Parents of students at Royal West Academy are calling on Montreal West officials to restore a permanent crossing guard at the intersection of Westminster Avenue and Ainslie Road. The demand follows the removal of a temporary guard that had been in place during the spring of 2026 and the postponement of planned intersection improvements because of a rail workers’ strike.
The city installed the temporary crossing guard earlier this year after a series of vehicle‑student collisions at the busy junction. The guard was intended as a stop‑gap until permanent safety measures could be completed. However, the rail strike that began later in 2026 halted work on the upgrades, and the temporary guard was taken down.
Local media and school records indicate that several Royal West Academy pupils have been struck by passing cars at Westminster and Ainslie in recent years. Those incidents have heightened concerns among families about the adequacy of existing traffic controls.
Since the guard’s removal, a group of parents has organized meetings, circulated petitions and written letters to the municipal transportation department. Their collective goal is to secure a year‑round, staffed crossing guard that would remain in place while the permanent upgrades are eventually finished.
The rail workers’ strike, which involves employees from multiple railway companies, has delayed a range of infrastructure projects across the region, including the planned redesign of the Westminster‑Ainslie intersection. City engineers have cited the strike as the primary reason for the postponed timeline.
City officials have acknowledged the parents’ concerns but have not provided a new date for the permanent guard or the intersection work. As of September 2026, the advocacy effort continues, with families urging the municipality to prioritize pedestrian safety at the school’s main crossing.