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Students and staff, many of them wearing green, were brought to the front of the school for the Slow Your Roll event, put on in memory of former Coalbanks student Charles McIntyre. (Photo: LNN)

Slow Your Roll awareness event held at Coalbanks Elementary School

May 26, 2023 | 3:34 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – An awareness event highlighting road safety was held at Coalbanks Elementary School on Friday, May 26, 2023.

Students and staff, many of them wearing green, were brought to the front of the school for the Slow Your Roll event. Local musician Cody Hall was on the premises to perform a song he wrote called “Slow Your Roll” to promote the campaign.

The event was put on in memory of former Coalbanks student Charles McIntyre, who was struck by a vehicle exiting the Crossings Business Centre parking lot in Lethbridge on April 13, 2020 and later died in hospital.

Charles’ parents Heather and Lee McIntyre were at the event, and said they are proud to see the support for the program at the school and in the city.

Lee said, “We don’t have kids in the school anymore but it’s wonderful to come back, see the teachers, see the support, see some old friends, it’s great. It’s really emotional for us.”

Chris DiPasquale founded the Slow Your Roll campaign in 2020 to get drivers to slow down, be aware of children on the roads, and to drive safely. DiPasquale connected with the McIntyre family, and added a green heart to his #SlowYourRoll signs, decals and clothing in memory of Charles, as green was his favourite colour.

A #slowyourroll sign outside Coalbanks Elementary School on May 26, 2023. (Photo: LNN)

In 2023, the McIntyre family, DiPasquale and the Lethbridge YMCA teamed up to revamp the Slow Your Roll campaign. The McIntyre family set up the Charles McIntyre Fund at the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta, and proceeds from the fund will support kids programs at the YMCA.

DiPasquale said, “It has grown to be so much more. Coalbanks getting on board is huge. This is really the trajectory that we want to be on, we want more schools to be involved and promote that awareness.”

Students and staff in front of Coalbanks Elementary School for the Slow Your Roll event, May 26, 2023. (Photo: LNN)

The school has also honoured Charles with an award and plaque. The Charles Douglas McIntyre Memorial Award for Perseverence honours a grade five student who has shown significant academic and social growth throughout the school year.

Charles Douglas McIntyre Memorial Award for Perseverence plaque, May 26, 2023. (Photo: LNN)

Coalbanks principal Joey Gentile said the message of the campaign has seen a positive effect on students at the school, and the students have been following safety protocols, like wearing helmets.

He explained, “I went to every classroom and reminded them about bike, scooter, rollerblade safety. We did have some parents that contacted me about the concern of seeing students going home after school without wearing helmets. What was really remarkable was, I am at the door every morning greeting students as they come in, and just seeing the number of helmets the next day, was just remarkable.”

More information about the campaign is available on the Slow Your Roll Facebook page, as well as the YMCA’s website.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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