To families at Wilson Avenue Public School, Lorraine Death is much more than a crossing guard—she is a local celebrity. Lorraine can be seen in front of the school two times a day with her brightly-coloured vest and stop sign, proudly waving to kids, parents even drivers in their vehicles. Now, after 40 years of keeping generations of children safe, Lorraine has been named Crossing Guard of the Year by Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region (STSWR) “My boss had said she was coming just to talk about my corner, and all the school came out,” Lorraine said. “Yeah, it was quite a surprise.” Out of 20 nominees put forward this year, officials said Lorraine stood out for her reliability and deep connection to the neighborhood. “She rarely misses a day,” said Leslie Maxwell from STSWR. “The kids and the community all rallied around her.” Lorraine’s journey began four decades ago when she spotted a help-wanted advertisement in the local newspaper. She applied, got the job, and has been a fixture at the intersection of Wilson Avenue and Franklin Street ever since. Over the decades, she has helped thousands of families navigate the busy intersection at Wilson and Franklin Streets. “I actually am crossing grandchildren of ones I crossed [previously]. Now their grandchildren are coming to Wilson,” Lorraine said. Local parents said her presence brings an unmatched sense of security to the daily school commute. “She’s just really nice. You know, she talks to everybody,” said Jessica Morris, a local parent. “She’s good with the kids.” At 79 years young, Lorraine has no plans to hang up her high-visibility vest or stop sign anytime soon. Her plan is to keep posting up at her regular corner. “As long as I can. Yeah. For sure,” she said. “Just get them across safely and home.” This is only the second year of STSWR’s Crossing Guard of the Year recognition. Officials are encouraging community members to nominate another crossing guard who is making a difference next year.
