Student Toolkit

During a child abduction, public assistance can be integral in bringing a child home safely. Police cannot be everywhere - your help could mean the difference for a child in danger. Every minute saved means the abducted child has a greater chance of returning home safely.

What is an AMBER Alert?

An AMBER Alert is an emergency broadcast that is issued in the event of a child abduction. It is only issued when the abducted child is believed to be at imminent risk of bodily harm or death.

Any police service within Ontario can request that the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) issue an AMBER Alert on their behalf. When the alert is issued, the description of the child (and, if available, the alleged suspect or involved vehicle) is immediately broadcast through television, radio and LTE-connected and compatible wireless devices via Alert Ready, Canada’s emergency alerting system.

The issuing of an AMBER Alert is not taken lightly. Specific guidelines must be met in order for an AMBER Alert to be distributed.

If I hear an AMBER Alert, how can I help?

An AMBER Alert is a request for your help. If you see or hear an AMBER Alert, watch for the child, the suspect, and/or the vehicle described in the alert.

If you have any information regarding an AMBER Alert, immediately report any tips and/or sightings to police by calling 911 or your local police service. You can also follow the AMBER Alert Ontario on Facebook and X / Twitter for additional information. 

History of the AMBER Alert System

In 1996, nine-year-old Amber Hagerman was kidnapped from Arlington, Texas and brutally murdered. In the wake of this tragedy, an emergency alert system was developed to facilitate the rapid distribution of information to the public in the event of a child abduction. The AMBER Alert system was created in memory of Amber, using her namesake as an acronym. AMBER stands for "America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response". The Government of Ontario adopted the AMBER Alert system in 2003, in collaboration with Ontario law enforcement and radio/television stations. 

Learn more about Amber Alerts on the Ontario Provincial Police website. 

Students who reside within walk distance of their school gain many benefits from a daily walk (or bike, or skateboard, or scooter ride) to school. Learn more about safe active transportation tips and tricks on our Active Transportation webpage. 

The Renfrew County Joint Transportation Consortium uses a specialized geographic information system (GIS) software to plan transportation services on behalf of our partner school boards. The software determines transportation eligibility by calculating the distance from a student's address to the closest access point of a school's property along roads (rather than as the crow flies). Walkways that are maintained all year-round are included in this calculation.

Transportation will not be provided on roads that are not assumed and maintained year round by the municipality or on roads that are not passable or where cul-de-sacs (of adequate size to safely accommodate a vehicle turnaround) are not accessible. Students residing on a road that is not assumed and maintained year round by the municipality (or on a road that is not passable) will be required to make their way to an existing stop regardless of the distance if a safe bus stop location cannot be established within the distances outlined in the Transportation and Eligibility Policy.

Maximum Walk Distances

NOTE:  Urban/developed areas are usually posted 60 km/hour or less

Students who live within the distances outlined below from their school are designated as "walkers" and such students are not eligible for transportation as of right. Therefore, parents / guardians of students within the designated walk distances are responsible for the safe arrival of their student at school each day. Active transportation resources are available for families to use as they plan their walk path and how to be as safe as possible while traversing public roadways.

The Renfrew County Joint Transportation Consortium regularly reviews local walking conditions and establishes hazard areas which may further reduce the distance requirement. If you have a concern related to a potential hazard that prevents your child from accessing their designated school, you can contact the RCJTC Team and one of our team members will be able to review the potential hazard and determine if alternative options exist. 

Distance Mapping

Most web mapping service calculate the distance between addresses by estimating the placement of specific address points based on a street's overall address range. The RCJTC relies on property parcel data to accurately place addresses on the map as they exist on the ground. Additionally, the RCJTC adjusts the base map of our GIS software as we receive updates from our municipal partners including information about maintained paths and walkways.

Visit the Government of Canada's Get Cyber Safe website to learn more about cyberbullying facts, risks and how to protect yourself and your loved ones from being a victim of cyberbullying.

If you require immediate assistance, please call 9-1-1 or visit your local emergency room. If you require support outside of school hours and/or information about mental health resources in the community, please use the following resources:

• Call Crisis Line 24/7 at 1-866-996-0991

• Message Kids Help Phone online, call 1-800-668-6868, or text CONNECT to 686868

• Call the Crisis Line for Children, Youth and Families 24/7 at 1-877-377-7775

• Contact the Parent's Lifeline of Eastern Ontario (PLEO) at 1-855-775-7005

• Call the Phoenix Centre for Children and Families at 613-735-2374
• Contact Addiction Treatment Services of Renfrew County by telephone at 613-432-9855 or 1-800-265-0197
• For additional non-urgent mental health and addictions services, please refer to the Mental Health and Addiction Resource Card from the Renfrew County Mental Health and Addiction Planning Table. 

Important Safety Rules to Follow

When waiting for the bus:

• Arrive at your bus stop 10 minutes early.
• Stay back from the street while waiting for the bus.
• Respect private property.
• Watch for the school bus driver to signal you to cross the road to board the bus.
• Line up in a single file and when the bus comes to a complete stop, board it in an orderly manner.  Remember to use the handrail.

When on the bus:

• Remain seated when the bus starts to move.
• Do not change seats.
• Keep your feet in front of the seat. Bags and books should be kept on your lap.
• Keep hands, head or any part of the body inside the bus at all times.
• Do not eat or drink inside the bus due to possible hazards such as choking, spilling your food and allergies.
• Do not throw any objects.
• Respect the driver. Speak softly and quietly so the driver can stay alert and concentrate on driving.

When getting off the bus:

• Whoever is closest to the front should disembark from the bus first.
• Do not push anyone in front or behind you.
• Use the handrail on your way out, so you do not fall.
• Step back from the bus door and the bus wheel then take 10 giant steps ahead of the bus to the front of the crossing arm.
• Never walk behind the bus.
• Make sure you can see the bus driver's face, because that means that (s)he can see you too.
• Walk to the edge of the bus bumper and stop, look both ways and then cross when the bus driver signs with their hand.
• Never stop, turn back, crawl or reach under the bus if you drop or forget something. Wait until the driver has driven away and ask an adult for assistance

Consult our Student Transportation Guide for all safety guidelines and other important information about school bus transportation.

Instead of listing all the safety rules again, we’ve made it easier: just head to our Safety Video Hub to watch short clips on how to approach your first ride, where the danger zones are around a bus, and what to expect from an evacuation drill. They’ll show you everything you need to know!