BRAMPTON — Every morning–come rain, sleet, snow or sunshine– crossing guard Gisele Young shows up for work with a winning smile and a positive attitude.

Young, who at 92 is the oldest crossing guard in Brampton, has been donning the orange-coloured fluorescent vest and carrying her “STOP” sign for some 28 years. What’s more, she has never missed a shift. Young, who grew-up in Timmins, Ont., said bad weather doesn’t bother her – bad drivers do. Her pet peeve? Drivers that have no road etiquette and zoom through the school zone without a thought to the children.

The intersection of Rambler Drive and Bartley Bull Parkway, just outside the Wilfrid Laurier Public School maybe the safest spot in the city because of Young, who says she doesn’t hesitate to take illegally idling motorists and unsafe drivers to task.

“She’s an amazing woman and we’re very lucky to have her,” said Denise Campbell, a resident who meets Young twice daily when she drops off and picks up her grandson from school. “She’s here every day without fail. I want her to know she’s very appreciated.”

After she retired from her job as quality assurance personnel at a plastics company in the city, Young grew restless since her idea of retirement did not include putting her feet up. So, when she was offered a job as a crossing guard, she jumped at the chance and says she’s never regretted the decision.

“My job, the children I meet and interact with and the exercise I get are what keep me young,” she said, noting she has 23 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren of her own. “I have realized (in life) sometimes people are shy and afraid to talk, but if you make the first move, smile and engage them in a conversation, they’re friendly.”

Before she moved to Brampton in the ‘70s, the long-time Bramptonian managed a lodge in Haliburton, Ont. for 17 years, where she woke at the crack of dawn to manage breakfast and other meals for the customers, handle registration and take care of her customers, up to 20 hours each day.

The City employs some 199 crossing guards and the job requires a people person that enjoys interacting with children and has a customer-centric approach to life, said Violet Skirten, crossing guard supervisor, City of Brampton, noting Young fits the bill perfectly.

“The most impressive thing about Gisele is that she’s so young at heart,” Skirten said. “She loves the crossing and the children and they love her too. Also, she doesn’t complain and has a nice upbeat attitude. I know she has had a lot of heartaches in her personal life, but she doesn’t bring it to the crossing. She’s so happy to be there.”