When 10-year-old bus patroller Derek Winget realized a junior kindergarten student was still on the school bus after morning drop-off, he knew exactly what to do. The grade 5 École élémentaire L’Odyssée student quickly alerted a teacher who contacted the bus company and driver to have the kindergarten student returned to the school.

For his quick thinking and dedication to keeping his peers safe, Derek received the 2016 CAA School Safety Patroller of the Year Award.

“We are delighted that Derek is the CAA School Safety Patroller of the Year. He has done an outstanding job as bus patroller and is an exemplary leader to his peers. His commitment and dedication to the program are evident and he takes his responsibilities to heart,” said Nicole Savage, Community Relations Specialist, CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO).

Since 1929, the CAA School Safety Patrol program, developed to protect and educate elementary school children on safe road-crossing practices, has run in partnership with police services, school boards, teachers, bus consortiums and student volunteers. More than 20,000 patrollers at 800 Ontario schools, volunteer over 3.45 million hours every year to help their classmates get to and from school safely.

As a leader and advocate for road safety and mobility, CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club which represents the interests of 2 million members. For over a century, CAA has collaborated with communities, police services and governments to help keep drivers and their families safe while travelling on our roads.