News release

School Streets program creates safer roads and encourages active living

The City of Mississauga brings School Streets pilot to Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Elementary School to create a temporary car-free environment in front of the school.

City services | May 22, 2026

On May 4, 2026, the City of Mississauga launched the School Streets pilot at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Elementary School in Ward 4. School Streets create a temporary car-free space in front of the participating school at drop-off and pickup times, using barricades and signs.

The goal of the pilot is to make it safer for students to travel to and from school. It also encourages students to be active by walking, biking or rolling. In addition, it gives families, students and staff a chance to connect with each other after school.

The pilot at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Elementary School runs until May 29, 2026. During this time, students and their families are encouraged to walk, ride their bikes or use other active ways to get to and from school.

Road closures at the school

During the pilot, on school days between 2:45 to 3:45 p.m., parents and caregivers are not able to drive directly to Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Elementary School (exceptions are made for families with special accessibility needs).

Woodington Drive is closed between Bishopstoke Lane and Clevedon Drive.

City staff and volunteers are on site to help drivers navigate the closure and safely access their homes within the closure area if needed.

Benefits of School Streets

Closing the road in front of the school at drop-off and pickup times creates a safer, community-friendly space for those walking, cycling and rolling to and from school. It also helps improve road safety around the school, encourages physical activity, reduces traffic congestion, enhances air quality, builds stronger community connections and can provide mental health benefits.

Based on previous pilots in Mississauga, it has been found that active travel increases when School Streets are in place, with more students walking or rolling to school instead of relying on cars. It has also been found that driver safety in those areas improved, with an increase in speed compliance and yielding behaviour at intersections.

The Mississauga School Streets pilot program is delivered in partnership with Green Communities Canada and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Learn more about the City of Mississauga’s School Streets pilot program.

Background

About the City’s School Streets pilot program

The City first started the School Streets pilot in 2022. It included two locations at three elementary schools. Each school participated for three weeks in May and June. The pilot was successful at promoting active travel to school and reducing car traffic during school drop-off and pickup times. The City’s example has since been a point of reference for municipalities across Canada looking to implement their own School Streets.

About the National Active School Streets Initiative

The National Active School Streets Initiative (NASSI) is a program led by Green Communities Canada with several partners across Canada. NASSI is Canada’s largest ever collective School Streets movement, providing 25 Local Partner Organizations with the funding, training, resources, tools and network necessary to implement School Streets in their own communities. These local partner organizations are in six provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec and New Brunswick. NASSI aims to reach elementary-aged children between ages six to 12, with a focus on low-income, racialized and new-to-Canada individuals.

Quotes

“I am thrilled that Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Elementary School took part in this great initiative. By creating safer streets, the School Streets pilot allows students and their families to get active and walk, bike or roll to and from school. Not to mention the benefits this program has on the environment around the school. Thank you to Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Elementary School staff for their participation as well as the local community for their support in keeping our students safe and active.” – Deputy Mayor and Ward 4 Councillor, John Kovac

“At the City of Mississauga, we are proud of this innovative program that is allowing students from across the city to experience a car-free environment in front of their schools. The benefits are countless as we’ve seen since the launch of this pilot. From physical and mental health gains to lowering greenhouse gas emissions in school zones, this program is helping create safer, healthier and more connected communities for everyone. We’re excited to continue on this journey as one of the 25 communities across Canada to participate in this great initiative.” – Sam Rogers, Commissioner, Transportation and Works

“We are thrilled to see the City of Mississauga continuing to lead with School Streets implementations. School Streets are an important part of Mississauga’s commitment to Vision Zero – the goal of zero fatal and serious collisions on the road network. But School Streets can do far more than just reduce collisions – they improve health outcomes for children, their families, and the broader community by supporting increased physical activity and well-being. As one of Canada’s biggest and most diverse cities, Mississauga faces many challenges when making changes like this. We celebrate their ongoing commitment to the health and well-being of their most vulnerable residents.” – Brianna Salmon, Executive Director of Green Communities Canada