Charles Lytle: The Visionary Behind Elmer the Safety Elephant's Success

Written by Barbara Doyle

How many of you would raise your hand if asked if you remember Elmer the Safety Elephant? That familiar cartoon from grade school taught us the Safety Rules - look both ways before you cross the street, keep away from parked cars, walk when you cross the street, etc. Those safety rules were drilled into us, so that if we obeyed the rules, we would be safe from harm.

Did you know that Elmer’s origin story has connections to Kawartha Lakes? 

"There isn’t a child to spare through death on city streets."

Charles James Lytle (1900-1986), a man known for his passion for children's safety, played a pivotal role in shaping Toronto's traffic safety landscape. In the early 1920s, he left his home near Balsam Lake for a career with the Toronto Police Force. Rising through the ranks, he became an Inspector in charge of the traffic division in 1945, where his innovative thinking and dedication transformed the way traffic safety was managed in the city.

In 1946, a significant moment occurred when Toronto's mayor, Robert Hood Saunders, visited Detroit and was inspired by a program teaching elementary school children about road safety. Saunders, eager to replicate this success in Toronto, reached out to Bas Mason, an editor at The Toronto Evening Telegram, to start a similar initiative. Working with Police Inspector Vernon Page, they decided to adopt an elephant as the program's mascot, given the animal's legendary memory. Thus, Elmer the Safety Elephant was born in 1947.

Charles Lytle's involvement with this project proved to be instrumental in ensuring its success. While the program was initially led by Saunders, Mason, and Page, Lytle's expertise in traffic safety and his commitment to the cause made him a natural partner in rolling out the Green Pennant Safety Drive across Toronto's schools. Lytle understood the importance of educating children early about the dangers of traffic, especially at a time when vehicle registrations were rising rapidly.

The results were nothing short of remarkable. In its first year, the Elmer initiative helped reduce traffic collisions involving children in Toronto by an astonishing 44%, even though the number of registered vehicles increased by 10%. Lytle's belief in data-driven strategies to prevent accidents, coupled with Elmer’s catchy slogan—"Always Be Careful"—became a winning combination.

Originally, Elmer was a standard jungle elephant in profile, but it soon became clear that the character needed more energy to captivate children. In 1948, artist Charles Thorson, who had worked at Walt Disney Studios, redesigned Elmer to make him more appealing. With a fresh new look, Elmer appeared at schools, movie theaters, and community events, spreading his message of safety. As demand for the program grew, other Ontario communities asked to join in, and the Toronto Evening Telegram, which held the copyright, authorized the Ontario Safety League to administer the program throughout the province. Elmer’s fame quickly spread across Ontario and eventually nationwide, administered by the Canada Safety Council from 1962 onward.

You can watch this CBC clip about Elmer from 1955, which is captioned “The true story of Elmer the Safety Elephant and how he helped significantly reduce deaths on Canada’s roads.”

Throughout this growth, Charles Lytle remained a dedicated advocate for safety. His strategic use of maps to track accident "hot spots" and deploy officers where needed, along with his efforts to upgrade police equipment—most notably replacing the lightweight Indian motorcycles with safer Harley Davidsons—exemplified his forward-thinking approach to traffic safety. Lytle’s influence, both behind the scenes and on the front lines, helped cement the lasting success of the Elmer program.

Even after his retirement from the force in 1970, Lytle continued his commitment to traffic management, this time at the Canadian National Exhibition (C.N.E.), where he oversaw traffic safety in parking lots. He eventually returned to Lindsay, Ontario, near his beloved Balsam Lake home. Charles Lytle passed away in 1986, leaving behind not only his wife Sadie Mae Parks, daughters Ruth Barrett and Lois Lytle, son Don Lytle (all of Lindsay), 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren, but also a legacy that, like Elmer’s motto, we should "never forget."

Today, Elmer continues to teach children across Canada the importance of road safety, now with an expanded set of seven traffic safety rules that cover not only street safety but also playground, fire, school bus, railway, home, and Internet safety. Though much has changed since Lytle first took charge of Toronto’s traffic division, his commitment to public safety remains woven into the fabric of this iconic Canadian program.

"Care, courtesy, and common sense."

• Charles Lytle

His vision, passion, and dedication remind us of the lasting impact one person can have on a community. Charles Lytle’s work continues to save lives and ensure the safety of children for generations to come.

Epilogue: A Legacy Revived

Charles Lytle’s influence on traffic safety endured long after his passing, but the Elmer program also faced challenges as time went on. By the mid-1970s, Elmer the Safety Elephant had faded from public view, with the program largely disappearing from schools for over a decade. However, in 1991, Constable Bill Wooldridge of the Lindsay Police Services took it upon himself to revive Elmer’s message. As a Community Services Officer, Wooldridge recognized the program’s potential to once again make a difference in the lives of children.

Constable Bill Wooldridge of the Lindsay Police Services - 1991

With the support of local community organizations, Constable Wooldridge spearheaded the effort to bring Elmer back. He collaborated with the Moose Lodge to secure funding for a new Elmer suit and enlisted the Rotary Club to provide financial backing for reintroducing the program in local schools.

Though Elmer was now 50 years old, he was ready to return to the frontlines of road safety education—because, after all, elephants never forget. Thanks to Wooldridge’s dedication, Elmer continued his mission to teach children the essential rules of the road, reigniting a program that Charles Lytle had championed decades earlier.

Elmer’s revival in the 1990s demonstrated how one person’s legacy, combined with the efforts of a new generation, could continue to save lives and promote safety. Charles Lytle’s work, which laid the foundation for this lasting impact, is still felt today as Elmer continues to spread the message of "Care, courtesy, and common sense" to children across the nation.

Charles Lytle’s vision lives on, ensuring that Elmer’s message endures, reminding us all to never forget the importance of safety on the road.

For more information about Elmer and educational resources, visit the Canada Safety Council’s page for Elmer.