Crossing Guards

Crossing guards in the Town of Whitby are responsible for helping students, children and other pedestrians cross the street. To request a crossing guard, contact your school principal or school board.

Become a crossing guard

If you would like to become a crossing guard, view our career opportunities to apply. We accept applications throughout the year and hire on an as-needed basis. You must be a reliable and safety conscious individual who is willing to work up to 2.5 hours per day in various weather and traffic conditions.

Crosswalk safety

Crossing guards work to keep our community safe. Help us keep our school zones safe for everyone. Learn about our safety practices that apply to children, adults and motorists. Contact us for an accessible copy of our Transportation Services Brochure.

Safety for children

If you are a child crossing the road:

Walk (not run) at a good pace across the road
Pay attention to the crossing guards instructions
Do not ride bicycles, skateboards or scooters etc. or play with sports equipment or toys while crossing

Safety for adults

If you are an adult crossing the road with children:

Set a good example for the children and follow the crossing guard instructions
Show the children a routine for safely crossing the road with a crossing guard

Safety for motorists

If you are a motorist driving through a school crosswalk or school zone:

Follow the posted speed limit of 40km/h in school zones. You may have to drive slower due to the school activity
Follow the "No Parking" or "No Stopping" signage
Keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Do not be distracted by hand-held devices or any other distractions that can increase risk of collision
Look for children and crossing guards in school crosswalks and wait for the crossing guard to blow the third whistle. Ensure all pedestrians, including the crossing guard is completely off the road before proceeding
Stop when approaching a stopped school bus with its upper red lights flashing and “Stop” arm extended and only proceed once the lights have stopped flashing, the arm retracts and the bus begins to move

Three Whistle System

Crossing guards in the Town use the Three Whistle System so everyone stays safe.

First Whistle: The crossing guard blows the first whistle, enters the roadway, holds up the stop sign, and makes sure traffic has stopped; Children should stay on the sidewalk until the guard blows the second whistle.
Second Whistle: The crossing guard blows the second whistle when it is safe for the children to cross.
Third Whistle: Once the children have safely crossed the roadway, the guard leaves the roadway and blows the third whistle to notify the crossing has ended.

Our crossing guards

Our crossing guards are responsible for crossing elementary school aged children for the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board.

A crossing guard wears a fluorescent safety vest with "GUARD" on the back. They carry a whistle and stop sign to direct traffic and allow people to cross the road safely.