West Grey Police Service

09/03/2026

Same officer. Same first day. A LOT less information.

It’s officially first-day-of-school photo season and while those signs are adorable, they can sometimes tell the internet more about your child than you realize.

Full name. School. Grade. Teacher. Age. Favourite activities. Bus stop. Daily routine.

Individually, they might not seem like much. Put them all together - along with a front porch, house number or recognizable background - and suddenly that cute back-to-school post is sharing a pretty detailed picture of your child’s life.

So take the photo.
Make the sign.
Post the proud-parent caption.

Just consider leaving a few details off the board and off the internet.

And while we’re talking about it: those personalized backpacks are cute, but your child’s full name doesn’t need to be visible to everyone they meet. Consider initials, a nickname, or keeping identifying information on a label inside the bag instead.

Share the milestone, not the whole bio.

09/02/2026

🚨 BACK-TO-SCHOOL POP QUIZ 🚨

We could give you another list of back-to-school driving reminders…
…but where’s the fun in that?
So today, we’re testing your knowledge instead.

From busy crosswalks filled with pedestrians and cyclists to the occasional morning where it feels like the school bus is stopping at every single driveway in West Grey, getting back into the September routine takes a little patience from all of us.

Swipe through and see how you do.
The countdown to September 8th is ON.

09/01/2026

Back to school looks a little different around here.

When we say “watch for school zones,” your mind might go to flashing lights, sidewalks, crossing guards and a big school sign.

But in rural West Grey, that isn’t always what a school zone looks like.

Our community is home to Mennonite schools and other small rural schools, some located along quiet country roads where you may not expect to suddenly encounter children, bicycles, horse-drawn transportation or increased vehicle traffic.

As students return to class, we’re asking drivers to pay a little extra attention on our rural roads:

🚸 Know what’s around you. A small rural school may not stand out like a larger school in town. If you regularly travel the same route, take note of where schools are located.

🚲 Expect students on the road. Depending on the school and area, students may arrive by bicycle, on foot or by other means - sometimes along roads without sidewalks or wide shoulders.

🐴 Share the road. In areas serving our Mennonite community, drivers should also be prepared to encounter horse-drawn vehicles and increased activity around school arrival and dismissal times.

🌾 Slow down before you need to. Hills, curves, crops and roadside vegetation can limit your view. By the time you see a child, cyclist or stopped vehicle, you may have much less room to react than you think.

🚌 And keep watching for school buses. Rural bus stops can be located along highways and country roads, at intersections and at the ends of long laneways.

In West Grey, a school zone might be obvious.

Or it might look like a small building on a gravel road with a few bikes out front.

Either way, there are kids learning inside; and getting them there and home safely is something we can all help with.

08/31/2026

🚨 THIS IS YOUR ONE-WEEK WARNING. 🚨

West Grey parents, students and anyone who enjoys having the roads slightly quieter in the morning...

You have one week.

🎒 Backpacks: locate them.
🍎 Lunch bags: check the mysterious pocket you haven't opened since June.
⏰ Alarm clocks: we're sorry.
🚍 Drivers: prepare for school buses to make their return.

Schools head back on Tuesday, September 8, which means our roads and morning routines are about to look a little different.

Over the next week, we'll help you brush up on a few back-to-school basics.

Consider this your study guide.

There may or may not be a quiz!

08/29/2026

Important Reminder: Alcohol in West Grey Parks and Facilities

West Grey has not opted in to the Provincial BYOB Framework. A future report to Council regarding the Municipal Alcohol Policy, including this provision, will take place.

In the meantime, please remember that personal alcohol consumption is not permitted in any West Grey parks or facilities.

Thank you for helping keep our community spaces safe and enjoyable for everyone.

08/27/2026

135 backpacks packed and delivered!

A big thank you to the Ontario Late Model Association and Full Throttle Speedway Varney for supporting this year’s WGPS Backpack Program!

With the help of some pretty great community partners, we were able to pack and deliver 135 backpacks to students living in or attending school in West Grey. ✏️📚

That’s 135 local students heading back to class with a few more things checked off their school supply list, and we couldn’t have done it without the people and organizations who stepped up to help.

To the drivers who participated and everyone who contributed along the way, thank you for helping us take care of our community.

We’re pretty lucky to call West Grey home!💙

08/26/2026

🚧 CONSTRUCTION ZONE ≠ SUGGESTED SPEED ZONE 🚧

Our officers have noticed an increasing number of drivers travelling too fast through construction zones on rural roads throughout West Grey.

We get it, you’re on a familiar road, traffic is light, and the reduced speed can feel unnecessary.

But that construction zone is someone’s workplace.

👷 Workers may be just metres from passing vehicles.
🚜 Heavy equipment can enter or leave the roadway unexpectedly.
🪨 Loose gravel, uneven surfaces and narrowed lanes can change road conditions quickly.
🚗 And on rural roads, higher travelling speeds mean less time to react when something goes wrong.

Slow down and obey the posted construction-zone speed limit.

Under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, speeding fines can be doubled in designated construction zones when workers are present. More importantly, slowing down gives everyone working along our roads a safer place to do their job.

A few extra minutes on your drive is a pretty small price to pay for getting everyone home safely.

See the signs. Slow down. Give workers room.

08/22/2026

Heading out this weekend?

Have a plan to get home before you head out.

Our officers will be out conducting RIDE programs throughout West Grey this weekend, looking for drivers who may be impaired by alcohol or drugs.

🍻 Having a drink? Don't drive.
🚗 Designate a sober driver.
📱 Arrange a ride.
🏠 Stay over.

RIDE programs aren't about ruining your night, they're about making sure everyone makes it home safely.

08/21/2026

Things that take approximately 4 seconds:
Checking a text.
Taking a photo.
Changing the song.
Looking at a notification.

Things that can happen in 4 seconds:
A pedestrian steps into the road.
A vehicle stops suddenly.
A cyclist moves into your lane.
A deer crosses.

Put the phone down while driving.

08/20/2026