OTTAWA, September 17, 2025 – Operation Lifesaver Canada (OL Canada), in partnership with the City of Ottawa and Safer Roads Ottawa, today officially unveiled new Look. Listen. Live. decals on the active transportation pathway near Brookfield High School. The decals are part of a national effort to prevent tragic rail-related incidents by reminding pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers to exercise caution around railway crossings.
The unveiling is one of many events taking place across Canada this week to mark Rail Safety Week 2025 (RSW25), held September 15–21. This year’s theme – “There is No ‘Undo’ Button” – underscores the life-or-death consequences of unsafe behaviour around railway tracks and trains.
“Every year, far too many Canadians are killed or seriously injured in preventable rail-related incidents,” said Chris Day, National Director of Operation Lifesaver Canada. “These decals may look simple, but they serve as a powerful reminder: stay alert, follow the signals, and make safe decisions around tracks and trains.”
“The City of Ottawa is committed to making our roads safer for everyone,” said Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. “That includes ongoing efforts to educate the public about safety at railway crossings and across our entire transportation network. Through our Road Safety Action Plan, we are investing in engineering, education, and enforcement to protect the most vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. But even with these improvements, safety depends on all of us following the rules of the road.”
OL Canada is grateful of the support we receive from municipalities across Canada as we work to stop track tragedies. OL Canada attends municipal association conferences federally and provincially each year to engage with municipal leaders and remind them that, as cities grow and intensify, it’s important to remind people that everyone has a role to play in ‘getting to zero’ incidents, injuries, and deaths.
The Brookfield unveiling was attended by representatives from the City of Ottawa, Safer Roads Ottawa, and Operation Lifesaver Canada, alongside community members and students. Local officials emphasized the importance of working together to raise awareness and prevent tragedies before they happen.
Quick Facts
- Every year across North America, more than 2,300 people are killed or seriously injured in rail-related incidents.
- In the first six months of 2025, more than 130 crossing and trespassing incidents occurred in Canada alone, resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.
- Crossing incidents in Canada were up nearly 14 percent compared to the five-year average.
About Operation Lifesaver Canada
Operation Lifesaver (OL) Canada is a national not-for-profit dedicated to preventing collisions at rail crossings and trespassing on railway property. OL is funded by Transport Canada and the Railway Association of Canada and its members, including CN, CPKC, VIA Rail, exo, Metrolinx, and others. Working in partnership with railways, governments, law enforcement, safety organizations, and communities across the country, OL saves lives by educating Canadians about the hazards associated with tracks and trains.
For more information about Rail Safety Week 2025 and Operation Lifesaver Canada’s programs, visit: operationlifesaver.ca
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Media Contact:
Operation Lifesaver Canada
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