Scott celebrates 20th anniversary as crossing guard
Published Monday January 5th, 2009
Passion | Protecting kids at corner of Dundonald and Northumberland streets
They trot along in a tight group of rainbow-coloured snow jackets, mitts and tams toward the intersection of Dundonald and Northumberland streets.
Crossing guard Brian Scott, 57, activates the overhead pedestrian signal in advance of their arrival at his corner, and he steps into the street with his hand-held stop sign after he's scanned for oncoming vehicles.
"Thanks, Brian. Have a nice day," the tiny, scarf-muffled voices call out to him as they obediently march across the street.
A few minutes later, Connaught Street Elementary School student Amina Hassan, 7, and her mother Christine Hassan step into the same intersection.
"Hi, Brian," young Amina calls out cheerfully as he halts the oncoming vehicles.
Scott recently marked his 20th anniversary as a crossing guard. He said he relishes his responsibility to make the streets safer for the elementary schoolchildren.
Scott, who has a disability, speaks slowly and deliberately about how much he enjoys protecting the youngsters and keeping them safe.
"I like getting out and seeing people, and I walk around every day and I always go to work," he said.
"No one in my house is working. Nobody wants to do anything. Some are just living on a rocking chair. I don't live on a rocking chair."
Because of his disability, Scott said, he was on income assistance, but he's now living on a disability pension.
Twenty years ago, Scott was given the crossing guard position by police officer Fred Jones, who looked after the program for the Fredericton Police Force.
"One guy was leaving. He quit. And I was there and he said, 'Well, Brian, I don't know if you can do it.' I said, 'Well, just give me a chance and I'll show you. If I can't, you've got nothing to lose.' They took a chance and it worked out," Scott said.
He's seldom missed a day of work since, unless he's been sick, and he walks the six blocks from his Charlotte Street apartment to his corner every school day.
Amina has known her favourite crossing guard since kindergarten and she said she likes him.
"There used to be another crossing guard over here and he (Scott) came over here so the kids would be safe," she said. "It's good 'cause you know it's safer. I'm shorter and people aren't going to see me if they have big cars."
Amina's comments drew confirmation from her mother.
"He always shows up and that's one really nice thing. He's very, very reliable," said Christine Hassan. "It's a very busy one (intersection) and one thing I always notice is that people don't stop, even when you hit the crosswalk button, and they stop in the middle of the crosswalk if they stop. I don't like this corner at all.
"It's good to have a crossing guard here. Brian always keeps a good eye out for the kids and he makes sure that they stay back there."
Scott said last year on his 19th anniversary, the kids gathered in -25 C weather to sing a song for him.
His job is one that a lot of folks wouldn't do. It's intermittent and has limited hours, and it pays minimum wage.
Scott has to dash out in the morning to get children safely to school, be back at 2 p.m. for the YMCA's after-school kids and then be back just after 3 p.m. when the rest of the elementary school classes are dismissed.
"It's a good job for me. It's something I can do," Scott said.
He's used to hard work. For 10 years, he worked full-time at a fish plant in Black's Harbour before coming to Fredericton.
There are several cold and blustery winter days, but sleet and rain don't keep him from his job.
"I don't mind. I do it because I like doing it. I'm an outdoor person. I'm always outdoors doing something," Scott said.
"A lot of people seem to like what I do for them. I give and take. That's the way I am. I'm just courteous, nice to people."
It's not just students and parents who have high praise for Scott.
"He's just great. He's reliable and he's kind. He's has the children's safety front and centre," said Connaught Street School principal Melanie Wood. "He's part of our Connaught Street family."
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