YK Crosswalks

So, I've been trying to note the things that are different between Yellowknife and Ontario and one of the major differences is the way in which people drive. The speed limit in the city is no higher than 45kph and fore the most part people actually drive the speed limit (or slower). This type of driving has led to an interesting phenomenon in the way pedestrians behave. The crosswalks in Ontario have big yellow flashing lights to ensure that drivers stop. Here anywhere there are two white lines on the road it is considered a crosswalk and pedestrians can walk out into traffic without really looking or paying attention and the traffic will stop. It amazes me to no end- I haven't adopted this practice yet and am usually still standing on the curb looking both ways for a break in traffic when the traffic suddenly stops and I see that the people I'm with are half way across the street. Hopefully, I don't start thinking like a Yellowknifer with respect to traffic because I most certainly will be run over when I go back to Toronto. (So please make sure that I'm safe and sound when your walking with me).
On another note, children play in the streets with no adults watching and with no regard to traffic (or bicycles). It drives me bonkers. I don't care how slow the traffic moves or that people here are generally very watchful and nice you should let your children play on the street. I've seen kids dart out on to the street in front of cars, playing on the street without moving for the cars and I think that its dangerous and wrong.