Toronto Crossing Guard Information

YES – Priority hires: Applicants who have recently worked for ASP and / or Carraway will be prioritized for hiring.  

The OSC will be prioritizing hiring all former Crossing Guards that have worked for either ASP or Carraway that want to continue serving in the Toronto-West region with the OSC.  They will have the first chance to confirm working with the OSC for the upcoming school year 2023/2024.  

PLEASE NOTE: Past Crossing Guards will have the first opportunity to confirm their intersection / locations.  The OSC Team will reach out to past guards that have applied through the OSC at www.Crossing-Guard.ca by August 10th for the next steps. 

The OSC will be accepting applications at www.Crossing-Guard.ca.  (Click on “I am in Toronto” to start your application now!) 

Applications for the upcoming school year will be accepted throughout the year.  However, for the upcoming school year, we will prioritize all applications received on, or before, July 31, 2023.  Any applications received after August 1st will be subject to any remaining position availabilities.   Returning Guards and Candidates will be contacted by the OSC team and given further instructions in early August. 

The OSC has been delivering School Crossing Guard services for over 20 years.  We’ve set up a structure that pays per shift.  In Toronto, all School Crossing Guards will have at least 2 shifts per day, some will have 3 shifts if the City of Toronto has indicated that it is a “lunch shift” location.  Ideally, we are seeking guards who can work the same 2 or 3 shifts assigned to that intersection.  Thus, the number of hours Crossing Guards are expected to be actually physically present and working at the intersection is not changing, and it if is, it will only be for minor amounts (5 to 10 minutes, potentially). 

The starting pay for a shift is $35 / shift for shifts under 60 minutes and under. 

Most Morning and Dismissal shifts are 60 minutes and under, and on average, the lunch shift is approx. 1h 30 mins.  Locations have either 2 or 3 shifts per day assigned to them and this is determined by the City of Toronto.  Most guards will be working between 2 hrs to 3.5 hrs / day as a Crossing Guard. 

The base rate for a shift starts at $35 / shift for shifts 60 minutes or less.  See SECTION 3:  Shift Duration & Shift Pay Rates for more information. 

The OSC will be working on the scheduling and will confirm all locations and shift assignments (and duration of shifts and shift rates) between August 1-22nd (likely sooner).   

For all applications received by July 31, 2023, we will confirm your assignments by August 10th or sooner.   

Please hold off on contacting the office till August 10th as the OSC team needs time to review all applications received on or before July 31, 2023. The OSC will contact you.  

If you have applied at www.Crossing-Guard.ca by July 31st and have not heard back from the OSC Office by August 10th, please email us at OSCToronto@ottawasafetycouncil.ca.   

YES – Priority Considerations are being made for Scheduling & Contracts for recent ASP / Carraway employees.  Specifically, the OSC will prioritize the following when assigning locations and contracts: 

• Returning Crossing Guards who take on 2-3 shifts (max is 3 at a location, some only have 2 shifts) at the location every day, throughout the week 
• Returning Crossing Guards will be given preference to the intersections they have requested as noted in their application, where possible 

• Applications received on or before July 31, 2023 
• New Prospective Crossing Guards willing to take on 2-3 shifts (max is 3 at a location, some only have 2 shifts) at the same location every day, throughout the week 

PLEASE NOTE: The OSC Team will confirm and reach out to everyone that has applied to be an OSC Crossing Guard in early August to confirm their shift location for the year and daily rate.  Please hold off on contacting the office as we need till August 10th to review all applications received on or before July 31, 2023. 

The OSC will be working on the scheduling and will confirm all locations and shift assignments (and duration of shifts and shift rates) between August 1-22nd (likely sooner).  For all applications received by July 31, 2023, we will confirm your assignments by August 10th or sooner.  The OSC will contact you. If you have applied at www.Crossing-Guard.ca by July 31st and have not heard back from the OSC Office by August 10th, please email us at OSCToronto@ottawasafetycouncil.ca.  Otherwise, please wait until August 10th as we will need the time to finalize shift assignments and the schedule for the upcoming school year. 

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YES!  The OSC has 3 classifications of Crossing Guards: 

1. Regular Crossing Guards: Crossing Guards assigned to a specific intersection and work specifically at that location and all the shifts assigned to it for the duration of the school year. Thus, Regular Crossing Guards must be available Monday to Friday for up to 3 shifts / day. 

1. Relief Crossing Guards: Work an average of 1-3 shifts / week. Scheduled on a bi-weekly basis 

1. Stand By Crossing Guards: A roster of Stand By Crossing Guards who are paid to be “on-call” for last minute coverage. Regardless of whether they are called or not. Stand by guards are required to take the shift if called and will be paid in accordance with the shifts/hours worked (Starting at $35/ shift for shifts up to 60 minutes) PLUS the stand by Daily Rate.  

The OSC Team will be reviewing all applications between July 24-August 10th to confirm and assign shift locations and to confirm shift durations and pay for their contracts.  The OSC will prioritize confirming all previous Crossing Guards that have applied to the OSC their final shift/location assignment, contract, and daily shift pay rates by August 10th.  Please only reach out to the OSC Office if you haven’t heard back by August 10, 2023 and were previously a Crossing Guard. 

For any remaining positions needing to be filled, the OSC Team will review remaining applications of new prospective Crossing Guards to confirm their schedule and contracts for the upcoming school year.  

YES!  The OSC will prioritize past guards that meet the below requirements during its first round for Scheduling & Contracts:  

• Returning Crossing Guards who take on 2 to 3 shifts at the same location every day, throughout the week.  Most intersections have either 2 or 3 shifts.  (This is determined by the City of Toronto). 

