Crossing guard will be assigned to busy Montreal West intersection

Parents of students at Royal West Academy in Montreal West hold a rally to demand a crossing guard at an intersection with a history of collisions, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (Chris Bury/CTV News)

After pressure from the local community, a crossing guard has been assigned to an intersection near Royal West Academy in Montreal West that has a history of collisions.

In a communiqué sent to Royal West and obtained by CTV News, an official confirmed that the request for a crossing guard at the intersection of Westminster Avenue South and Ainslie Road has been approved. They will begin on April 7.

This measure has been described as “exceptional and temporary” and is subject to “strict conditions.”

It comes after a series of collisions involving pedestrians, including two students, aged 12 and 13, who were hit by a vehicle in February. In November 2024, a 14-year-old student was on his way to school when he was struck by a car. On April 4, 2024, a 71-year-old man died after being struck by a commuter train.

Following the most recent incident, a petition was submitted to the National Assembly of Quebec to install crossing guards at high schools.

• READ MORE: ‘The pedestrian needs to be visible’: students, residents call for safer roads in Montreal West

Crossing guards typically only serve crosswalks used by preschool and elementary school students. However, in this case, the Montreal police committee that manages crossing guards said it “took into account several factors observed on the ground, including the city’s planned intersection redesign by the end of the summer, the heavy student traffic during arrival and dismissal times, and certain instances of impatience observed among motorists.”

The crossing guard will remain in place until the end of the school year, but will not be renewed for the 2026–2027 school year.