Celebrating the 11 School Streets of the 2025/2026 School Year - Green Communities Canada

Celebrating the 11 School Streets of the 2025/2026 School Year

Two children leap over a jump rope swung by two adults on a pedestrianized street in front of their school.
Kids and parents enjoy the School Street at Lord Selkirk Public School in Vancouver. (Photo credit: City of Vancouver.)
Xuedan Xu,
Manager, National Active School Streets Initiative
June 9, 2026
Stories, Sustainable Mobility
School Streets
Municipalities, Practitioners, Schools, Non Profits, Policy Makers
Stories

It’s June – across Canada public school students are excited to end the school year and celebrate their achievements. As lead of the National Active School Streets Initiative (NASSI), Green Communities Canada is also excited to celebrate and reflect on what we’ve accomplished with our many partners this school year.

In the 2025/2026 school year, we’ve implemented 11 School Streets – from Vancouver to Montréal.

What is the National Active School Streets Initiative?

NASSI (or School Streets) creates car-free zones in front of schools either with temporary barriers at the start and end of the school day or with permanent installations. These car-free zones help increase rates of physical activity, create safer spaces for children to travel to and from school, improve air quality, and foster community connections.

In 2024, Green Communities Canada received funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada to lead this nationwide initiative. Together with 8 80 Cities, Centre d’écologie urbaine, and the Society for Children and Youth of BC, we have onboarded more than 20 local project partners across Canada. Impacts of the initiative are being evaluated by research teams from the Université de Montréal, University of British Columbia, Queen’s University, and Toronto Metropolitan University.

Learn more about the School Streets program here.

Training Program and Community of Practice

NASSI technical leads (8 80 Cities, Centre d’écologie urbaine, and the Society for Children and Youth of BC) collaborated to design a training program. By August 2026, all NASSI local partners will have completed this six-part training program, and received worksheets, tools, and tailored supports.

The NASSI technical leads also coordinate a Community of Practice that meets online every other month. These meetings complement the training program and activate a network for local partners to learn from each other.

Group of diverse people from GCC's School Streets initiative gathered in front of giant mushroom monuments in a permanent school street in Montreal.
  • Photo above: The entire NASSI team gathered in person in Montréal in 2025. This photo shows the NASSI team in front of Plateau Mont-Royal’s permanent School Street, Place de l’Ange Cornu. This day-and-a-half gathering was packed with activities – you can read more about that in this story here.

Celebrating 2025/2026 School Streets

Eight local partners have implemented 11 School Streets in 4 provinces during the 2025/2026 school year. Altogether, these implementations provided more than 600 days of open streets for children to be active and build community connections. Here are some heart-warming highlights from these School Streets:

Plateau Mont-Royal (Montréal, QC)

Plateau Mont-Royal’s permanent School Street, Place de l’Ange Cornu was unveiled at école primaire Paul-Bruchési in October 2024. This is the first permanent School Street implementation as part of the NASSI program.

Families using a painted pedestrianized street with picnic and other benches, with trees overhead.
  • Photo above: Place de l’Ange Cornu being used by families and residents. Photo credit: Nicole Roach, Green Communities Canada.
Pedestrianized street with large mushroom urban art sculptures, overhanging trees, and benches, with kids and families enjoying the space.
  • Photo above: Place de l’Ange Cornu being used by families and residents. Photo credit: Nicole Roach, Green Communities Canada.

In early June 2026, Plateau Mont-Royal launched their second School Street as a pilot at école primaire Saint-Enfant-Jésus. In summer 2026, this pilot will transition into a permanent School Street.

Boys and Girls Club South East (Kingston, ON)

In early September 2025, Boys and Girls Club South East launched their year-long School Street at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Kingston, Ontario. The School Street has been in operation every day during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times. This School Street has received many positive responses from City Councillors, school board representatives, parents/caregivers, and children. Boys and Girls Club South East is currently in the process of selecting a school for their second year-long School Street.

City of Vancouver (B.C.)

The City of Vancouver launched their year-long School Street at Lord Selkirk Elementary School in early September 2025. The School Street has been in operation every day during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times. Many space activation events have happened on this School Street, including a bike and scooter course, hot chocolate day, and dance party royale.

Three kids with masks and hats smiling as they hold a colourful frame around their faces. In background other kids play on a pedestrianized street in front of a school.
  • Photo above: children enjoying dance party royale theme day at the City of Vancouver School Street. (Photo credit: City of Vancouver.)
Two adults preparing to hand out hot chocolate on a rainy day street in front of a school.
  • Photo above: parent volunteers helping hand out free hot chocolate during the City of Vancouver School Street. (Photo credit: City of Vancouver.)
Kids playing badminton on a pedestrianized street in front of a school. In background, an event tent with many other kids gathered around and playing on the street.
  • Photo above: In late May 2026, the City of Vancouver launched their second School Street as a pilot at Hastings Elementary School. This pilot will continue during the 2026/27 school year. (Photo credit: Xuedan Xu, Green Communities Canada.)

