'Very much excited to return': York Region crossing guards helping with safe return to school

#backtoschool: Jim Thomas, a crossing guard for 14 years, is happy to return to his post after 6 months off due to COVID-19

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 21, 2020
Simon Martin

Students, teachers and bus drivers aren’t the only ones getting back to school after a six month “March break.” Crossing guards are back on shift with the added mask to their wardrobe.

Jim Thomas has been crossing students on Millard and Glad Park Avenue in Stouffville for the last 14 years and he is happy to return to his post.

“I was very much excited to return,” he said. “You get to know the kids and the parents so well. That's why I was very much looking forward to returning.”

While in the older generation deemed most at risk of COVID-19, Thomas said he takes the necessary precautions with a mask and says students and parents have been very vigilant so far this year in wearing masks.

“I can recognize them but I can’t always hear what they are saying because of the mask,” he said. “They are a very friendly polite group of kids. It’s always ‘thank you and Good morning’.”

The intersection Thomas helps at is one of the busiest as cars, and walkers come to Glad Park Public School and St. Mark’s Catholic Elementary School which are across the road from each other.

Thomas said there are 18 crossing guards in Stouffville. “I think I speak for all the men and women who do it. It’s a form of service. Although you never get rich on it you feel quite a satisfaction from helping.”

One of the other 18 crossing guards in town is Yvette Lye. She was anxious to get back to her spot on Ninth Line and Millard Street after 6 months off.

When she retired, Lye said she wanted to do something that kept her busy but had summers off. Crossing guard was the perfect fit. That was 15 years ago.

“I like the kids,” she said.

Every morning Lye says hello to each kid by name running through an endless Rolodex that’s stored somewhere in her mind. She can still recognize them with their masks on. While the COVID-19 pandemic is little bit scary, she said at least she is outside and not really in close contact with others.

Thomas said the town has done a good job of painting lines on the sidewalk to make sure people are social distancing at the intersection.

After six months off sitting around the house Lye said it is nice to have something to wake up for in the morning. “I was getting kind of tired of staying up late and sleeping in,” she laughed.