Mississauga recognizes champions of school zone safety initiatives with prestigious awards

Yesterday, Mississauga City Council, on behalf of the Mississauga School Traffic Safety Action Committee (MSTSAC) presented the 2025 Dr. Arthur Wood Award to Tina Godsoe, Principal of Corliss Public School. Four Mississauga schools also received the 2025 Wilde Wood School Safety Zone Award, including St. David of Wales Catholic Elementary School (Ward 6), St. Thomas More Catholic Elementary School (Ward 3), Dixie Public School (Ward 3) and Floradale Public School (Ward 7). Road safety is a shared responsibility, and awards like this help promote a stronger focus on keeping streets safer for the student community, pedestrians and the entire neighbourhood.

Since 2016, the Mississauga School Traffic Safety Action Committee has focused on recognizing individuals and schools who promote active transportation and traffic safety in and around school zones. The Wilde Wood School Safety Zone Award was named after James Wilde and Arthur Wood who co-founded the Kiss and Ride program in Mississauga. It is awarded to schools from both the Peel District School Board and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board.

Dr. Arthur Wood Award

Tina Godsoe, Principal of Corliss Public School was chosen as this year’s recipient of the Dr. Arthur Wood Award for implementing active travel initiatives and actively engaging students, families and the community in these efforts. Ms. Godsoe’s leadership and dedication to promoting active transportation to and from school is admirable. Here are some of the initiatives Ms. Godsoe introduced at Corliss Public School:

• Led her school in partnering with the City of Mississauga’s School Streets program to establish a temporary car-free zone in front of the school during drop-off and pick-up times. The program ran for seven weeks in the fall of 2025, creating a safe and community-friendly space for students and their families on the journey to and from school.
• Initiated the Corliss Winter Clothing Boutique to provide jackets, mittens and boots to students in need, to ensure students could participate in active travel during winter months.
• Responded to community feedback about the school’s Kiss and Ride program and implemented new protocols to improve safety.
• Distributed active travel maps translated into the top five common languages of students within the school community to support families at her school whose first language is not English.

Ms. Godsoe’s dedication, persistence and passion exemplify impactful advocacy for safer, more inclusive school communities. This award reflects her unwavering commitment to making a positive difference for students and their families.

Wilde Wood School Safety Zone Award

Four schools received the Wilde Wood School Safety Zone Award for their outstanding leadership and dedication in promoting school zone safety and active transportation.

Highlights from each school include:

St. David of Wales Catholic Elementary School

• Demonstrated strong and effective communication through weekly announcements of school traffic safety and active travel processes and reminders.
• Conducted safety assemblies for transportation and busing.

St. Thomas More Catholic Elementary School

• Used newsletters and social media to convey safety and active transportation messaging to their students and families as many of their students walk to and from the school.
• Engaged in the City’s School Walking Routes program for the 2025-2026 school year.
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting active and safe school travel through multiple initiatives.

Dixie Public School

• Engaged in the City’s School Walking Routes program for the 2025-2026 school year.
• Promoted active school travel through student ambassadors.
• Shared clear messaging across the school about safe paths in the area.

Floradale Public School

• Engaged in the City’s School Walking Routes program for the 2025-2026 school year.
• Student ambassadors, staff and Peel Public Health all engaged in promoting different programs related to school zone safety and active travel at the school.
• The Floradale Green Team initiated Walk and Roll to School Wednesdays to promote active travel to and from school.

Learn more about the City’s School Walking Routes program, Crossing Guard program, cycling and the Mississauga School Traffic Safety Action Committee.

Quote

“Congratulations to this year’s Dr. Arthur Wood Award and Wilde Wood School Safety Zone Award recipients for their dedication to enhancing student road safety and supporting healthy travel habits. It’s with your partnership and commitment that we continue to ensure a safer environment for students travelling to and from school and encourage active transportation. Thank you for all you do to keep Mississauga residents safe.” Mayor Carolyn Parrish

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Tags

• Active Transportation
• Awards and Recognition