Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition receives CN grant

The CN Safe Community Fund has awarded the Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition a $1,900 grant to support three rail safety initiatives the coalition is undertaking this year.
The fund is administered by the Safe Communities Foundation on behalf of CN.
Two of the initiatives target motorists and focus specifically on safety at highway/railway crossings, and the third one focuses on rail safety for high school students.
The first initiative related to crossing safety employs a mobile speed sign placed at various crossings in the Rainy River District. The second one involves a seat belt check.
In both cases, CN Police, OPP and Treaty #3 Police Officers conduct the checks and distribute rail safety information aimed at preventing collisions at crossings.
The third initiative targets high school students in Grades 11 and 12, and focuses on “Operation Lifesaver” training related to the dangers associated with trespassing on/near railway property and failing to observe safety warnings at crossings.
John Dalzell, CN vice-president, risk management, said: “CN applauds the Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition for the positive safety impact its initiatives represent and for being selected as one of ten safe communities across Canada to receive a CN Safe Community Fund grant in 2005.
“Thanks to the work of safety organizations like the Rainy River Valley coalition and CN’s constant focus on safety, injuries and fatalities at highway/railway crossings have dropped to their lowest level in a decade – by 22 percent and 54 percent, respectively,” he added.
“Rail injuries are preventable. Through the CN Safe Community Fund, communities have implemented more than 100 rail safety initiatives. Congratulations to Rainy River Valley and to CN for implementing programs that reduce the toll of injuries in our communities,” noted Paul Kells, founder of the Safe Communities Foundation.