Keating elementary school has installed a pair of solar powered crosswalk beacons, donated by Saanichton-based JSF Technologies. The beacons are mounted on busy Central Saanich Road, where hundreds of semi-trucks pass every day on their way from the Pat Bay highway to the Keating Industrial Park.

School Principal Mark Notte was very enthusiastic about the crosswalk, and noted that he has had dozens of positive comments from parents and local residents in the days since they were installed.

“We’re absolutely ecstatic about this,” said Notte. “It’s an extremely, extremely busy road and it’s becoming busier.”

Notte explained that the parent group and parking lot safety committee worked together with Pat Bryant of the Central Saanich Police, who is also parent at the school, to look into options to make the road around the school safer.

“He approached JSF Technologies, which is right at hand here, they had solar powered lights at the municipal yard that were not working. They spruced them up and put some extra work into them,” said Notte, who also had an opportunity to speak to Central Saanich council to the level of need for the children of the school.

“Some 350 vehicles go past the school during the time period as the kids are coming to school and leaving. A number of those, about 150 turn into Keating,” he said.

Approximately 42 students and 22 parents are also involved in the crossing guard program at the school. “It wasn’t quite enough and we needed something to highlight the crossing as it is getting busier,” Notte said.

JSF Vice President Andrew Evans lives right behind Keating elementary and has several neighbours attending the school. “I walk on this road every day, so I am more than aware of the trucks barrelling down to the highway,” said Evans. “It was our pleasure and our duty to give these beacons to the school.”

JSF Technologies has more than 130 solar powered crosswalk beacons installed in the region. With growth of 1,000 per cent over the past four years, JSF has become the world leader in this market.

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