Crossing guard remembered as ‘quiet, with goofy sense of humour’

Old vehicles with the radio tuned to a country station will always remind Jadyn Shand of her grandfather.

On Sept. 3, her grandfather, a Collingwood crossing guard, Ralph Shand, had a heart attack during his afternoon shift during at the corner of High Street and Chamberlain Crescent. He was rushed to Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, where he died.

He was 74.

“I live in Alberta and I was just back for his celebration of life, and I was driving his vehicle,” Jadyn told Village Media, adding that it is a grey Ford Escape with the vanity licence plate BND1DO.

“When I was driving around, there were a couple of times when people would wave when looking at the vehicle and I’d wave back,” she said. “I think a lot of people probably recognized him. It was special to me.”

Ralph grew up in Sarnia. He moved north to Thunder Bay in his young working life initially employed by CN Rail, and transferred to work at the CN Tower in Toronto as a radio wave technician.

“He was a very, very smart man,” said Julie Shand, Ralph’s stepdaughter and Jadyn’s mother.

He moved to Collingwood in his younger years, to connect with the Shand family who already lived in the area.

After moving up, he held different jobs over the course of his career, including working for Unitel, Grant Internet, Ice River Springs, Ace Cabs and Backyard Products Inc. in Collingwood.

Following his official retirement, Julie recalls he found himself feeling restless which led to him applying to become a crossing guard with the Town of Collingwood.

“I think he loved working. He was a dedicated and loyal employee wherever he worked,” she said. “He wanted to work just a couple of hours a day.”

Jadyn shared that while working as a taxi driver for Ace Cabs, Ralph was once tasked with transporting an eyeball for transplant from Collingwood General and Marine Hospital to Toronto.

“He said he was on the highway and somebody cut him off. He said he looked over at the box and said, ‘Wow, did you see that?’” said Jadyn, with a laugh. “That’s how I remember him – He was quiet, but he had a really goofy sense of humour.”

A calm and loving stepfather and grandfather, Julie and Jadyn remember Ralph as someone who could fix anything. An avid driver, Ralph also taught all his kids and grandkids how to drive.

“I have a love of older vehicles and I think that comes from him,” said Jadyn.

“I hope people remember his quietness, his gentleness, his helpfulness,” said Julie, adding that her own work ethic is inspired by her stepdad.

Crossing guard Lynn Blencowe has taken Ralph’s post at the corner of High St. and Chamberlain Cres. since his passing.

“This was Ralph’s corner. He was well-known,” said Blencowe. “It sure was a shock."

While Blencowe said she didn’t know Shand well, she remembers him as being a quiet man who left an indelible mark on the community. A small memorial of flowers at the bottom of the crossing’s light post has been replenished more than once since Sept. 3.

“During the first week, a lot of people passed and gave their condolences,” she said.

A few of them spoke with Village Media about the impact Shand had on their lives.

“He always waved to me whenever I pulled out of the subdivision,” said Kelley Richard. “He was always such a nice guy and the few times we used the crosswalk he would always smile and ask us how our day was.”

“He was always here early, and he always stayed late,” she said.

“He was a great crossing guard. Very diligent,” said Emily Rand.

“He was always really friendly. He always said good morning,” said Davin Moore.

He and his son Nico, 9, left some flowers at the light post.

“We were really sad when we heard the news,” said Moore.

The family held a private celebration of life for Ralph earlier this month. They decided to donate his body to the University of Toronto’s medical program.

“He was quite the scientist, so we thought that was suiting. He would have wanted that,” said Julie.