photo of a male crossing guard

East Gwillimbury (EG) employs adult Crossing Guards to help students cross the road safely when travelling to and from school. Crossing Guards are stationed at all school locations across the community. To identify a Crossing guard, look for:

  • a fluorescent orange vest; 
  • carries a whistle; and 
  • carries a stop sign.   

Crossing Guards help people safely cross roads with speed limits of 60 km/h or less. Before entering the roadway, they display a school crossing stop sign that is visible to approaching traffic from both directions. The sign remains raised until everyone, including the Crossing Guard, has safely crossed.

Applications are accepted year-round, and positions are filled as needed. Crossing Guards must be reliable, safety-conscious, and willing to work up to three hours a day in a variety of weather and traffic conditions.

To learn more or apply, visit our Careers page.

Requests for Crossing Guards at certain locations can be made by contacting the school board or school principal.

School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week

Each year in June in coordination with the Ontario Traffic Council's School Crossing Programs Committee, EG celebrates Crossing Guard Appreciation Week. We thank our Crossing Guards for helping to keep our community safe every day.

Safety Practices

Three Whistle System

Crossing Guards in EG use the three whistle system:

  1. First Whistle: The Crossing Guard blows the first whistle, enters the roadway, holds up the stop sign, and ensures that traffic has stopped. Children should stay on the sidewalk until the guard blows the second whistle.
  2. Second Whistle: The Crossing Guard blows the second whistle when it is safe for the children to cross.
  3. Third Whistle: Once the children have safely crossed the roadway, the guard leaves the roadway and blows the third whistle to signify the crossing has ended.

Children and Adults

  • Walk across the road in a quick, orderly fashion (do not run) and respect the Crossing Guard's rules
  • Pay attention to the Crossing Guard's instructions and avoid:
    • Running, bicycling, skateboarding, etc. across
    • Bouncing balls or playing while crossing
    • Being distracted
  • Adults should:
    • Set a good example for child(ren)
    • Avoid confusing the children who have been taught to follow the Crossing Guard rules
    • Help to provide the children with a routine for safely crossing the road with a Crossing Guard when they go to school on their own
    • Avoid parking on or near the crosswalk

Motorists and Cyclists

  • Follow the posted speed limit (40km/h in school zones) and other signage such as no parking or stopping
  • Keep eyes on the road and hands on the wheel; it is illegal to use any hand-held device while driving
  • Wait for the Crossing Guard to blow the third whistle indicating that the children have completed crossing and the Crossing Guard has safely returned to the sidewalk/curb before proceeding.
  • As a motorist you must stop when approaching a stopped school bus with its upper red lights flashing and STOP arm extended. Do not move until the red lights have stopped flashing, and STOP arm retracts and the bus begins to move.