Pashalena and Kathy McGrath sit down for coffee at Mr Beans
This is the second installment of our new column called Coffee with Kathryn. Each month one of our Kathryns will chat with a member of the community.
By Kathy McGrath
I recently sat down for a coffee with Pashalena, the school crossing guard who works at the corner of Centennial Rd and Lawson Rd. While her job may appear straightforward, it can be very strenuous, especially during rush periods.
I observed Pashalena as she directed drivers, students, parents, cyclists, scooters and buses. She looked like an orchestra conductor, waving her sign, blowing her whistle and nodding her head to ensure things run smoothly.
Fortunately, she’s a cool cucumber, smiling and offering words of encouragement as she ushers people where they need to go. “I’m trying to set a tone, no matter how busy we are,” she said. “I want to provide a friendly face. Some kids don’t like school, so I’ll smile and say ‘Let’s have a great day and do the best we can.’”
The most challenging part of her job is drivers who won’t yield. “We all lead busy lives,” she said. “Sometimes people are late for work and they don’t stop. If that happens, I have to err on the side of safety and let them go. I teach the students and parents, let’s think of safety first.”
Additionally, drivers don’t always wait for everyone to land safely on the sidewalk before proceeding. “The only way I can really educate drivers is with my whistle,” she said. “Sometimes they’re in their own little worlds, and that’s why I do the ‘toot, toot’ with the whistle.
I’d just like to remind people to trust the crossing guard because we are trained to do this job.” Part of the training is to keep traffic flowing. “We’re not only there to keep pedestrians moving, but traffic as well, so it should be 50/50,” she said.
With so many pedestrians getting hit in Toronto, I wondered if Pashalena thinks drivers are becoming more respectful of her role. “I don’t want to speak for them,” she said. “Everybody has their own self-accountability. It’s not for me to judge.”
On the other side, pedestrians may also need reminders to pay attention, especially if they’re looking at their phones or wearing headphones. “All it takes is a half second for something to happen.”
Ultimately, she believes it takes a village to keep everyone safe. “I’m not perfect and I welcome feedback. Let’s talk together. Let’s work it out as a community.”
In addition to traffic, Pashalena’s big challenge is extreme weather, especially during a two-hour lunch shift. Heated gloves and socks are helpful, but mental preparation is key. “The nemesis is the wind,” she explained. “I can wear as many layers as I want, but if I don’t mentally prepare to block out the wind, then I’m constantly thinking about it.”
Cold mornings, which start at 7:30, are also tough. “If I wake up and the weather says it’s minus 20 but it feels like minus 28, then I have to dress for minus 28.”
After working in various locations, Pashalena loves the fact that she’s now stationed in Centennial, where her family and parents live. “Some people will stop their cars, roll down their windows and say, ‘We’re so appreciative of what you do. Do you want a coffee?’ It’s nice that people in this community value my efforts to keep everyone safe.”