Celebrating School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week Across Ontario: How Communities Are Honouring These Hometown Heroes

At Teachers on Call, our in-home and online tutoring team knows that education begins well before students reach the classroom - it starts at the crosswalk, the school entrance, and in the communities that support them. While our focus is personalized, curriculum-based tutoring and academic coaching, we also deeply appreciate the caring individuals who help make school days safer, smoother, and more positive for students. That’s why we’re proud to celebrate Crossing Guard Appreciation Week, held annually during the first week of June across Ontario. From small gestures to school-wide efforts, there are so many thoughtful ways to thank your local crossing guards. Read on for creative ideas and to see how communities across the province are getting involved.

Crossing guards are true everyday hometown heroes. Rain or shine, snowstorm or heatwave, they show up with a wave and a smile to ensure students arrive at school safely. These trusted community members are often a child’s first friendly face of the day, and one of the last before heading home. During this special week, students, schools and communities across the province are finding creative and heartfelt ways to say thank you. In this blog, we’re sharing five easy ideas for children and families to get involved, as well as a look at how communities across Ontario are honouring their local crossing guards.

5 Ways Students and Families Can Say Thank You During Crossing Guard Appreciation Week

1. Say Thank You with a Smile
A simple “thank you” and a friendly smile from your child—or your whole family—can brighten a crossing guard’s day. It’s a small gesture that goes a long way, especially when shared each day during the week.

2. Make a Card or Drawing
Encourage your child to create a handmade thank-you card or drawing—in English or French, depending on their school program (Core, Extended, or French Immersion). This heartfelt gesture not only makes a meaningful gift but also helps strengthen literacy and spark creativity—skills our Teachers on Call in-person and online tutors love to weave into learning sessions. Many cities and organizations also offer free downloadable templates you can use to get started!

3. Surprise Them with a Small Treat
Show your appreciation with a thoughtful token like a homemade snack, a reusable coffee mug or water bottle, or even a sun hat to help them stay cool on duty. Small gestures can make a big difference! At Teachers on Call, our tutoring team loves to spoil local crossing guards with hats for the warmer months and cozy toques when the weather turns cold.

4. Join a Group Effort at School
Many school councils or principals organize school-wide appreciation efforts. If nothing’s been planned yet, consider suggesting one! Group cards, bulletin board messages, and morning announcement shout-outs are fun and easy to coordinate. You can also hang posters around the school or community and use morning announcements to remind students to thank their crossing guard each day.

5. Nominate or Participate in a Contest
Many communities and organizations across Ontario host fun and meaningful contests to celebrate school crossing guards, ranging from thank-you nominations to student drawing contests. One of the most popular is the annual School Crossing Guard Appreciation Drawing Contest organized by the Ontario Traffic Council. Each year, students from across the province submit artwork to honour their crossing guards, with hundreds of creative entries from dozens of schools. It’s a great way for students to show their appreciation through art and storytelling while celebrating the important role crossing guards play in their daily lives.

Contest Winner
Ruixi, age 10
EJ James Public School, Oakville
338 Cairncroft Rd, Oakville, ON L6J 4M6

How Ontario Communities Celebrate School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week

Across the province, many municipalities and school boards are doing their part to recognize the important role school crossing guards play. Here are just a few local highlights:

Ajax: The Town of Ajax has created a special School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week video, featuring local guards and original school safety tips for the community. It’s a creative and heartfelt way to recognize their contributions while educating families on the importance of pedestrian and traffic safety near schools. You can watch the video on the Town of Ajax’s official website.

Burlington: The City of Burlington is celebrating Crossing Guard Appreciation Week with a social media campaign encouraging community-wide participation. Throughout the week, residents are invited to recognize their local crossing guards through personal thanks, school-led acknowledgements, and community shoutouts. Teachers and students are also encouraged to create thank-you cards, banners, or classroom projects to share with their local guard—small gestures that can have a big impact.

Ottawa: The Ottawa Safety Council (OSC) hosts the annual Crossing Guard of the Year Award, celebrating guards who demonstrate outstanding dedication and excellence in keeping students safe. Did you know Ottawa’s crossing guards conduct over 4 million safe crossings each year? The OSC also runs this contest in Toronto and Brockville, with winners announced in June. It’s a wonderful way to spotlight the heroes who quietly make a big difference. Each winner will receive a $500 cash prize and will be honoured with the OSC Crossing Guard of the Year Award. Additionally, an appreciation event will be held at one of the winning Guards’ schools in the first week of June in each city. Learn more about the award here.

Thunder Bay: Community members gather at the Oliver Road Recreation Centre (563 Oliver Rd, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 2H2) for Thunder Bay’s annual crossing guard appreciation luncheon. This meaningful event recognizes the hard work and dedication of local guards who help students get to and from school safely every day. Awards were presented to honour outstanding service. Read the full news story here.

Toronto: The City of Toronto invites everyone to express their gratitude by giving a printable thank-you card to their local crossing guard. For the printable postcard to get started, click here!

Waterloo Region: Student Transportation Services Waterloo Region (STSWR), in collaboration with 7 municipal partners including area cities, townships, and the Region of Waterloo, is sponsoring a fun and meaningful contest to find the Waterloo Region Crossing Guard of the Year. Students are invited to nominate their favourite guard, with the winner receiving bragging rights, a custom “Crossing Guard of the Year” Yeti mug, and a $30 Tim Hortons gift card to help keep that mug full. The seven municipal partners of STSWR include: the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, the City of Cambridge, the City of Kitchener, the City of Waterloo, the Township of North Dumfries, the Township of Wellesley, and the Township of Wilmot. The winner will be announced in mid-June. Read more here.

Windsor: In honour of School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week, members of the Windsor Police Service Traffic Enforcement Unit join the city’s dedicated crossing guards to show their appreciation and support. Their presence highlights the strong partnership between law enforcement and community members working together to keep students safe.

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At Teachers on Call, our tutoring team is made up of Ontario Certified Teachers who have firsthand experience in schools and recognize how vital a caring, supportive environment is to student success. School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week is a powerful reminder that it truly takes a village to raise and educate a child. It’s the perfect time to celebrate those who go above and beyond to keep children safe and supported, from the curb to the crosswalk to the classroom. Whether it’s a thank-you card, a kind word, or a public shout out, every gesture of appreciation matters and helps build stronger, more connected school communities across Ontario.