On Friday, October 10, 2025, around 8:30 a.m., a student walking to school was struck by a car near Dryden Boulevard and Civic Centre Drive in Whitby.

Thankfully, the child is recovering — but this could have been a tragedy. This intersection connects two major schools:
🏫 St. Matthew the Evangelist Catholic School
🏫 Ormiston Public School

Every morning and afternoon, hundreds of children and families walk through this route. The traffic pattern here is confusing, busy, and unsafe, especially during school hours.

🚗 Drivers heading westbound face severe sun glare during morning drop-off.
🌇 Drivers heading eastbound experience blinding sunset glare during afternoon pick-up.
🚦The current light positioning creates a guessing game for drivers turning left or right, especially when the sun hits the signal face.

With heavy traffic, reduced visibility, and young children crossing, it’s not a matter of if another accident happens — it’s when.

 
🚸 Our Call to Action
We, the parents, caregivers, and residents of Whitby, are calling on the Town of Whitby to:
1️⃣ Immediately approve a crossing guard at Dryden Blvd & Civic Centre Dr during school arrival and dismissal times.
2️⃣ Conduct a school-zone safety review that includes both St. Matthew the Evangelist Catholic School and Ormiston Public School.
3️⃣ Address the poor visibility caused by sunlight glare and signal positioning that makes this intersection dangerous for both pedestrians and drivers.

 
❤️ Why This Matters
Two schools share this crossing corridor — meaning hundreds of children use it daily.
Morning and afternoon glare make it nearly impossible for drivers to see pedestrians clearly.
Drivers are often left to “guess” when it’s safe to turn due to sun angles and signal design.
Council previously delayed approval, requesting “more information.” Parents say: the information is clear.
A child has already been hit — the next incident could be far more serious. Every child deserves a safe route to school.
Every parent deserves peace of mind.
Every driver deserves a well-designed, visible, and controlled intersection.

A crossing guard is a simple, effective, and lifesaving measure we can act on right now.

 
🖋️ How You Can Help
✅ Sign this petition — your voice matters.
✅ Share it with neighbours, school groups, and local pages.
✅ Call or email Mayor Elizabeth Roy and your Councillor to express your support:
📞 905-430-4300 x: 2203 or 905-706-2001 | 📧 roye@whitby.ca

Councilor Matt Cardwell - West ward 

📞 905-430-0000 Cell: 289-9106| 📧 card-wellm@whitby.ca

Together, we can prevent another accident and show our council that child safety can’t wait until 2029