Barrhaven community gathers to honour crossing guard ‘with a friendly smile’ killed on duty

A community in Barrhaven came together to honor Peter Clark, a crossing guard killed while on duty in March. CTV’s Joshua Marano reports.

A Barrhaven community is coming together to honour a man many say was a familiar and friendly face at a local crosswalk.

A vigil was held for Peter Clark on Sunday, the crossing guard killed while on duty in March, as residents reflected on the impact he had on families in the neighbourhood.

The gathering took place at Weybridge Park, just steps from where Clark spent his mornings helping children get to school safely. Friends, family, and neighbours came together to grieve and remember.

“I’ve always been proud of you, Peter, and now the world is showing it too,” said Peter’s wife, Amanda Clark, to the dozens of people in attendance. “You do deserve this recognition.”

Pictures, flowers, and quiet reflection filled the park as community members paid tribute to a man many saw every day.

“Most of you gathered here today knew Peter as the happy crossing guard or the crossing guard with a friendly smile,” Amanda Clark said.

According to his wife, Peter loved his family, friends, animals, sports, and nature along with going to the movies.

“He loved children and played with his nieces and friend’s kids by entering their world and immersing himself in their fun. He referred to the students he crossed as his kids,” she said.

Clark is remembered as a dedicated crossing guard who was killed while working at the intersection of Cedarview Road and Kennevale Drive, an incident that shook the Barrhaven community and the city.

• Police arrest suspect in hit-and-run crash that killed Ottawa crossing guard

“It’s very overwhelming,” said parent Heidi Levine.

Levine’s daughter, Isla Deskin, wrote a note to Clark’s family following his passing, which was displayed in Peter’s shadowbox at the vigil along with other belongings.

“It’s really nice to be here and just be supportive and for her to see the impact that he had on the whole community,” she added.

Those who worked alongside Clark say his role went far beyond traffic safety.

“He understood that what he was doing mattered not just in keeping them safe, but in giving parents peace of mind and building connections that make the neighbourhood stronger,” said Dominique Rutherford with the Ottawa Safety Council.

At the vigil, a table with stationery was set up for people to share written memories of Clark. A bench was also unveiled in his honour, a lasting tribute to the community he served.

“It takes a special kind of person to stand out there every day, in all weather, with focus and care and putting others first. And Peter Clark was that kind of person,” said Kelly Banks with the Ottawa Safety Council.

According to his wife, Peter lived with social anxiety disorder, and notes this was more than a job to him, it was a chance for him to connect with others in a way that made him feel like he was a part of something.

“His brief encounters with you, the members of this community, were helping him to build his confidence and I will forever be grateful to you all,” Clark added.

A driver has been charged in connection to the crash. Nineteen-year-old Xzander Wright has pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident-causing death, but not guilty to dangerous operation causing death.

More heartfelt messages were shared throughout the evening, with family members expressing gratitude for the support shown by the community, and for the role neighbours played in Clark’s life.

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