Councillor expresses concern over blocked crossing during CN Rail presentation
A coincidental text message from a Fort St. John resident led to a discussion about blocked railway crossings during a Canadian National Railway representative’s Rail Safety Week presentation and proclamation request.
CN Railway’s Transportation Manager, Shawn Lussier, asked Council to proclaim September 15 – 21 as Rail Safety Week in Fort St. John, which aims to draw attention to the need for public caution on and around tracks and crossings to prevent avoidable injuries and deaths.
In 2024, there were 261 railway crossing and trespassing incidents in Canada, which led to 68 avoidable fatalities and 58 avoidable serious injuries, according to a presentation given to Fort St. John City Council at its September 8 regular meeting.
For two decades, CN has partnered with Operation Lifesaver Canada (OL) to raise public awareness about the dangers surrounding railway crossing and trespassing on railway property, Lussier told Council.
“Through collaborative efforts and community engagement, we strive to foster a culture of rail safety and prevent accidents across our network,” he said. “By looking out for each other and working together, we can help keep our communities safe and prevent injuries and fatalities on and near the railway property.”
Councillor Gord Klassen relayed a concern from a resident about the blocking of 100 Avenue at the railway crossing with a parked train, a concern he had coincidentally just received via text message.