Grande Prairie & Area Safe Communities is hosting a variety of programs and events during Rail Safety Week to promote awareness and prevent injuries.

Grande Prairie, September 21, 2018/Grande Prairie and Area Safe Communities/- Grande Prairie and Area Safe Communities is busy preparing for National Rail Safety Week which is September 23 to September 29, 2018. The organization was awarded the #CrossSAFE Rail Safety grant from Parachute Canada in September of 2017. Since then, they have been working on promoting awareness and education on the subject through social media campaigns and by enhancing rail safety messages in a variety of programs offered in Safety City. Constable Dean Solowan of the CN Police Service has been invited to help deliver rail safety information during a series of activities, programs, and events during Rail Safety Week.

“The goal of National Rail Safety Week is to create awareness of the hazards that exist around trains and tracks and to educate people on safe practices. Our goal is to prevent injuries and deaths on the railroads.” said Cindy Blinston. “Grande Prairie has a large number of intersections where the rail tracks cross our streets and sidewalks. We feel it is important to be proactive and remind people of the dangers that exist and provide safety information that will help people to stay safe and avoid injuries.”

Rail Safety Week events will start on September 26, 2018 with a rail safety training session for first responders delivered by Constable Dean Solowan, who will also be visiting local schools to talk about rail safety throughout the week. Grande Prairie and Area Safe Communities will host the New and Young Driver Program to a group of grade ten students on September 27 to deliver lessons on rail safety and the dangers of distraction and impairment. Finally, Rail and Traffic Safety Day will take place at Safety City in Grande Prairie on Saturday, September 29, 2018 from 12:00pm – 3:00pm. To help bring awareness of rail safety to the area, CN Rail has awarded Safety City with a visit from Little Obie the train. People are encouraged to explore and take pictures of themselves with Little Obie during the event. Other activities include driving simulations, pedestrian safety scavenger hunts, interactive activities to bring awareness of the dangers of distraction and impairment and more. Everyone is welcome to attend this free public event.

About Grande Prairie and Area Safe Communities:

Our mission is to promote public safety and reduce the incidence of injury in Grande Prairie and area through the maintenance and operation of Safety City and other interactive programs designed to educate the public about safety and injury prevention.

Grande Prairie & Area Safe Communities started in 1997 through the efforts of Alberta Labour and the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce. A steering committee was formed in 1998 with assistance from the Mistahia Health Region, and the City of Grande Prairie. Members were drawn from various agencies, bringing a broad pool of safety and injury prevention expertise to the table. This coalition of many different fields of expertise, ensures the viability of Grande Prairie & Area Safe Communities. We are 1 of 68 designated Safe Communities across Canada. A designated Safe Community is one, which believes that a safe life is a basic right, and views its designation as a public affirmation of and testament to its aspiration to create a safer life for all its citizens.

Information provided by Grande Prairie & Area Safe Communities.