Montreal West Protesters Demand Safety Changes After Students Struck at Dangerous Intersection
Approximately forty protesters gathered at a busy Montreal West intersection on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, demanding immediate safety improvements following multiple incidents where students were struck by vehicles. The demonstration occurred at the corner of Westminster Avenue and Ainslie Road, where parents and community members expressed growing concerns about pedestrian safety.
Recent Accidents Spark Community Outcry
Last week, two Royal West Academy students, aged twelve and thirteen, were transported to a hospital with minor injuries after being struck by a car at the Westminster Avenue and Ainslie Road intersection. Police reports indicate the driver had made a complete stop at the stop sign before proceeding and hitting the children at low speed.
This incident follows a similar occurrence in 2024 when a fourteen-year-old student was hit by a vehicle at the same location. That previous accident prompted initial calls for a crossing guard, but Montreal's police department stated that Royal West Academy, as a high school, does not qualify for crossing guard assignments, which are reserved exclusively for elementary schools.
Petition and Political Support
A petition with nearly 3,500 signatures, sponsored by Liberal MNA Désirée McGraw, advocates for extending crossing guard eligibility to include high schools. The petition was scheduled for presentation in the National Assembly later on Tuesday. Community members argue that the current policy fails to address the real dangers faced by teenage students.
"We've seen drivers kind of bullying the kids," said Joanna Duy, chair of the safety subcommittee for Royal West's Parent Participation Organization. "The kids want to cross and the cars are kind of inching forward to prevent them from crossing."
Complex Traffic Environment
The intersection presents multiple challenges for pedestrian safety. Parent volunteers conducted a count revealing 491 pedestrians using the crossing daily, including hundreds of Royal West Academy students and local residents. These pedestrians must navigate four lanes of traffic primarily used by commuters accessing the nearby A20 highway.
"Crossing four lanes of traffic is very difficult with a stop sign," Duy explained. "There's so many elements going on here that we feel that having a human being to actively make the cars stop would just be a real help."
Additional Safety Concerns Nearby
Just north of the intersection at Sherbrooke Street West lies an Exo commuter train crossing that former Montreal West mayor Beny Masella once described as "the most dangerous level crossing in Canada." In 2024, a train struck and killed a seventy-one-year-old man at this location, though a coroner's report later determined road design was not responsible for the fatality.
Frequent train crossings create additional traffic pressure in the area. "Everybody's in a rush after having to wait so long for the trains to pass," Duy noted, suggesting this urgency contributes to dangerous driver behavior at the adjacent intersection.
Proposed Safety Solutions
Community members have proposed several safety enhancements for the Westminster Avenue and Ainslie Road intersection:
- Installation of a crossing guard during peak student travel times
- Implementation of flashing lights above pedestrian crossings
- Construction of a raised crosswalk to slow vehicle traffic
- Reduction from four to two traffic lanes at the intersection
Kate Shingler, a parent whose daughter attends Royal West Academy, shared her perspective: "Having a crossing guard at those peak times when students are coming will be an improvement. I worry about all the students who use the intersection." Shingler attended the same school as a teenager and noted that traffic conditions have significantly worsened over the years.
Municipal Response and Planned Changes
On Monday, Montreal West Town Council awarded a contract to reconfigure the Westminster Road and Sherbrooke Street West intersection, with construction planned for summer 2026. This project had stalled in October when the town couldn't find a company willing to undertake the work.
However, the reconfiguration plan maintains the Ainslie Road intersection in its current state. "There's really nothing planned at this intersection," Duy expressed with concern.
Mayor Jonathan Cha, who defeated former mayor Beny Masella in the November election, announced that the town had added two stop signs to the Ainslie Road crossing. Cha stated the municipality is "continuing our discussion" with the school, police, and provincial government "to make this intersection safer."
The protest and community advocacy highlight ongoing tensions between pedestrian safety needs and existing traffic infrastructure in Montreal West. As the town moves forward with some safety improvements, parents and protesters continue pushing for more comprehensive measures to protect students and residents at this problematic intersection.