City of Mississauga (ON)

The City of Mississauga soft launched their School Street at Corliss Public School in June 2025 to introduce families to the concept of School Streets. The City then launched the year-round School Street in September 2025, with the goal to remain in operation every day, morning and afternoon, during the 2025/2026 school year. Unfortunately, the City of Mississauga School Street was cut short due to a petition started by a parent at the school calling for the cancellation of this School Street.

Two people wearing safety vests and managing temporary street barriers with multi-lingual school streets signage. They smile at the camera
  • Photo above: Smiling faces and multi-language signage helping manage temporary School Streets barriers at the Corliss Public School. (Photo credit: 8 80 Cities/City of Mississauga.)
A city of Mississauga event tent with staff person inside smiling and talking to a parent and child.
  • Photo above: City of Mississauga staff engaging community members with information about School Streets. (Photo credit: 8 80 Cities/City of Mississauga.)

Despite the challenges with the School Street at Corliss Public School, the City of Mississauga is optimistic about the launch of their second School Street. This School Street started as a pilot at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Elementary School in May 2026. If this pilot is successful, it will transition into a year-long School Street for every morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up.

  • Photo above: A student choir provides music to celebrate the School Street at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Elementary School. (Photo credit: Syeda Hasan, Green Communities Canada.)

York Region District School Board and City of Markham (ON)

In May 2026, the York Region District School Board and the City of Markham launched their month-long School Street pilot at Black Walnut Public School. This School Street was implemented in two phases: Phase 1 was a lane closure directly adjacent to the school, and Phase 2 was a full road closure.

The York Region District School Board is now planning for their next pilot in 2026/2027.

Dozens of children gather around an event tent on the pedestrianized street in front of Black Walnut Public School.
  • Photo above: Children and families listening to live speeches at the School Street at Black Walnut Public School. (Photo credit: Tracey Coutts, Green Communities Canada.)
a full bike rack in front of Black Walnut Public School.
  • Photo above: A full bike rack in front of Black Walnut Public School. (Photo credit: Tracey Coutts, Green Communities Canada.)

Ever Active (Edmonton, AB)

In early June 2026, Ever Active launched their first School Street at St. Leo Catholic Elementary School in Edmonton, Alberta. This one-day pop-up event focused on space activation through play, with a bin full of toys and plenty of fun being had by students, teachers, and parents alike.

Dozens of children drawing chalk and playing games on a pedestrianized street in front of a school.
  • Photo above: School Street at St. Leo Catholic Elementary School in Edmonton. (Photo credit: Nicole Roach, Green Communities Canada.)
Dozens of children drawing chalk and playing games on a pedestrianized street in front of a school.
  • Photo above: School Street at St. Leo Catholic Elementary School in Edmonton. Ever Active is in touch with St. Leo to do the School Street again in the fall and is working to confirm another school for a pilot. (Photo credit: Nicole Roach, Green Communities Canada.)

City of Burnaby (B.C.)

In April 2026, the City of Burnaby launched their week-long School Street pop-up at Gilmore Community School. This School Street closure coincided with Earth Day, during which the City’s Acting Mayor and Councillors attended. This School Street had many space activations, including but not limited to, a bubble station, bike and scooter course, volleyball, skipping rope, and chalk sidewalk art.

Children playing volleyball on a temporarily pedestrianized street in front of their school.
  • Photo above: Children playing a game of volleyball during the School Street in Burnaby at Gilmore Community School. (Photo credit: Xuedan Xu, Green Communities Canada.)
Acting mayor of the City of Burnaby and other elected officials speaking in front of a sign that says "This Street is open for PLAY!" School building in background.
  • Photo above: The City of Burnaby Acting Mayor and Councillors presenting live speeches during the School Street. (Photo credit: Xuedan Xu, Green Communities Canada.)

Centre d’expertise en mobilité de l’Outaouais et de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (MOBI-O) (Gatineau, QC)

In May 2026, MOBI-O launched their week-long School Street pop-up at Monseigneur-Charbonneau Primary School. This week-long pop-up was so popular amongst the children of the school that they kept wanting to get to school sooner and sooner each day to enjoy the atmosphere of the street more. The School Street featured giant building blocks, chalk, hoola hoops, as well as a popular engagement station where children provided useful feedback on the implementation.

Dozens of children enjoy cycling and playing games on a pedestrianized street in front of their school.
  • Photo above: Children and adults enjoying the school street at Monseigneur-Charbonneau Primary School. (Photo credit: Leif Einarson, Green Communities Canada.)

What’s next?

As many as 20 more School Streets are planned during the 2026/2027 school year. That’s dozens of safer streets and healthier communities, with thousands of happier children across the country.

The NASSI team is excited to continue supporting these upcoming School Streets implementations. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to grow this nationwide movement!

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