Crossing Guard Services/Employment

The Ottawa Safety Council (OSC) delivers professional school crossing guard programs on behalf of municipalities—helping children and families cross streets safely every day. We manage programs, support communities, and recruit dedicated crossing guards who make a difference where it matters most: in our busy school zones.

Whether you’re looking for your city’s crossing guard program, exploring employment opportunities, or seeking a trusted partner to manage your municipal program, you’re in the right place.

Find Your City’s Program
Apply to Be a Crossing Guard
Crossing Guard Services for Municipalities
CrossSafe™ Crossing Guard Training
Crossing Guard Recognition & Awards

Find Your City’s Crossing Guard Program

Each municipality’s crossing guard program is tailored to local needs while meeting OSC’s consistent safety and training standards. Select your city below to access program-specific information.

If your municipality is not listed, please contact us for more information.

City of Brockville

City of Ottawa

City of Toronto

(Etobicoke-West Zone)

Become a School Crossing Guard

School crossing guards play a vital role in keeping children safe as they travel to and from school. It’s a visible, meaningful role that supports families and children and creates safer roads and neighbourhoods.

 

Why become a crossing guard?

  • Help protect children and families every school day
  • Part-time weekday hours (morning and afternoon shifts)
  • Work close to home
  • Training, equipment, and ongoing support provided
  • Be a trusted and valued member of your community

No prior experience is required—just reliability, attentiveness, and a commitment to safety.

Apply to be Crossing Guard Now

Meet Scout!

Scout is a Crossing Guard in Barrhaven. She started her work alongside long time (14+ years!) Crossing Guard, Pam – who actually crossed Scout back when she was in school! Scout became a Crossing Guard in order to give back for all the safe crossings Pam helped her with as a child. Scout loves seeing the kids every day and hearing their funny stories.

Meet Jen!

Jen (pictured on the left, next to fellow Crossing Guard, Kathy Kelly) has been a crossing guard for over 10 years in the Barrhaven area. In addition to being a Crossing Guard, she is a mom of three young adults and loves DIY projects and working in her garden. “To all the kids at Mary Honeywell ES. You all brighten my day and I am so happy that I get to be a small part of your daily routine.”

Crossing Guard Services for Municipalities

The Ottawa Safety Council provides end-to-end school crossing guard program management for municipalities, ensuring safe, reliable, and well-supported crossings in school communities.

Our crossing guard services include:

  • Recruitment, screening, and onboarding of crossing guards
  • Comprehensive training
  • Scheduling, staffing, and coverage coordination
  • Ongoing performance support and quality assurance
  • Liaison with schools, parents, and municipal staff

With decades of experience in road safety education and injury prevention, OSC is a trusted partner for municipalities seeking a professional, accountable, and safety-first crossing guard program.

Partner With OSC for Crossing Guard Services

CrossSafe™ Crossing Guard Training

CrossSafe™ is the Ottawa Safety Council’s e-learning training platform for school crossing guards. Developed using OSC’s decades of experience delivering crossing guard services, CrossSafe™ provides consistent, accessible, and high-quality training to support safe and effective crossings.

CrossSafe™ is used to train OSC crossing guards and is also available for purchase by municipalities and organizations seeking a standardized, professional training solution for their own crossing guard programs.

CrossSafe™ training offers:

  • Online, self-paced courses for school crossing guards
  • Consistent training standards across locations and municipalities
  • A practical focus on real-world crossing scenarios and safety responsibilities
  • A scalable solution for onboarding new guards and supporting ongoing training

Whether delivered as part of OSC-managed services or used independently by a municipality, CrossSafe™ helps ensure crossing guards are well-prepared, confident, and safety-focused.

Learn more about CrossSafe™ training

Recognize and Thank your Crossing Guards!

Crossing guards are often the first friendly face children see on their way to school and a reassuring presence for families in the community. A simple thank-you can go a long way in showing appreciation for the important work they do—rain, snow, or shine.

Ways to recognize your crossing guard:

  • Say thank you or share a kind word at the crossing
  • Encourage your child to wave or offer a smile
  • Write a note or card from your family or school
  • Recognize your guard during school events, Crossing Guard appreciation week/day or road safety weeks

If you would like to recognize a crossing guard or share positive feedback, please click the button below and/or contact the Ottawa Safety Council. Your appreciation helps acknowledge their dedication and supports a strong, respectful school crossing environment.

Thank your Crossing Guard

OSC’S CROSSING GUARD OF THE YEAR AWARD

Check out some of our outstanding Crossing Guards!

The OSC also holds annual contests, award presentations and appreciation days for the Crossing Guards in the communities we serve. Nominations for Crossing Guard of the Year run from early April to mid-May, with winners recognized beginning in early June.

If you would like to nominate your crossing guard, please click the link below.

The OSC’s Crossing Guard of the Year Award is presented annually to a Guard who shows high levels of excellence and dedication to the important role of keeping our community’s children safe.

MORE INFORMATION or nominate a guard

Meet Brenda!

Brenda has been a Crossing Guard for almost 5 years. In the spring she keeps busy gardening, knitting and making stuffies. One of the kids she crosses once told her “Brenda, I love your job, it is the greatest in the world.” And she agrees!

Thank your Guard

Your thank you also counts as a nomination for your Guard towards the OSC’s Crossing Guard of the Year Award.

Find out how!

Our Latest Blogs