Press Release: Crosswalk Flag Project
Posted on:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2025
High school students at SAERC launch crosswalk‑flag safety initiative
Port Hawkesbury, NS — A group of enthusiastic students from the Strait Area Education and Recreation Centre (SAERC) has turned a simple idea into a life‑saving public safety project: a crosswalk‑flag program at busy pedestrian crossings. The first installment of flags has been added to the crosswalk on Reeves St. near Island Gateway Plaza.
Inspiration strikes in the classroom
Early last year, a small group of students from Mr. Broussard’s class were assigned we were assigned a project to find areas in Port Hawkesbury that need improvement. Each student presented a challenge area and a solution. Sophie Langley brought up the issue of speeding and presented the crosswalk flag idea. The class chose this project to work on as a group and follow through directly through implementation.
The Crosswalk Safety Society of Nova Scotia’s longstanding “crosswalk flag” concept: brightly colored flags stationed at crosswalks, available for pedestrians to carry while crossing, increasing visibility and encouraging drivers to yield.
Gearing up the initiative
The students brought the idea back to their school’s staff advisor, who helped them form a student‑led safety group for the initiative. They spent time researching the concept online, discovering proven benefits: field studies showed pedestrian yielding compliance rose from an average of 47 % to 65 % with flag programs.
The students met with SAERC’s principal and presented a very well prepared presentation to Port Hawkesbury Town Council, receiving their full support. Council then connected them with municipal public works staff and implemented the first installation.
From idea to action
Town staff performed a site review, confirmed the location suited flag‑based safety measures, and recommended a pilot installation. With council approval, the town purchased the hardware (flag dispensers, flags, mounting posts) and coordinated installation.
Looking ahead
The Town welcomes feedback on the pilot installation and will explore expansion in other locations. They aim to install more flag stations at other nearby crosswalks, perhaps extending into downtown Port Hawkesbury or other schools in the Strait Regional School Board.
Why crosswalk flags work
- Proven to boost driver yielding compliance by ~20 percentage points .
- Low‑cost and simple to implement, with communities in Nova Scotia and beyond (over 230 installations just in HRM) embracing the concept.
In summary
What began as a group of SAERC students having a great idea to enhance safety in their town has grown into a fully-backed municipal pilot program—enhancing pedestrian safety for all. It’s a powerful example of youth taking initiative, partnering with local government, and driving community change through practical, research-backed solutions.
The Town would like to sincerely thank Mr. Broussard and the following students for active participation in this program, contributing to the safety of residents and visitors in the Town of Port Hawkesbury:
Sophie Langley
Cambria Hudson
Luke Boudreau
Neely Simmons
Jordi Martin
Dylan Keefe
Media Inquiries to: [email protected]
