Image: Contributed / A truck blocks the right lane of southbound Unsworth Road last week. The principal of Unsworth Elementary has asked parents, guardians and caregivers of students there to do their best to stop blocking Unsworth Road during afternoon dismissal times.
Unsworth Road

SD33 parents asked to stop blocking Unsworth Road during afternoon dismissal times

Feb 12, 2025 | 11:35 AM

CHILLIWACK — The principal of Unsworth Elementary has asked parents, guardians and caregivers of students there to do their best to stop blocking Unsworth Road during afternoon dismissal times.

According to the text of an email sent to parents Wednesday, Unsworth principal Ken Chater says it has been brought to the school’s attention from the City of Chilliwack that “we are having issues with blocking Unsworth Road during our dismissal time with vehicles.”

The princpal told parents the school parking lot fills up with cars waiting for their children to come out, thereby backing up onto Unsworth Road and preventing traffic from moving.

“We have been asked to address our parents to solve this issue,” Chater wrote to parents.

Parents, guardians and caregivers have been asked to not wait on Unsworth Road if the parking lot is full, or to use all available parking spaces in the parking lot. On many occasions, there are multiple empty spots that can hold vehicles but motorists aren’t parking there.

“We thank you in advance for helping us solve this issue and keeping our kids safe and traffic moving on Unsworth Road,”

It’s not the first time that the principal at Unsworth Elementary has asked parents to politely refrain from blocking Unsworth, as it serves as an artery for commercial vehicles accessing the industrial park at South Sumas and Unsworth.

On one occasion last week, the driver of a Ford pickup truck left their vehicle sitting in the southbound lane of Unsworth Road blocking traffic, oblivious to signs the City of Chilliwack installed on both sides of the road instructing motorists not to block the roadway.