'It's O.K. to cross': Getting to know DSA’s crossing guards

Two crossing guards help Dartmouth South Academy students and parents safely cross Prince Arthur Avenue on school days: Debbie and Gordie. They recently spoke with neighbourhood resident Winifred (and her dad), who asked them questions at the top of her four-year-old mind. The crossing guards, who are employed by HRM, also offered some important safety tips for parents.

Do you like candy?

Debbie: Oh yes.

Gordie: I don’t. I don’t eat candy.

Debbie: I do, unfortunately. Sour, sour — anything sour!

What’s your favourite dessert?

Gordie: Mine’s ice cream. Any kind of ice cream. I like to eat butter rum.

Debbie: Chocolate ice cream or chocolate cake.

I like chocolate, too! What’s your favourite colour?

Debbie and Gordie: Blue!

What do you like about your job?

Debbie: The people. The kids.

Gordie: I’d say the same thing. It’s a good retirement job. It’s a lovely retirement job.

How long have you been doing the job? What did you do before?

Debbie: I’d say nine years. I worked in an office for 32 years.

Gordie: I’d say 15. I was in construction.

Where do you live?

Debbie: At the bottom of the hill on Fenwick Street.

Gordie: At the top of Gaston Road.

Do you have a family? Kids, grandkids?

Debbie: Yes, I do! Grandkids, I have a granddaughter.

Gordie: I do! Kids and grandkids.

Debbie: They’re the best!

Gordie: That’s where my money goes.

What’s your favourite movie or TV show?

Debbie: It! [laughing and pointing to her It-themed baseball cap featuring a red balloon.] Stephen King’s It.

I really like Inside Out.

Debbie: I like that movie, too! I like scary movies.

Gordie: I don’t watch many movies. I like mostly talk shows on TV.

Do you have a pet?

Debbie: Yes. I have three of them! Two dogs — two big dogs and a cat.

Gordie: I don’t have any pets.

Do you know any jokes?

Debbie: That’s one thing I’m not good at. I know jokes — not good jokes [laughing]. I don’t know too many jokes, unfortunately.

Gordie: Yeah, same.

Debbie: Do you know jokes?

Why did the skeleton just stand on the sidewalk?

Debbie: Don’t know.

He was waiting for people to talk to him!

[Winifred’s dad] What do you think people should be aware of about the roads right now, about kids?

Debbie: Slow down.

Gordie: Yeah.

Debbie: I was almost hit yesterday morning down there.

Gordie: See that sign, “End of School Zone” [on Rodney Road, just after Prince Arthur]? It shouldn’t be there no more, now that the pre-primary school is there. I’ve been talking to people about it. It should be taken down.

[Winifred’s dad] Anything else you think people should know about?

Debbie: Just to slow down and be aware of the kids.

Gordie: Most of the drivers are O.K., but just to pay more attention. It is a dangerous job. It’s a dangerous job. You gotta stand out in the middle of the road.

Debbie: Yeah, you gotta stand out in the middle, and you see them coming barreling down the hill or whatever.

Gordie: Sometimes they don’t stop.

Debbie: Yeah, exactly. That’s just it, right? And the kids have to learn to not just walk out with us. And I keep trying to stress that point. Wait till we get out there and say, “It’s O.K. to cross.” It’s so hard because even parents will just bring their kids out with us.

[Winifred’s dad] I didn’t know that.

Debbie: Yeah, because especially the way they come down the hill. With the second tree right by the stairs, you can’t really see me until you get around there. So let me get out there first. I’d rather them hit me than hit a kid.

Gordie: Sometimes parents will cross the kids [at the top of hill, where there’s a flashing light but no crosswalk]. Kids then think they can do that, too.

[Winifred and dad] Thank you both very much.

Gordie and Debbie: Thank you!