About Us
The Ottawa Safety Council is a not-for-profit organization offering an array of programs and services to the residents of Ottawa. Our programs include Motorcycle Training and School Zone Safety (Crossing Guards, Pedestrian Safety, Walking School Bus, and Bicycle Safety).
About OSC
Our History
Our Mission

EMPLOYED CROSSING GUARDS
HOURS OF EXPERIENCE OUR MOTORCYCLE INSTRUCTORS HAVE SINCE 1967





Become a member of the Ottawa Safety Council
Become a member
OSC Members are passionate about road safety in their communities. They have taken the pledge to Support Making All Road Travel Safe and are working with us to increase road safety awareness and education in Ottawa and surrounding areas. Join our membership and make a difference in your community today!
Become a Member!
$10
Media Queries
For interviews, speaking engagements, information and other media-related queries regarding the Ottawa Safety Council’s road safety programs, initiatives, and resources, contact Shari Black at shari.black@ottawasafetycouncil.ca or 613.238.1513 ext.223
Meet our Team
Shari Black
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
613-238.1513 ext. 223
Shari.black@ottawasafetycouncil.ca
Having lived in and around the Ottawa area for most of her life, Shari has travelled community roads by car, bicycle or as a pedestrian. She can often be found going for extended walks through her neighbourhood or cycling on local trails. With two young drivers behind the wheel, Shari has never been more sensitive to the vulnerability of road users regardless of the mode of transportation. Shari is passionate about road safety in Ottawa. She is committed to collaborating with stakeholders, community members and partners to help ensure our roads are safely shared regardless of how we use them. “We all use the roads every day in many different ways. We have a responsibility to ourselves and each other to use them responsibly and to not take road safety for granted.”
Kelly Banks
CROSSING GUARD, WALKSAFE + CYCLESAFE PROGRAM MANAGER
613-238-1513 ext.225
Kelly.banks@ottawasafetycouncil.ca
Ottawa’s roads connect Kelly to everything important in her life – family, friends, work and play. Whether she is biking, walking or driving, her most precious cargo is her son, Corbin, and her number one priority is his safety. “Everyone we encounter on our roads share similar priorities, they have children, partners, family and friends that care about them, and we all play a part in making sure they get home safely.”
Christine Tambeau
MOTORCYCLE TRAINING PROGRAM COORDINATOR
613-238-1513 ext. 228 Christine.tambeau@ottawasafetycouncil.ca
Christine grew up riding motorcycles, snowmobiles and ATVs around her family home in Quebec. She tried her brother’s dirt bike when she was 12 years old, and the love for two wheels grew from there. “I enjoy riding my motorcycle around Ottawa but find the most pleasure in taking the long way through the winding country roads.”
Virginia Quinn
ADULT CROSSING GUARD + WALKING SCHOOL BUS COORDINATOR
613-238-1513 ext. 227
Virginia.quinn@ottawasafetycouncil.ca
Living in the east end of Ottawa and working in the west end, Virginia’s primary transportation mode is by car. The privilege of driving gives her a sense of freedom and independence. She loves exploring, and there is everything to be discovered by driving. “Driving makes our vast country accessible.”
Stephanie Dotto
RECRUITER
613-238-1513 ext. 224
Stephanie.dotto@ottawasafetycouncil.ca
Stephanie considers herself a pedestrian road user who can be found chasing her toddler through their beautiful Kanata nature paths. “Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians need to share the road and take care of each other.”
Erin Welch
OFFICE MANAGER
613-238-1513 ext. 231
Erin.welch@ottawasafetycouncil.ca
Erin is a commuter, travelling from outside the city limits while carpooling with her husband. With her young family, she likes taking advantage of her large property and staying local in her rural town when not working.
Sherry Cashman
FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION COORDINATOR
613-238-1513 ext. 222
Sherry.cashman@ottawasafetycouncil.ca
Sherry is an avid road user. Whether she is commuting daily into Ottawa or leisurely biking, or walking down nearby rural roads, she appreciates the value of road safety advocacy. And when she is not on the road, you can find her snowmobiling in the winter or travelling to a beach in the summer.
Meet our Board of Directors
Ziyad Rahme
BOARD CHAIR
Vice-President Investments, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
Ziyad has extensive experience developing and operationalizing strategy, program and project management, and building trusting relationships across organizations. Throughout his career, workplace health and safety has been a top priority for Ziyad. He has participated in world-class safety programs and learned from industry-leading practitioners. Outside the workplace, the emphasis has been no different. “As a father of two school-age children, I am highly sensitive to the health and safety of not only my family but all members of the community.”
William Skorupinski
TREASURER
