The city is seeking more Mississauga schools to take part in a Canada-wide effort aimed at protecting kids from the potential dangers of traffic.

The national School Streets pilot project keeps cars away from elementary and middle schools at busy times of the day — early morning and mid-afternoon — when large numbers of students are entering or leaving the building.

“By temporarily closing roads to vehicle traffic during drop-off or pickup times, the program reduces congestion and makes it easier for students to walk, bike or roll to (and from) school,” the City of Mississauga said late last week in reintroducing the program for the upcoming school year.

The city has been inviting local schools to take part since it first joined the initiative in 2022.

Mississauga public and Catholic elementary and middle schools that want to take part in the nationwide pilot program in spring 2027 have until Oct. 31 to sign up, the city said.

Two schools took part in the pilot last year

Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Elementary School and Corliss Public School in Malton participated in School Streets during the last school year.

During its nearly four-week-long participation in the national pilot this past spring, Sts. Peter and Paul, located near Rathburn Road East and Central Parkway East, cut off front-of-the-building access to cars at specific times of the day in a direct attempt to increase road safety in the immediate vicinity of the school.

Corliss Public School, meanwhile, got on board with the School Streets initiative in September 2025.

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When implemented, the road/student safety program establishes a car-free environment at drop-off time in the morning and pickup time in the afternoon using barricades and road closure signage in front of schools.

Making things safer for students is the goal

The goal of the pilot study, simply put, is to make it safer for students to travel to and from school.

“This program helps create a safe and community friendly space for students by closing the street in front of the school to vehicle traffic,” city officials said earlier in describing the ongoing pilot study.

Officials say the program also encourages students to be active by walking, biking or rolling to and from school.

Mississauga Deputy Mayor and Ward 4 Coun. John Kovac, in whose ward Sts. Peter and Paul is located, has described the program as a “great initiative.”

(Photo: City of Mississauga)

He said earlier that by creating safer streets, the pilot study “allows students and their families to get active and walk, bike or roll to and from school. Not to mention the benefits this program has on the environment around the school.”

Sam Rogers, the city’s commissioner of transportation and works, said earlier the benefits of the program are countless.

“From physical and mental health gains to lowering greenhouse gas emissions in school zones, this program is helping create safer, healthier and more connected communities for everyone.”

Looking for more schools to take part 

Rogers said the City of Mississauga is one of 25 communities across Canada participating in the extended School Streets initiative.

“Many of our school zones face temporary congestion during drop-off and pickup times, which presents traffic dangers, high concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions and lost opportunities for students to get physical activity and develop the skills needed to travel independently,” Rogers said in June 2025. “Implementing this School Streets pilot will be an innovative approach to help us create a space where students can feel more comfortable walking, cycling or rolling to and from school.”

The Mississauga School Streets pilot project is delivered in partnership with Green Communities Canada and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

In 2022, the city took part in a School Streets pilot in Mississauga that involved three elementary schools for three weeks in May and June of that year.

That initiative proved successful, city officials said, prompting them to support Mississauga’s continued involvement in the pilot.


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