North Battleford Early Learning Centre is seeing dangerous driving behaviour and is asking city council to address the issue. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Safe Zones

NB daycare asking city council for help following speeding and ‘near misses’

Sep 25, 2024 | 7:05 AM

Like every other school zone, the speed limit on 19th Avenue from Holy Family School to North Battleford Early Learning Centre is 30 km/hr, but some drivers are doing everything except follow the limit and other safety rules.

After a number of near misses that could have ended up as accidents, vehicles pulling around buses that have flashing lights on and speeding through the school zone, educators and parents of the daycare are raising the alarm and asking for help from city council.

“School zones play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of children,” said Lacey Weran, board member of the North Battleford Early Learning Center Daycare Board during a presentation Monday night.

She, along with Kendra Oliphant and Shari Dueck spoke to council about the needs of some of the children in their care and what they hoped the remedy would be.

“Depth perception in kids doesn’t fully develop until after their seven-years-old,” she said, noting they aren’t able to determine how far away a vehicle is when trying to cross the street.

Made in Saskatchewan

Find My Plus One: The Canadian App for Getting Out and Living Your Best Life

Mar 09, 2026

Riderville

Ask Not for Whom the Ed Hervey Tampering Window Opens!

Feb 02, 2026

Seniors Scene

New Year - New Habits

Feb 02, 2026

“For these reasons alone, it is essential for drivers to slow down and be extra vigilant in these zones.”

Weran told councilors the area of particular concern is between 91st St. and 95th St.

“The issue of drivers speeding through this area has been ongoing, the (NBELC) staff have discussed this issue with community safety officers and requested their presence,” said Weran, noting while CSOs have come out, it so far hasn’t made an impact.

This isn’t the first time a delegation has come before council. The last time led to an electronic speed sign being placed near the centre but that too has not had much effect, although it does track the number of speeders.

“85 per cent of cars driving in the area are going over the posted speed limit,” she said.

According to Dueck, another board member, the learning centre has 65 children enrolled, 285 students at the Catholic school along with local neighbourhood children.

“Countless children are attending the parks, the soccer fields, the baseball diamonds within this stretch of school zone,” she said.

Some of those children are neurodivergent, cognitively impaired, or have auditory, visual and other physical disabilities. Dueck explained some are in wheelchairs, use walkers, or may be non-verbal.

An electronic speed sign goes red in the speed zone near North Battleford Early Learning Center. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“In short, we’re painting a picture that the current signage is not providing these children with a safe environment to attend school, daycare or the neighbourhood parks,’ she said.

To address the issues, the educators are asking for speed bumps and signage stating there are children with hearing problems in the area – as was recommended by an audiologist.

“This is one example of one family in the area, but we’re here to stress the importance of protecting all of our children,” she said.

They also requested clearer signage and to potentially change the length of the 30 km/h school zone along 19th Ave. since a section of it is currently 50 km/h.

Following the presentation, Mayor David Gillan called it an issue they take seriously and Councillor Thomas (Bill) Ironstand agreed before the question of what is currently being done was handed over to Chief of Protective Services Lindsay Holm to answer.

“We monitor in three areas around Holy Family most recently,” he said, noting the 85th percentile is typically what speed limits are set by.

“What we’re seeing just outside the school zones is that…they’re around the 45 to 40 km/h respectively so, it does show that people are slowing down coming into the school zone,” he said.

Holm explained they are working to get data within the speed zones themselves. He noted the CSOs are making the rounds but with a limited numbers of officers, they split their time between the 13 school zones.

“They are doing radar as much as possible and I know that’s something that’s pretty near and dear to the CSOs’ hearts as well,” said Holm.

Before any concrete decisions are made, he suggested getting the data first.

“We want to make sure we’re addressing the right problem.”

Councilors took the time to discuss the issues surrounding bus drop off and pickup locations, overgrowth of trees blocking the signs, and limitations with radar traffic cameras.

“This is not the first group that’s approached at least myself, many other councilors as well,” said Gillan.

“19th Ave., is a big feeder avenue,” he said, noting representatives of a local French school had also previously shared concerns.

“While they’re appreciative of more stop signs, people are still going through them and speeding – everybody pretty much speeds through there.”

—

julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

On X: jls194864