Greater Sudbury mayoral candidate Jeff Huska says if he's elected mayor, he'll ensure that Cote Boulevard in Hanmer is upgraded so that children walking to St. Anne Catholic Elementary School have a safe place to walk.
“If I’m elected as your next Mayor I can assure you that the 200 feet or so from Cote Blvd along St. Michel Street to the school will be expanded on the east side allowing the kids to have a safe place to walk,” said Huska.
“I spent almost an hour there last Thursday morning watching as school buses and vehicles turned onto St. Michel forcing children to walk either in the ditch or on the lawns.
“The road has deteriorated so much there really wasn’t anywhere safe for the kids to walk. It also doesn’t help that it’s the only street to and from the school that buses and vehicles can use.”
Read the full text of Huska's release below:
Most people will tell you that there is nothing is as important as the health and safety of a child. Whether it’s one of our own or someone else’s, kids always come first. That’s why Jeff Huska wants to bring to the city’s attention an unsafe environment around one of our local elementary schools, St. Anne’s in Hanmer.
“If I’m elected as your next Mayor I can assure you that the 200 feet or so from Cote Blvd along St. Michel Street to the school will be expanded on the east side allowing the kids to have a safe place to walk,” said Huska.
“I spent almost an hour there last Thursday morning watching as school buses and vehicles turned onto St. Michel forcing children to walk either in the ditch or on the lawns. The road has deteriorated so much there really wasn’t anywhere safe for the kids to walk. It also doesn’t help that it’s the only street to and from the school that buses and vehicles can use.”
The mayoral candidate wants Greater Sudburians to know that the safety of our children is paramount and the lack of a dedicated walking area to any school is inexcusable.
“I spoke with a young mother that brings her 3yr old to St. Anne’s daycare. She wants me to come back in the winter when the snow banks narrow the road even more and there is literally no where left for the kids to walk but right on the road itself. She’s worried it won’t be long before someone will be hit.”
These issues on St. Michel Street were brought to Jeff Huska’s attention by a couple he met at the Meet and Greet the Candidates Night held Oct 10th at the Monte Vista Golf Course.
The gentleman is the crossing guard at Cote Blvd and St. Michel and he is genuinely concerned for the safety of the children. He explained the added foot and a half of pavement the city put down some time ago as a makeshift walkway does nothing to secure the children’s safety and is falling apart.
He went on to tell Jeff how he’s tried getting the attention of the mayor, the city staff and area councillor but feels his and many parent’s concerns aren’t being heard or aren’t being taken seriously.
He told the mayoral candidate all anyone in the area wants is the city to repair the road and give the kids a safe place to walk, even if it means adding a culvert and sidewalk for the 200 or so feet especially before someone gets hurt.
“As your Mayor I can tell you that my door will always be open especially when it comes to issues concerning the health and safety of our children. If anyone finds themselves getting nowhere with city staff or even with their councillors, I’d expect them to come to me,” said Huska.
Jeff Huska
2018 Mayoral Candidate
Learn more about Jeff Huska's campaign by visiting his election page on Sudbury.com.
