.

Currently, the OSC has 300 crossing guards stationed at 270 intersections across the city.

Jamie Kwong, the executive director of the OSC, told The Sam Laprade Show on Aug. 25 that the organization is looking to add 50 new crossing guards for the upcoming school year.

Kwong noted that the OSC is facing some staffing challenges as it looks to add more crossing guards to make sure kids are going to school safely in September.

“We need at least 50 crossing guards across Ottawa to make sure we have a strong, full force of guards to get through the school year,” she said.

Kwong said the OSC is looking for both regular and on call relief crossing guards, noting that there has been a decrease in recruitment from factors including the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise in cost of living, where people are just looking for more steady, full-time work.

“We had some entrepreneurs that were part of our crossing guard team, ” she added. “Some of them were working on starting their business, but they needed a little bit if extra cash.”

For more information on how to apply to become a crossing guard, visit the Ottawa Safety Council’s website.

Listen to the full interview with Jamie Kwong below: