To the Ontario Ministry of Education, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), and the City of Ottawa:

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED - Parents, caregivers and community members of Knoxdale Public School - call for immediate action following the vehicle collision on Thursday August 6, 2026. During this incident, a vehicle exiting the plaza across from the school crossed four lanes of Greenbank Road, mounted the curb, and crashed through the perimeter fence directly into the Knoxdale school yard.

While no children were present at the time of the crash, Knoxdale’s youngest and most vulnerable learners (Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2) use this exact front yard bordering a 60 km/h four-lane arterial corridor for multiple daily play periods and Extended Day programming. Conversely, older students play at the rear of the property, protected by extensive green space.

In light of the provincial precedent set by the Liam Riazati Memorial Fund, which funds vehicle-impact barriers for early learning centers, we demand the following protections prior to the start of the school year on Tuesday, September 1, 2026:

Immediate play yard relocation: Prohibit all outdoor play in the front play yard along Greenbank Road immediately. Relocate all Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 outdoor play periods to the rear field - where children are protected by distance - until physical impact barriers are installed.

Installation of vehicle-impact bollards: Expedite a site assessment and install permanent, crash-rated safety bollards along the municipal sidewalk bordering the front playyard to prevent errant vehicles from breaching the perimeter fence.