TORONTO, December 10, 2024 – Canada’s top crossing guards are beloved members of their community who advocate for children’s safety and educate the community about how to make our roads safer.  

The 2024 Canada’s Favourite Crossing Guard Contest drew 346 nominations for 59 crossing guards across four provinces. The winners are:  

Jean Marc Auclair

École l’Arbrisseau, Québec City, Québec  

Known as “Mr. Happiness,” “Mr. Sunshine,” and “Mr. Smile,” Jean Marc is a beacon of positivity in his Cap-Rouge neighbourhood. At 71, he became a crossing guard out of a passion for ensuring children’s safety and has transformed his post into a source of joy. Jean Marc greets everyone with a warm smile, occasionally dresses in colourful costumes and takes pride in being a reassuring presence. One student shared, “Sometimes I don’t feel like going to school because of conflicts, but just seeing him smile at me makes my day better.” Recognized locally and beyond, Jean Marc’s kindness and commitment embody the spirit of this award. 

Fay Eggleston

Port Elgin Saugeen Central School, Port Elgin, Ontario  

Fay’s warm smile and unwavering dedication make her a pillar of her community. A former local business owner, she’s been a crossing guard for years, guiding children safely across a busy highway intersection. One nomination shared how Fay went above and beyond by noticing a child without gloves on a cold day and giving them a pair from her personal stash. Fay is loved by both children and parents for her cheerful greetings, her care for their safety and her constant vigilance, regardless of the weather.  

Clayton Ross

St. Paul Catholic School, Kingston, Ontario

Clayton is cherished by his community for his extraordinary efforts to ensure student safety and spread positivity. Parents praise him for learning the names of students and their families, bringing treats for neighbourhood dogs and volunteering to teach road safety in classrooms. Clayton even handed out reflective stickers at the end of the school year, urging children to stay safe over the summer. A parent remarked, “Clayton’s presence is not just about safety; it’s about making every student and family feel seen and valued.”  

Parachute, Canada’s national charity dedicated to injury prevention, launched this annual contest in 2005 to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of dynamic crossing guards who help keep our children safe. Since 2022, this contest has been supported by Desjardins Insurance, our exclusive road-safety partner.  

Each winning guard receives $500, as does each of their schools.  

“Crossing Guards are beacons of safety and trust in a community. They put smiles on children’s faces as they help them travel to and from school,” says Pamela Fuselli, President and CEO of Parachute. “Celebrating these dedicated volunteers is one way of saying thank you and recognizing how much they give back to the neighbourhoods where they enable children to walk or wheel to school safely.”  

“Desjardins Insurance is honoured to support Parachute and the annual Crossing Guard contest, which recognizes the phenomenal work that local crossing guards do daily, to better protect their communities,” says Valérie Lavoie, president and COO, Desjardins General Insurance Group. “The efforts of each crossing guard, to reduce road-related injuries and fatalities is as honourable as their unique ability to connect with the students and pedestrians they interact with on a daily basis.”

This year’s judges, who selected the three winners, are:  

  • Trisha Enriquez, digital content creator and brand collaborations strategist  
  • Pamela Fuselli, President and CEO, Parachute  
  • Stéphanie Fournier, Vice-President Omnichannel Member/Client Journeys Division, Desjardins General Insurance Group 
  • Julie Houle, TVA Host  
  • Dr. Richard Louis, Injury Prevention Specialist, NB Trauma Program, member of Parachute’s Expert Advisory Committee 

For more information on Parachute and our commitment to pedestrian safety, visit parachute.ca 

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To request media interviews:

Kelley Teahen, Vice President, Communications & Marketing, Parachute  

416-886-0950 (mobile) 
media@parachute.ca 

About Parachute  

Parachute is Canada’s national charity dedicated to reducing the devastating impact of preventable injuries. Injury is the No. 1 killer of Canadians aged 1 to 44 and the financial toll is staggering, with injury costing the Canadian economy $29.4 billion a year. Through education and advocacy, Parachute is working to save lives and create a Canada free of serious injuries. For more information, visit us at parachute.ca and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. 

About Desjardins Group

Desjardins Group is the largest cooperative financial group in North America and the sixth largest in the world, with assets of $464.7  billion as of Sept. 30, 2024. It has been named one of Canada’s Best Employers by Forbes magazine and by Mediacorp. To meet the diverse needs of its members and clients, Desjardins offers a full range of products and services to individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, its online platforms, and its subsidiaries across Canada. Ranked among the world’s strongest banks according to The Banker magazine, Desjardins has one of the highest capital ratios and one of the highest credit ratings in the industry.

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