April 2013 – October 2014
After hearing concerns voiced by multiple school councils, CAPSC and Sam Livingston School Council co-hosted a stakeholder forum that brought together parents, school administration, transportation officials, police, municipal and provincial representatives and others to review traffic safety issues in Calgary and across the province. 70 community representatives from schools, community associations, and neighborhoods took part. Over 40 key stakeholder representatives attended, including but not limited to Calgary Police Services, Calgary Board of Education, Calgary Catholic School District, Southland Transportation, AMA, City of Calgary, and Alberta Transportation.
As a follow up, CAPSC created the first ever Calgary School Traffic Safety Week. CAPSC worked with key stakeholders, including Calgary Police Services, to develop safe and legal tools that school councils and administration could use to improve traffic safety. The first School Traffic Week took place in September of 2013, and was followed by a gala reception in November. Many stakeholders from the spring Stakeholder’s Meeting joined with school communities and students to celebrate student achievement. Community support for this work also came from YMCA, Calgary Motor Dealer’s Association, the Young Canadians, Calgary Stampeders, Alberta Ballet, and Calgary Hitmen.
As a result of CAPSC’s actions on this issue, a key concern was addressed in Alberta legislation. CAPSC’s work was recognized in the Alberta Legislature when Bill 32 was introduced to allow municipalities to set their own playground zone times. The city of Calgary followed suit by harmonizing playground and school zone times in September 2014. The voices and actions of CAPSC, school parents, students and community members encouraged this change.
For more details, see the 2013 School Traffic Safety Week summary.