Automotive Services Division, CAA
William joined the Ottawa Safety Council to share his expertise of road safety that he has gathered not only within Ottawa but throughout North America and Europe. The CAA and the Ottawa Safety Council have very similar interests: safety while enjoying the roads no matter how you travel, be it on foot, bicycle, or motorized vehicle. William uses Ottawa’s road network for travel within the community, running, and as a novice cyclist. “Living on the edge of the urban boundary allows me to appreciate the safety challenges in both an urban and a rural environment.”
Cathy Anderson
DIRECTOR
Client Executive, NTT Data – managing growth and delivery for Ottawa customers
Logging over 5000 km per year cycling, Cathy’s preferred method of transpiration is her road bike. In the summer, she also rides a gravel bike on gravel roads in rural Ottawa and a fat bike in the winter. She is a runner and participates in most local running events. Cathy has extensive education and 25 years of experience helping organizations modernize technologies, transform service delivery, and in strategic growth for both private and not-for-profit organizations. “As one of the injured parties in the "Kanata 5" cycling accident in 2009, my interest in safe transportation is very personal.”
Adrian Benjamin
Sr. Vice Chair
PR, Communications Professional
Before coming to Canada, Adrian held the position of Communications and Outreach Manager for the National Occupational Safety & Health Agency of Trinidad and Tobago. He is an internationally educated professional with over 15 years of experience in public relations/communications, marketing, project management and finance. Apart from being a very safe motor vehicle driver, Adrian is also a graduate of the OSC MTP and holds a valid M1 license. He is also an avid cyclist. He enjoys working with the OSC because he believes in the programs and the positive impact on our community. Adrian has a passion for safety and health issues and is a firm believer that safety is everyone’s business. We should all “prepare and prevent instead of repair and repent.”
Katie Brack
Secretary
Lawyer
With experience in general governance, human resources, policy development and strategic planning, Katie enjoys using these skills to help improve the day-to-day lives of Ottawa’s citizens as they navigate the city infrastructure. She also loves connecting with others who are passionate about road safety. As a lawyer, she has worked on behalf of Indigenous governments, private businesses and not-for-profit clients. “My preferred mode of transportation is walking year-round and biking in the spring-fall. I love the freedom that comes with biking, especially along the canal or Rideau river trails.”
Alfred Coates
DIRECTOR
Strategist, Marketer, Designer and an expert Project Manager
Alfred loves all motorized vehicles, cars, trucks, boats, scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles - if it has a motor, Alfred wants to ride or drive it. However, Alfred also understands that a part of enjoying the ride is an awareness of just how dangerous our roads can be for people not in cars. When he gets behind the wheel and heads to work or out to the cottage, he makes a conscious choice to drive defensively, to give other motorists plenty of space and to keep an eye out for those riding bikes, walking or jogging. “The freedom to travel where and when we want comes with a responsibility to share the road and adhere to the rules, for everyone’s safety.”
Greg Kostiuk
DIRECTOR
Systems Engineer, Canadian Defence Sector
What started as a passion for contributing to motorcyclists' road safety and giving back from his own experience taking the MTP course in 1986 has now broadened to embrace many aspects of road safety in Ottawa through his continued involvement as a Director. Besides encouraging road safety and awareness to new riders as a Director and OSC Volunteer MTP motorcycle instructor for over five years, Greg also enjoys riding his vintage 1985 BMW motorcycle and relaxing walks with his dog.
Erin Peruska
DIRECTOR
Environment Health and Safety Manager in Technology Sector
With her safety and risk management experience, Erin understands the extreme importance of road safety programs and resources. As an avid road user, she is often driving her kids to sports and activities or walking around her neighbourhood with her dog. “I love that I can see our work in action through the crossing guard program.”
Conal Slobodin
DIRECTOR
Government Relations Professional
Conal uses Ottawa's roads as both a pedestrian (who loves and prefers walking) and a motorist. His background is in government advocacy, partnerships, and strategy, which helps OSC build its relationships with the city and its stakeholders. “Without safe roads, we struggle to enjoy what our community has to offer sustainably."

Help Support the Ottawa Safety Council
Donations to the Ottawa Safety Council help us to continue building new programming and creating and delivering awareness campaigns to bring road safety advocacy and awareness to everyone in Ottawa, regardless of how they travel.
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