By Gordon Lambie
Next Tuesday, Jan. 24, groups of parents and concerned citizens will be demonstrating in front of schools across Quebec during the morning drop-off period with the goal of improving safety in the areas around these institutions.
“It is a problem across the province,” said Jean-François Gagné, a parent who is both coordinating a protest in Montreal-Nord and working to mobilise people throughout Quebec.
Gagné said that this most recent movement for school safety comes out of the December 2022 death of Mariia Lehenkovska, a seven-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was struck by a car while walking to school in Montreal’s Ville-Marie borough. He acknowledged, though, that many of the issues of concern have been around for much longer and described a generalised anger around the issue of student safety in the area around schools.
ngs might grow to both lanes if enough people get involved. Participants are also being encouraged to bring bells and noisemakers. “We’re hoping at least 100 people will show up.”
