A member of the Brantford Police Service was recently presented with a different kind of badge of honour – this time from the community she serves.

Kathryn Gratton, a civilian with the Service was recognized with CAA’s School Safety Patrol Program Achievement Award for going above and beyond to ensure program participants in her community were never left behind.

Gratton's dedication reached new heights in the 2022-23 school year. When other local regions were unable to train Patrollers, Gratton took it upon herself to ensure that students wouldn't miss out on the program. Not only did she continue training her assigned schools, but she voluntarily extended her support to other schools as well. Gratton trained 26 schools and more than 500 Patrollers. Following the training, she stopped by each of the schools to check in on the students and hosted a pizza party to show her appreciation for their hard work throughout the year.

CAA School Safety Patrol^® program.

The CAA School Safety Patrol^® program has kept students safe in school zones and on school buses since the 1920’s.

Gratton has played an integral role in the program over the past four years as the Elementary School Resource Coordinator for the Brantford Police Service. During this time, she has trained more than 2,300 Patrollers.

"The best reward has been witnessing the impact on the students and the community,” says Gratton. “For many of the students this initiative is more than just a club – it's a lifeline to involvement and camaraderie that extends beyond the confines of the classroom."

Kathryn Gratton recognized for her devotion to Patrollers.

“Our program thrives thanks to the unwavering support of dedicated community partners like Kathryn and the Brantford Police Service, who play a pivotal role in contributing invaluable resources, expertise and passion,” says Tracy Marshall, manager of Community Relations at CAA SCO. “Working together, we are able to protect, educate and empower elementary school students to help keep their peers safe travelling to and from school.”

With approximately 900 schools in Ontario participating each year, the CAA School Safety Patrol program is a collaborative effort between CAA, the police, school boards, teachers, busing consortia, parents and thousands of dedicated student volunteers.

For more information about the CAA School Safety Patrol program and how to help make school zones safer for everyone, visit www.caaschoolsafetypatrol.com

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