Saying goodbye to summer break with back-to-school safety tips — and a party

Elementary students coats and boots are seen in a school in Edmonton on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Despite the looming possibility of a teachers’ strike, kids are inevitably facing back-to-school season, and the city has released ways to prepare for the transition.

Families who want to send off summer break with a Labour Day celebration can visit the City Hall plaza for a Family Photo Day to mark the end of the fountain season.

The family-friendly event runs Monday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., admission is free and there will be plenty of activities including bouncy castles, a balloon animal station, ping pong and giant games of chess, checkers, Lego and Jenga.

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There will also be food trucks available and a professional photographer who will capture the memories. Each family will get a complementary printed photo and digital copy.

In a media release Thursday, the city also released information to make the back-to-school rush safe for everyone.

Traffic and parking

Practicing safe speeds is a vital way to make sure kids who are walking, biking or rolling to school get there safely, read the release.

The speed limit in all playground zones including school streets is 30 km/h from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. year-round.

The speed limit on all other residential streets is 40 km/h unless posted otherwise.

Parents dropping kids off and picking them up at school are advised to give themselves lots of extra time, to learn school zone rules and look out for one another.

Talking to your children about the importance of using designated and marked crossings will also help impart the importance of safety, the city said.

Where parking is limited, parents and guardians are encouraged to prioritize safety over convenience by avoiding illegal parking, using designated pick-up locations and being mindful of obstructing visibility or traffic flow.

Transit

Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) will resume school routes in September and many regular bus routes will run more frequently during peak hours.

Three new school special bus routes are being introduced this September as well and are open to all residents. More information on all school routes is available on the ETS website.

City staff will be visiting post-secondary institutions and transit facilities on certain dates until mid-September to talk about safety resources and trip planning tips for new and returning students as they navigate public transit.

Transit Peace Officers will also be increasing their presence at high-traffic transit routes and LRT stations from Sept. 2 to 19.

Construction

The city’s release noted that there are more than 70 city projects in construction across Edmonton, making it important to plan travel and give yourself extra time for trips.

The city has a traffic disruptions map to help keep on top of potential travel delays.