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Parents and students at a Montreal West school are celebrating a temporary return of a crossing guard at a troubled intersection. However, they view the situation as a "short-lived victory." The crossing guard's return comes after a summer safety campaign by parents of Royal West Academy students. The guard had previously been stationed at the corner of Ainslie Road and Westminster Avenue, but its job ended in June.

Three Royal West Academy students have been struck by vehicles and injured at the intersection in the past two years. In April, Montreal police temporarily stationed a crossing guard at the intersection, anticipating changes from the municipality, including reducing the number of lanes. Despite the expectation of road changes and a pilot project to narrow the roadway and remove left-hand turns, these modifications were not completed by the end of the school year in October.

Montreal West Mayor Jonathan Cha expressed hope that the upcoming improvements would enhance safety, stating that the changes would create calming measures and provide more space for children to cross safely. However, former governing board chair Eric Lamoureaux remains concerned about the impact of the road changes. He worries that the narrowed lanes might lead to more frustration among drivers, potentially resulting in reckless driving towards Highway 20.

Lamoureaux emphasizes the need for a physical presence at the intersection, regardless of the road changes.

With road reconfiguration set to begin on September 22 and expected to be completed by the end of October, the crossing guard will be temporarily re-hired for the upcoming school year. Twice a day, an SPVM crossing guard will be stationed at the intersection, but like the previous year, the guard's presence is temporary. Lamoureaux stresses that even with the road changes, parents would still prefer a permanent crossing guard to protect vulnerable pedestrians, including students. He reiterates that the situation demands action.