Kids take creativity to the streets in hopes of curbing school zone speeding

(From left to right) Danielle, Aluna, Lotti and Emily stood next to signs featuring their artwork in Kitchener, Ont. on May 11, 2026. (Dave Pettitt/CTV News)

A new campaign featuring artwork from elementary school students in Kitchener could help make school zones safer.

Yard signs featuring the children’s artistic creations have been put up outside 38 public and Catholic elementary schools in Waterloo Region.

The drawings were made by four students when they were still in Kindergarten: Lotti, Danielle, Emily and Aluna. They are now in Grade Two and Grade Three at Janet Metcalf Public School.

They were inspired by a close call within their school zone.

“It’s important because if [drivers] don’t slow down, serious stuff can happen,” Lotti told CTV News.

The signs were unveiled at a special event on Monday, just in time for Canada Road Safety Week. Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region (STSWR) made the signs thanks to funding through a Road Safety Community Partnership Program grant from the Ministry of Transportation.

Leslie Maxwell, the school planning travel supervisor for STSWR, applauded the student-led project.

“They really thought about what the problem was and what needed to be solved. And they came forward for us in ways that adults have not … a lot of times,” Maxwell said.

The students are happy to see their work displayed throughout the region.

“It makes me feel grateful and proud because our signs are at different schools,” Emily said.

The signs will be up for the next few weeks.

They’ll be brought out again during the 2026-2027 school year at times of heightened traffic risk.