City of Calgary teams with Operation Livesaver to raise awareness about rail-crossing safety
Every year, dozens of Canadians are killed or seriously injured in collisions at railway crossings. In fact, there were 159 such incidents in Canada in 2022, which killed 14 people and seriously injured another 27. Sadly, virtually all these tragedies were preventable.
Today, Operation Lifesaver (OL) Canada, in partnership with HUB Surface Systems and The City of Calgary, unveiled two new rail safety decals at rail crossings at Shawville Gate S.W. and 11 Street S.W. as part of OL’s Look. Listen. Live. Community Safety Partnership Program.
Through the program, OL works with municipalities to identify locations where rail-safety decals can be installed to remind people to be situationally aware around crossings. Each bright yellow decal features a black silhouette of a train, as well as the words “Look. Listen. Live.” — OL’s important rail-safety message. The goal of the decals is simple: to prevent tragic crossing incidents by making people who walk, wheel or drive more aware of the need to be vigilant around railway crossings.
“The City of Calgary is pleased to have partnered with Operation Lifesaver to install new rail safety decals at a number of locations in the city. These decals provide additional information to Calgarians of the importance of being vigilant around railway crossings with the goal to prevent tragedies at railway crossings,” said Stephen Kay, Senior Special Projects Engineer with The City of Calgary Mobility.
“Incidents at railway crossings are tragically common across this country, and each one affects the victim’s family and friends, as well as railway employees, first responders and broader communities,” said Sarah Mayes, National Director of Operation Lifesaver Canada. "This program aims to make the public more aware of the hazards around rail crossings, which will hopefully save lives. We want people to slow down, look in both directions, listen for approaching trains, and obey all railway warning signs and signals.”
Vancouver, B.C., and London, Ont., became the first Canadian cities to sign onto the Community Safety Partnership Program in 2018, and as of 2022 there were 80 municipalities participating in the program. This year, another 20 municipalities will be joining the program for a total of 100.
“Rail safety is a shared responsibility, and we’re pleased that so many communities have recognized that and chosen to join forces with us through the Community Safety Partnership Program,” said Mayes. “We hope to build on the program’s momentum, and work with even more municipalities to spread the rail-safety message and save lives.”
Municipalities can obtain more information about the Community Safety Partnership Program by visiting OL’s website. OL also recently unveiled a free toolkit for communities to use in promoting rail safety to their residents; it’s available at www.operationlifesaver.ca.
For more information:
Catherine Henry
Operation Lifesaver Canada
chenry@railcan.ca
613-564-8100
About Operation Lifesaver Canada
Operation Lifesaver Canada is a national public rail-safety program sponsored by Transport Canada, the Railway Association of Canada and its members, including CN, CPKC, VIA Rail, Metrolinx, exo, West Coast Express and Genesee & Wyoming, among others. Through its national network of Rail Safety Ambassadors, partnerships with safety councils, police, the trucking industry and community groups, and innovative tools such as its virtual-reality Look. Listen. Live. campaign, Operation Lifesaver Canada works to save lives by educating Canadians about the hazards of rail crossings and trespassing on railway property. Canadians can keep up-to-date on the latest rail safety news by visiting operationlifesaver.ca.