CAA camp teaches lifelong lessons

Grade 5 student honoured at camp

OSHAWA, ON, July 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Every summer for the past 45 years, a group of Ontario students arrive at Camp Samac in Oshawa as CAA School Safety Patrollers and after learning life-saving lessons and leadership skills they leave as Patrol Captains.

This year, approximately 150 patrollers were taught bus and fire safety, as well as first aid during a four day leadership camp from July 15-18. The soon-to-be Patrol Captains from Barrie, Brant County, Brantford, La Salle, London, Orillia, Peel, St. Thomas, Toronto and Windsor took part in training provided by police officers from across Ontario.

Today at Camp Samac, 10 year-old Urmish Shaikh was recognized with the CAA School Safety Patroller of the Year Award. The Grade 5 Mississauga student beat out 76 other applicants from across southern Ontario.

Earlier this year, Urmish put her safety skills into action when her bus was involved in a collision. The Grade 5 student kept the frightened children calm, worked with her fellow school safety patrollers to keep all the students on the bus and helped a staff member take attendance so calls could be made to parents.

Meanwhile, last fall, a bus breakdown and shortage of drivers meant one bus didn't arrive at the school until after 6 pm. After the first stop, students offered to walk home and started to get off the bus to make their way into the night. Urmish spoke up and stopped the students from walking away on their own in the dark.

"On behalf of CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO), it is a privilege to honour Urmish Shaikh with the School Safety Patroller of the Year Award," said Leslie Rocha, Community Relations Specialist, CAA SCO. "The deserving student takes her bus patroller responsibilities to heart. She is always on time and prepared to take on the new challenges of the day."

School safety patrollers dedicate over 3.45 million volunteer hours each year to community safety. There are currently over 55 police services, more than 800 schools and over 20,000 elementary school students involved in the program.

As a leader and advocate for road safety and mobility, CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club which represents the interests of more than 1.9 million members. For over a century, CAA has collaborated with communities, police services and governments to help keep drivers and their families safe while travelling on our roads.

SOURCE: CAA South Central Ontario

Media Contact: Silvana Aceto, Media and PR Consultant, 60 Commerce Valley Drive East, Thornhill, ON L3T 7P9, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone]; Follow @CAASCO_News on Twitter for regular updates on wait times and other news and information. #CAACAMP