Kiki and her son were almost run over by a speeding car while crossing the intersection at Caledonia Road and Playfair Avenue on their way to school in March 2022.
The busy intersection is one of two that residents from Lotherton Pathway use to drop their children off at school. Crossing guards are posted at every crosswalk on Caledonia from Lawrence Ave. South to St. Clair except for the two crosswalks in front of Lotherton – an historically under-resourced neighbourhood.
Kiki, an active community leader, approached NYCH staff for help to address this urgent safety issue. Our team, with the support of Kiki’s son’s teacher and school principal, encouraged and guided Kiki to apply for a crossing guard to serve the community. Kiki did so in April 2022 and shared her concerns with her neighbours who revealed similar, near-tragic experiences while walking their children and grandchildren to school.
A small group of resident leaders, parents, and grandparents came together to advocate for a crossing guard in their community. They sought letters from their schools, school board trustees, and neighbourhood organizations.
NYCH organized a safety town hall meeting to address the issue. Residents, elected officials, school principals, and school board trustees in attendance resolved to create change in their neighbourhood.
The group continued to garner support and in May 2023, shared their story on CBC Radio. They started a petition and went door to door in their community, meeting with parents and staff. Together they collected 224 signatures and submitted their petition to the city councillor’s office in June 2023.
Fifteen months after Kiki first applied, the City of Toronto assigned a crossing guard to the intersection at Caledonia Road and Playfair Avenue. “I was excited, happy, and relieved!”, said Kiki when asked how she felt on hearing the news. “I felt very happy and safer to be crossing the road with my little boy.”
The group proudly shared their story at our Annual General Meeting in September and reiterated the power of community. “This project encouraged neighbors to join forces because many shared this concern too…. We thought in the same way because we wanted the same goal: to make it safer for parents and kids to go to school. A collective voice is more powerful than an individual one.”
We are so proud of the residents and our team for making this intersection safer for children in the community. At a time when the world often feels bleak and hopeless, Kiki and the residents of Lotherton Pathway, show us that together we can build a community where all belong and thrive.
You can support residents like Kiki to improve their lives and lead positive change in their neighbourhoods.
- A $50 donation will enable one resident to attend a community-building event.
- A $75 donation will enable one resident to participate in our Leadership and Civic Engagement Training Program.
- A $100 donation will enable two residents to enjoy an outdoor group activity.
- A $200 donation will enable four residents to attend a community-building event.