Airdrie city council welcomed Grade 6 student Aiden S. to the chamber on Tuesday as the successful applicant of the city’s 2025 Mayor for a Day Challenge.
His idea—to paint five-metre zebra stripes near school crosswalks to clearly mark no-parking zones—was selected from 22 submissions across eight schools. Youth Engagement Liaison Jessica Dudek said the idea aims to improve crosswalk safety and driver awareness by educating drivers and creating more space around busy areas, especially during pick-up and drop-off times.
“As an AMA [Alberta Motor Association] crosswalk patroller at his school, Aiden felt there needed to be more awareness around traffic safety,” said Dudek. “While Airdrie already promotes crosswalk safety, school zones are especially busy, making enhanced visibility measures crucial for protecting students.”
The Mayor for a Day Challenge invites Grade 6 students to submit original ideas that could improve the community. Applications are evaluated based on originality, detail, practicality, project value and inclusivity. Submissions are short-listed by the Airdrie Board of Youth Affairs (ABYA), with input from relevant City departments. Finalists then present their ideas to council and ABYA members for scoring.
Dudek told council that the top three applicants presented on May 6, and Aiden’s proposal was selected through that final scoring round.
“On behalf of the ABYA, we want to thank you for all your hard work on your application and congratulate you on becoming the 2025 Mayor for a Day successful applicant,” Dudek said during the ceremony.
At one point during the presentation, a photo of Aiden was projected in council chambers, prompting a laugh from Mayor Brown: “That’s a way better-looking Mayor.”
Mayor Peter Brown thanked Aiden for his effort and said he looked forward to seeing the idea in action.
“You picked an item that’s number one on our list,” Brown said. “We want to make sure everyone is safe and healthy. So that’s awesome… I’m curious to see how all this is going to come together.”
Brown also acknowledged the scope of the annual program.
“We go to all the schools in the community for all the Grade Six,” he said. “I bet you there’s a lot of disappointed kids, because we do get a lot of applicants.”
When asked if he came up with the idea himself, Aiden said: “So I figured it out kind of, there’s a bit of help from like my mom and stuff like that, yep. But, you know, being a patrol patroller and all and seeing the cars parked too close, kind of boosted that idea.”
The City has allocated $10,000 in its 2025 budget to support implementation of the pilot, which may begin at one or two schools.
Deputy Mayor Candice Kolson raised the possibility of requiring developers to install physical bump-outs in future school zones.
“Is there any way we can make that a common standard practice… so that developers have to put those bump outs in where those crosswalks are going to be?” she asked.
The responding staff member confirmed: “We are hoping to bring forward, as part of our 2026 operating budget approvals, that policy for traffic—or essentially a traffic calming policy—so that we can have consistent application for school zone improvements, as well as other traffic calming measures throughout the community.”
“Typically, those are raised to our Traffic Advisory Committee. We do currently assess them on a case-by-case basis. That policy would allow for a consistent approach for any of these requests coming forward, as well as being able to apply them in new school zones at the time of construction.”
Staff said challenges remain when schools are planned in advance of site-specific traffic data.
“As a school zone is identified within an NSP and constructed within the community, we don’t necessarily know what that school is going to look like and the most appropriate crosswalk locations,” they said. “So the City will likely end up still having to come back after the fact and make some of these modifications to these school zones.”
“But that policy allows that consistent approach moving forward,” they added.
Staff said the proposed bump-outs would not replace the need for zebra striping in school zones.
“It won’t limit the need for added crosswalk marking—so the zebra markings in our school zones,” staff said. “But those bump outs will help not only improve the visibility for anybody crossing at those locations, but also then prevent vehicles from parking within that five-metre restricted area, as per our traffic bylaw.”
Coun. Tina Petrow said the topic came up during a recent meeting with AMA about school zone safety.
“I had a meeting with AMA yesterday, actually, and they were asking about safety in the city of Airdrie’s school zones,” she said. “So I wasn’t sure I was allowed to share any of the projects—I didn’t say anything—but I’m really excited to share this with them now.”
The presentation was received for information, as recommended in the agenda.
Aiden will formally assume his role as Mayor for a Day in July. His experience will include co-chairing a council meeting, touring City facilities, meeting with relevant departments, and joining the Mayor for lunch.
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