Westmount's Public Security Department is having a recruiting blitz to fill positions for its summer and parks patrols. They're looking for up to 12 new recruits, something Westmount Public Security Captain Richard Bourdon admits isn't always easy.

"The SPVM (Montreal police force) does a lot of recruiting as well," he said. "Students may not know about us, even though we pay better."

Public Security is also trying to get the message out to Westmounters about the most common misdemeanours they see in local parks. They're stopping residents to inform them about laws preventing you from feeding local wildlife, from drinking alcohol in the park, and from staying past curfew, which runs from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.

"Those are the three main ones," Bourdon said. "Along with dogs off leashes."

Fines for violating curfew range from $37 to $75, feeding the wildlife can net you a fine between $50 and $100, and letting your dog roam off the leash my cost you a steep $300. Students interested in applying for a Public Security position can contact Annie-Claude Cerat at 514-989-5210.

Station 12 police are also hiring: they're looking to fill posts for school crossing guards. The job includes a half-day training and all the equipment is supplied. "Our target is recently retired seniors," said Station 12's Adalbert Pimentel. "But everybody is eligible for the job."

Guards work a maximum of 4.5 hours a day and start by being on call.

Anyone interested in applying for a crossing guard position can contact Frédéric Berthiaume at 514-280-3210.