The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit was selected to receive the Canadian Institute of Health 2004 Innovation Award for the "Kiss 'n Ride" Program. The award was presented at the Annual National Child Day "Crayons and Cravats" Gala at the Ottawa Congress Centre on November 10, 2004.
Kiss'n Ride is an injury prevention program that began three years ago to address student safety and morning traffic congestion at schools. The program brings principals, parents, police and traffic engineers together to identify safe drop-off zones at each individual school. While parents remain in their cars, volunteers safely escort children to a designated area. This system allows for a convenient and safe drop-off 15 to 20 minutes before the morning school bell and helps to relieve traffic congestion. The program relies on parent and student volunteers to supervise the children from the time they leave the car until they reach the assigned area on the school property. Currently there are 45 - 50 schools that have joined the program since its inception.

Sponsors for the Kiss 'n Ride Program include Princess Elisabeth Public Elementary School, the Ministry of Transportation, Windsor Essex County Injury Prevention Coalition, Hotel Dieu Grace Trauma Services, Police Services throughout Windsor and Essex County, Ontario Provincial Police, City of Windsor, Greater Essex County District School Board, the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board and Le Conseil Scolaire de district des Ĕcoles Catholiques du Sud-Ouest. The program is available to all schools due to the long-term financial commitment of the Windsor and Essex County Optimist Clubs.

Kiss 'n Ride exemplifies the old adage "it takes a village to raise a child".