A couple of interesting cites about pointing at Toronto crosswalks:
First of all, from here, which is a non-Toronto source:
And from here, which seems to be from Toronto:
I guess people pointing at a Toronto crosswalk hasn’t quite died out yet. Heck, I still do it when I’m a pedestrian in Toronto.
The law is substantially similar in Ontario and Alberta.
In both Ontario and Alberta, pedestrians are prohibited from throwing themselves into traffic at a crosswalk, but once a pedestrian is properly on the road in a crosswalk vehicles must stop.
Ontario http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90h08_e.htm#s140s1
Alberta RSA 2000, c H-8 | Highway Traffic Act | CanLII
Pointing is not required by law in either province, but is encouraged by the City of Toronto.
Toronto Streets, Parking & Transportation – City of Toronto
So remember, kids, it’s too dangerous out there. Stay inside, in the basement, with your helmet on.
I’m 32 and went to elementary school in Brampton. I remember someone telling us about the point then cross practice, but I’ve never actually seen anyone do it.
Wow, I’m impressed. I’ve never even heard about the pointing thing. Of course I’m in Montreal, land of maniacs when it comes to driving. I actually was about 32 when I was in a small town in the Eastern Township and was waiting to cross the street, of couse being a good Montrealer, I was in the street waiting and cars just stopped to let me cross. Seriously I had never seen that before.
Back in Montreal I tried it at a crosswalk and spained my ankle getting out of the way of the car that didn’t even slow down!!!
Vive Montreal
I would say that a bit of this is confusion on the part of drivers, who are a little gunshy about what the rules are and overcompensate. I think I’ve told this story here before, but I once was behind a driver here (here being Calgary) who stopped at a green light to let a pedestrian cross. The pedestrian was a little smarter than that, realizing that the other three lanes of traffic didn’t agree to the same deal.
I’ve also experienced that from the other end of things - I was taking a break on my bike on a pathway at the top of a hill, and positioned myself about 6 feet away from the crosswalk, hunched over and looking away from where the path joined the street. Clearly no intention to cross, right? Two drivers stopped to let me “cross” and yelled at me that I didn’t immediately do so.
Pointing to cross is how you cross the street in Sri Lanka, though the difference is that there are very few marked crosswalks, lanes and directions of travel for cars and tuktuks are merely suggestions and it’s nearly impossible for a vehicle to get above about 40km/hr. I was terrified the first few days, even following a couple of monks to cross once, because I didn’t believe cars would stop for me. Turns out they really do - I saw fewer accidents in two weeks in Columbo than I do in a typical week in Montreal. I also never saw an impatient or road raged driver, despite the constant horns honking.
My mother hates walking around in Montreal with me; she’s very good about waiting for the green light/cross signals, while I do like most Montrealers… if there’s room to go, I go! It’s always amazed me just how different road/pedestrian culture can be in different cities and countries.
You missed the point. It is to force the car to swerve and crash (from a non-driver who was involved in 3 vehicular accidents before 15) 
It might have seemed clear to you that you had no intention to cross, but I wish all pedestrians in Calgary understood what the drivers are dealing with - the fine for interfering with a pedestrian in a crosswalk is $500 last time I checked, so the stakes are very high - as a frequent pedestrian, I try to never stop and hang around anywhere near a crosswalk, because drivers are forced to treat anyone who might possibly be thinking about crossing as a potential crosser.
I’ve told this story here before, but here it is again; I was driving to work one morning, and came across a young boy (10 or so) standing at a crosswalk, looking across the road. I stopped for him, but he didn’t cross (or move away). A police car pulled up to the adjoining intersection which had a stop sign. He waited for me to move, I waited for the kid to move; after a minute or so of this, the cop got out and asked me what I was doing. I said I was waiting for the pedestrian to cross; the cop asked the kid if he wanted to cross, he said no, the cop told me to go, so I went. The crosswalk was in an active school zone, so I was looking at a $1000 fine (fines doubled in school zones) if I had gone and something went horribly wrong and the cop decided to fine me - I was in a perfect, "Damned if you do, damned if you don’t"situation thanks to a kid who decided to wait for God only knows what at the top of a crosswalk.
I think you should reread my post: I’m commiserating with you to an extent.
Whatever the law on pedestrian crossing says for Alberta, I have to agree with Spoons that that is just not the way it works in practice here. Pedestrian culture here is weird and anyone that’s visiting I’ve ever driven around this city for an appreciable amount of time boggles at how backwards it seems.
Is Vancouver still infested with uncontrolled intersections? That’s something one seldom comes across in Toronto.
The whole thing with pointing just sounds so… Quaint. It’s quaint, a way of the Ontario of yesteryear, when you couldn’t go to the movies on Sundays and people cared if you were a United Empire Loyalist.
I.O.D.E. bridge luncheons in Oakville.
The only people I ever see point before crossing the street are Seniors that seem to have a bit of a death wish - they just stick their arms out and GO! no crosswalk be damned!
May be heading to Thunder Bay in August - anyone going to be around?
Probably. I live in TBay, but I’m out of town a fair bit.
It’s entirely possible that I mis-read your intent a bit - that’s a bit of a sore spot with me. 
I can’t speak for Vancouver, but moving from Saskatoon to Toronto, I was surprised by the sudden drop in uncontrolled intersections.
Congratulations to your niece, Leaffan. Third best curlers in the world is nothing to sneeze at (and at least they beat the US Americans). 
I honestly cannot think of the last time I saw an uncontrolled intersection in Ontario. Even rural intersections at least have a stop sign.
I’m sure there are some in very remote, rarely driven areas, but not in towns and cities. That’s a recipe for accidents and death.
Thanks. It was a disappointing last-rock loss to Scotland in the semifinals, but bronze is just wonderful for first time at worlds. They’re only in their mid-20s. Lots of good years to come.
I definitely second this. I have bragged to many people that I know the uncle of one of the curlers on our national team! Congratulations to **LeafNiece **& rink!