Wife of killed crossing guard struggles 'to be strong' without him

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Peter was living in Guelph at the time and they commuted back and forth. Amanda went to teachers’ college in Kingston. Peter tried to find work there, but wasn’t successful, so he went back to Guelph. Amanda figured she could be a teacher anywhere, so she followed him after she graduated. They married in 2001.

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It seemed like an odd pairing. Amanda with a flair for theatre and Peter was terrified of anything even close to public speaking. But they both loved animals and enjoyed nothing more than getting close to a beaver or some otters from their canoe at the cottage.

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“He used to call me Snow White because he thought animals were attracted to me. And I used to say to him, ‘If that was the case, I would see more when I’m by myself. They come out when we’re together, because I think they can feel our peace and our calmness,'” says Amanda.

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“His dad and mom were the epitome of what we thought relationships should be there. Very gentle with each other.”

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Peter Clark “loved serving others and dedicated his life to making all those around him feel safe, heard, seen, and cared for,” according to an obituary released on Sunday, March 29. Photo by Ottawa Police Service /Handout

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Peter was not academically inclined. He tried some college courses, taking hotel management for a semester, some computer courses. Mostly, he was doing factory work. He was diagnosed with ADHD and social anxiety disorder as an adult, and later struggled with alcohol. He went through treatment and had been sober for 13 years when he died, says Amanda.

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“He really started to think about what he actually could do as a job that would suit him. He would go into a job and then try to fit himself to fit the job, rather than choosing a job that fit who he was,” says Amanda.

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There was a posting for a crossing guard in Mount Forest, where the couple was living at the time.

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“I said, ‘You love being outside. You’re a shy person, but you do love people. And so this would be a job where you could interact with people, but it’s not for an extended period of time. You get to be outside all the time,'” says Amanda.

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“He applied for and got that job, and absolutely loved it. It fit him so well.”

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Peter Clark died after being struck by a pickup truck in a hit-and-run incident on Monday, March 22, in the Barrhaven neighbourhood of Ottawa. Photo by Ottawa Police Service /Handout

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The couple moved to Barrhaven two years ago to live with Amanda’s father after she quit teaching and embarked on the master’s degree. Peter went back to work as a crossing guard. Amanda was on track to graduate in the spring of 2027, and the couple planned to find a country home near Renfrew, where Peter’s father lived. They missed their home in the country, but found new places to enjoy nature at Mud Lake and Shirleys Bay.

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This week Xzander Wright, 19, pleaded guilty to failing to remain at the scene. He has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death. Wright’s defence lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon said any sentencing for the guilty plea would take place after the trial for the second charge.

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Amanda Clark is the widow of Peter Clark, the crossing guard who was struck and killed in a hit-and-run while on the job. She holds her wedding photo album in her arms. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia

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A date for that trial has not yet been set. Amanda has started writing her victim impact statement. She knows it may be two or three years before she can read it in court.

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“I started writing it because if it takes three years, I want it to be raw,” she says.

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Amanda has not spoken publicly about Peter until now.

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“I have been struggling with how to be strong without him,” she says. “I’m trying to do things that are really scary to prepare myself for the victim impact statement. Because that’s the only thing I have power over.”

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Peter and Amanda Clark celebrated their 10th anniversary at Elora Gorge on July 28, 2011. Peter, a school crossing guard, died following a hit-and -run in Barrhaven on March 23, 2026.

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Amanda Clark is the widow of Peter Clark, the crossing guard who was struck and killed in a hit-and-run while on the job. She holds her wedding photo album in her arms Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia

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