Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath reiterated that, within the city, “safety is our first priority.” Photo Credit: City of Hamilton
The City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Police Service (HPS) provided a number of tips and warnings in a joint press release as the 2024-25 school year began this week.
Their top focus was reminding drivers to be aware of young pedestrians and cyclists who may be travelling to and from school.
The City of Hamilton has recently reduced speed limits in 212 neighbourhoods across the municipality as part of their Vision Zero traffic safety initiative.
As such, the city is reminding motorists that all neighbourhood streets have a 40 km/hr speed limit, while speed limits in school zones are restricted to 30 km/hr.
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath reiterated that, within the city, “safety is our first priority.”
“As summer winds down and we begin to see an increase in commuters and classes starting, the City of Hamilton is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students as they head back to school,” continued Horwath.
“Our collective efforts are designed to create a supportive environment for our young residents. But it will take all of us to keep our students safe, so let’s work together to make this school year a successful and safe one for all,” she concluded.
The city is also warning parents who are picking up or dropping off children to follow posted signage in order to ensure safety and avoid fines.
The press release notes that most school areas have “No Stopping” and “No Parking” zones that must remain clear for pedestrians and for school vehicles such as buses.
Crossing guards are also once again stationed in various school zones across the city.
Drivers and pedestrians are instructed to always follow the directions of crossing guards and reminded that, by law, motorists must wait for pedestrians and the crossing guard to be completely off the roadway before proceeding.
The city is continuing to recruit crossing guards, with more information available at www.hamilton.ca/crossingguards.
The press release also provides a number of tips for parents and students.
Officials encourage “active transportation” to and from school, such as walking or biking, noting that “many youths are not meeting the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.”
The press release says that active forms of transportation “can benefit physical and mental health, boost academic performance, strengthen social connections, and help kids arrive at school ready to learn.”
Hamilton Public Health is also encouraging parents to ensure that their child’s vaccinations are up-to-date and reported properly to the city.
Children can be suspended from school if they are missing required vaccines or do not have the valid exemptions.
That information can be found at www.hamilton.ca/vaccines.
Finally, the city also informs the parents of kindergarten children that they may be eligible for free eyeglasses.
The Ontario Association of Optometrists’ Eye See Eye Learn program is available to children born in 2019 and 2020 that are in any junior or senior kindergarten program.
Parents who take their child to an eye exam at a participating optometrist are eligible for a free pair of glasses for their child if needed.
The glasses provided through the program are valued at over $350.
It should be noted that annual eye exams are also free through OHIP for children aged 0 to 19.
More information on the Eye See Eye Learn program can be found at optom.on.ca/esel/.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