• Returning Crossing Guards will be given preference to the intersections they have requested as noted in their application, where possible 

Answer: YES – everyone will still need to complete a Vulnerable Sector Police Record Check through the OSC, no matter when you completed it before.  The OSC will need this coming from our organization and current in order for you to work with us, as this is required by the City of Toronto. 

If you haven’t already, please email the OSC Office at OSCToronto@ottawasafetycouncil.ca for a copy of the Consent form or visit www.ottawasafetycouncil.ca/toronto to download a copy.   

Please note: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO TO THE POLICE STATION at this point, unless otherwise advised. 

Answer: No, the OSC will pay for these costs.  You just have to submit your completed Police Record Check Consent form to the OSC.  Please email the OSC Team at OSCToronto@ottawasafetycouncil.ca to visit www.ottawasafetycouncil.ca/toronto (update) for a copy of the form.  Your completed form will need to be emailed or dropped off to the OSC Toronto. Please email to make arrangements. 

The OSC, as not-for-profit organization and registered charity, only provides medical benefits to full-time, permanent (non-contract, non-seasonal) employees working 30 hrs or more / week.  However, the OSC provides highly competitive shift rates (See Section 3) to part-time School Crossing Guards so that they can seek their own extended health care packages should they want to.  Most Crossing Guards will be working on average 3.5 hrs / day, approximately under 20 hrs / week between September to June, annually.

All OSC Intersections can be found here on this Google map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1d3xuQBCdjOrxYiLQShtq3hPHWpfSGAg&ll=43.66857294123733%2C-79.59002255504637&z=12  

For more information about the City of Toronto’s School Crossing Guard program, including a detailed overview of all the School Crossing Guard locations in Toronto, please visit: 

https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/road-safety/vision-zero/safety-initiatives/school-crossing-guard-program/ 

Answer:  The safety of our Crossing Guards is a top concern for the OSC.  Below are some of the key actions that the OSC takes to keep our team safe: 

• Before any guards begin working at an intersection, they must undergo the OSC mandatory and extensive School Crossing Guard Training (10 hrs total, online and on-site training components which go over techniques and protocols to keep you safe) and the Employee Training Manual for on-going reference. This training is paid. 
• Ensuring that all OSC Employees have read and understood the OSC Employee Policies that are designed to keep our team safe while they do their job. 
• The OSC establishes and maintains an active Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSC) that meets quarterly, as safety is a top concern for the Ottawa Safety Council. 
• The OSC ensures a timely follow up by the OSC Office Staff on any reported incidents. 

• The OSC prioritizes ongoing communications between OSC Office Team, Field Supervisors, and School Crossing Guards to ensure that all have the most up-to-date information and reminders. 
• The OSC regularly conducts awareness campaigns in the community and school zones to educate motorists of the importance of driving safe in school zones, to advocate on behalf of the crossing guards and heed their authority to stop traffic.  
• When brought to our attention, the OSC will advise, consult and assist school faculty around solutions to issues of congestion, dangerous driver behaviour and unsafe pedestrian conditions. 
• The OSC is an active and contributing member of several committees and associations that focus on road safety, including but not limited to the Ontario Traffic Councils Crossing Guard Steering Committee, the Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals and  Ontario Active School Travel. 

For our School Crossing Guard Program, we seek candidates who can commit to working with the OSC on a regular basis, for a minimum of 3 shifts / week throughout September to June.  For specifics on the requirements for this position, please visit www.Crossing-Guard.ca for more information. 

Yes.  All new and returning Crossing Guards will need to complete the OSCs Crossing, Guard, Health and Safety and legislated training modules prior to starting their duties for the 2023-24 school year.   This training will be done online, assigned to each Guard through a program called HRDownloads and takes approximately 4.5 hours to complete.  All training is paid at the rate of $17.32/hour. 

There will also be a mandatory meeting in August that all returning crossing guards must attend.  This will also be paid at a rate of $17.32/hour. 

All training and mandatory meetings will be paid at the rate of $17.32/hour.

Returning Guards will complete online training modules that include the OSCs Crossing, Guard, Health and Safety and legislated training modules prior to starting their duties for the 2023-24 school year.   This training will be done online, assigned to each Guard through a program called HRDownloads and takes approximately 4.5 hours to complete.   

All Returning Guards are required to complete a refresher training module online annually as well, prior to the start of each school year, and attend a mandatory meeting in the August.  

New Guards will complete the above, as well as a Welcome Session with the OSC office staff and at least 2 onsite training sessions with a seasoned Guard. 

We will be assigning your online training modules to you in early August, more information to come on this shortly and we will require you to have this completed prior to the start of the school year and your Crossing Guard duties. 

Yes, the OSC will be issuing you new Crossing Guard equipment that includes a retroreflective safety vest, handheld stop-sign, ice cleats, rain jacket, employee ID badge/card and an electronic, handheld whistle (for optional use at the discretion of the crossing guard).   

The OSC will be issuing you new Crossing Guard equipment that includes a retroreflective safety vest, handheld stop-sign, ice cleats, rain jacket, employee ID badge/card and an electronic, handheld whistle (for optional use at the discretion of the crossing guard). 

The OSC will be issuing all equipment to returning guards at the mandatory meeting in August (August 24th, location&  times TBD).  If you are not able to attend the mandatory meeting, we will make alternative arrangements for equipment to be picked up at the OSC Toronto office (51 Wolseley St.).