OC Transpo honours employees who keep our community safe

This news release contains information about the following two OC Transpo programs:

• Safe Driving Awards
• Transecure Awards

Transit Committee Chair, Councillor Glen Gower, welcomed other City Councillors and senior City staff at Ben Franklin Place to celebrate OC Transpo employees through the Safe Driving and Transecure Awards programs. Safe Driving Awards The Safe Driving Awards program recognizes transit operators who have an exemplary safe driving record, and who reach career milestones in driving. Employees must drive at least 1,000 hours during the previous year without an at-fault collision. Each year, OC Transpo recognizes bus operators who have achieved 20, 25, 30 or more than 35 years of collision-free driving. Thirteen operators were honoured for reaching 20 years of safe driving and 12 with more than 25 years of safe driving. Ten operators were recognized for driving more than 35 years without an at-fault collision.  There are also three operators who are the recipients of 40, 41 and 43 years of safe driving. Transecure Transecure is OC Transpo’s community watch program on wheels. The program recognizes and celebrates the actions of OC Transpo employees who demonstrate exemplary behaviour by assisting members of the community during their times of need. This year’s annual Transecure Awards ceremony celebrated the contributions of 13 employees for their actions in 2024. Among them is the Transecure Employee of the Year, Operator Broedy. While driving his bus, Broedy noticed a young passenger having a seizure. Broedy quickly applied his first-aid training to save the young passenger’s life. In 2024, 126 Transecure calls were made by OC Transpo employees, bringing the total number of calls to 12,245 since the program’s inception in 1987.  Details for all the monthly winning calls are available on octranspo.com. Quotes: “Congratulations to all the OC Transpo employees celebrating important career milestones. Thank you for your commitment to our city, our community, and to our passengers. In addition to keeping our residents moving throughout the city, you are the eyes and ears of our neighbourhoods, always looking out for the well-being of those around you.” Ottawa Mayor, Mark Sutcliffe “To spend a career driving a city bus during heavy traffic every day and reach 20 years or more of safe driving is an incredible accomplishment. As City employees who spend their days on neighbourhood streets, they regularly reunite lost children with their parents, provide aid to residents in crisis, and maintain constant vigilance on behalf of their passengers and neighbours. I applaud them for maintaining such high standards.” Councillor Glen Gower, Chair of the Transit Commission