Eight decades of lifesaving and leadership

PETERBOROUGH, ON, Sept. 28 /CNW/ - CAA South Central Ontario thanks and congratulates school safety patrollers for another year of protecting their fellow classmates. CAA School Safety Patrol program has been promoting safety in school zones for over 80 years. During that time, there have been more than 80 documented cases in which a patroller has saved a person from serious injury or death.

Today, Mayor D. Paul Ayotte, raised a flag at City Hall and proclaimed September 28, 2010 CAA School Safety Patroller Day.

"The success of the School Safety Patrol program is due to the dedication and commitment of the student volunteers, school teachers and police officers across our region," said Breanna Gaudet, Community Relations Specialist, CAA SCO. "For over 40 years, Peterborough Lakefield Police officers have played a key role in the program," added Gaudet.

In a recent survey, 42 per cent of CAA SCO member's say providing training and support to school safety patrollers is very important.

"I was a bus patroller on the bus from Manila, Ontario to Port Hoover Public; a one room school with grades 3 and 4. I consider the experience the beginning of my career in Law Enforcement and Public Safety," said Chief Murray Rodd, Peterborough Lakefield Police Services.

Some tips to keep kids safe on their way to and from school:

• Always cross the street in front of the bus. Never go behind the bus.
• Remember, if you can't see the bus driver, the driver can't see you.
• Always wait for the foot patroller to let you know when it is safe to cross the street.

There are more than 21,000 elementary school patrollers keeping their fellow students safe in school zones across South Central Ontario. Patrollers dedicate over 3.45 million volunteer hours each year. Over 800 schools in Ontario participate in the program and CAA SCO partners with over 55 Ontario Police services to deliver a top notch training program.

CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club offering insurance, travel, automotive care and roadside services. There are more than 1.8 million CAA members in South Central Ontario and 5 million members in Canada. We're more than Roadside Assistance. We're Life-side Assistance. Visit www.caasco.com.  

For further information:

Media contact: Silvana Aceto, Media and PR Specialist, CAA SCO, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone] or Jeff LeMoine, Internal/External PR Specialist, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone]