As the owners of THE STUDIO Dance & Wellness and Little Movers Daycare, we are responsible for a lot of children within the community that participate in dance classes and attend daycare. We constantly worry about the safety of the children in our care when entering and exiting our building as the nearest crosswalk is over a block and half away, leaving children to cross the street without a safe walk way. Many vehicles park alongside the sidewalk making it extremely difficult for drivers to see that someone is attempting to cross the road. We frequently see drivers speed off of Victoria and onto 1st unaware that there are children present and new mothers attempting to access our businesses. Despite frequent requests to city officials and council, our corner remains without a crosswalk putting children and their family members at risk. Council has just advised us that our request will be deferred again after almost 2 years of trying. 

The nearest park to our building is two street crossings and 1 block away. Just this summer, while playing at the park we witnessed a driver speed through the playground zone, hit and kill a dog. This was in a marked slow zone with a crosswalk present, and the driver neglected to stop after hitting the animal. It is no surprise that there are reckless drivers within our town and it is our deepest concern that a child could be injured next. With such a terrible incident happening in a safe zone, you can imagine the risk of an area without any signage or a marked crossing. Our request to the city, continues to be pushed off and our fear is that it won't be taken seriously until something awful happens. Our request came with an offer of fundraising for the costs of painting a walkway, which the city also denied. 

Our town sees a significant amount of traffic especially from tourists unfamiliar with the local driving patterns. This increases the risk of accidents, particularly for children who are less aware of road safety. A crosswalk would serve as a clear indicator for drivers to slow down and increase their vigilance, significantly enhancing safety not only for the children entering THE STUDIO but for the entire community attempting to access the businesses that neighbour ours. Having a clearly marked pedestrian crossing can reduce pedestrian accidents by up to 46%. By placing a crosswalk at our corner, we can create a safer, more welcoming environment for families and contribute to the overall safety of our town.

We propose that the local council allocate resources to paint a visible crosswalk at this key location. This small measure would have a large impact, ensuring the safety of our youngest residents and setting an example for other busy parts of town without pedestrian markings.

Please sign this petition and help us ensure that no family has to worry about their children's safety when crossing the street.