Two Mississauga schools just won an important award
Published February 7, 2020 at 8:55 pm
With traffic safety making headlines across the GTA in the wake of an uptick of pedestrian-related collisions, it’s good to know that several schools are doing their part to make the roads a little safer.
Recently, Mississauga City Council – on behalf of Traffic Safety Council – awarded the 2019 Wilde Wood School Safety Zone Award to Castlebridge Public School and Plum Tree Park Public School.
The Traffic Safety Council is an advisory committee that makes recommendations to help protect students from the dangers of vehicular traffic.
The city says Dr. Arthur Wood founded the Toronto Township Traffic Safety Council in 1955, which was renamed the Mississauga Traffic Safety Council in 1974.
The city says the schools were recognized for their “outstanding leadership and dedication in promoting school zone safety and active transportation.”
“On behalf of the city, I’d like to congratulate this year’s recipients and thank you for prioritizing safety in our communities,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie in a statement. “Your effort, along with your enthusiasm and dedication to engaging the entire community in student safety is commendable and sets a great example for others to follow.”
Videos
The city says Castlebridge Public School was awarded for a few reasons, including working with the Traffic Safety Council to launch a School Walking Routes Program, planning pop-up walks with the principal and students in the morning, partnering with the city’s parking enforcement staff and Peel Regional Police to keep school areas safe, and installing bike racks to encourage biking to school.
The city says it will present Castlebridge Public School with the award at a later date.
Plum Tree Park Public School was awarded for having dedicated staff lead a Super Walker Program, including providing incentives for students and celebrating their accomplishments, kicking off the school year with an assembly and a school-wide walk (including banners and music), and running a walking club every Wednesday for students who can’t walk to school.
Presentation of the Wilde Wood School Safety Zone Award to Plum Tree Park Public School – Mayor Bonnie Crombie; Councillor John Kovac, Ward 4 and Traffic Safety Council member; Councillor Pat Saito, Ward 9; Peter Westbrook, Chair of the Traffic Safety Council; and staff and students from Plum Tree Park Public School
The Wilde Wood Award was named after James Wilde and Arthur Wood who co-founded the Kiss and Ride concept in Mississauga.
Since 2016, the Traffic Safety Council has focused on recognizing schools who promote active transportation in addition to traffic safety around schools.
It is awarded annually to schools from the Peel District School Board and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board.
insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising