NANAIMO – Tomorrow is Transit Driver Appreciation Day. BC Transit
and the Regional District of Nanaimo are celebrating on March 18, 2014
by saluting some of the extraordinary men and women who go the extra mile (kilometer)
to safely provide exceptional customer service.
RDN Transit is very fortunate to have 114 Transit operators on staff, all of
whom provide exceptional service.
This year RDN Transit would like to acknowledge two drivers for their outstanding
service and professional approach to a job that is vital to the health and economic
prosperity to the entire Regional District of Nanaimo:
David Sakai has been employed with the RDN as a transit driver since May 17,
1999. David is not only a transit operator but also an assistant dispatcher
and member of the RDN internal scheduling committee. David’s level of professionalism
in all aspects of his jobs is noticed and appreciated by management, fellow
coworkers and the public. David is an excellent communicator with exceptional
critical thinking skills. To put it simply, David is a leader in the transit
department, and the transit system is lucky to have such a dedicated, professional,
kind hearted person.
Janene Ritchie started working for the RDN as a transit driver on January 13,
2012. From Janene’s first days with the RDN, it was quickly realized that
she was going to be very successful at her new job. She displayed all of the
key elements of a professional driver, excellent communication skills, the ability
to work with people from diverse backgrounds, a friendly and considerate manner,
good driving skills and knowledge of defensive driving techniques. Janene is
very well-liked by her colleagues and respected by her employer. RDN Transit
management believes that as she continues to grow in her abilities as a professional
transit driver she will one day become a leader amongst her peers.
“For getting countless people to and from their destinations safely, and
in all kinds of weather, transit drivers deserve our appreciation,” said
Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “It is a highly-skilled
job that carries a great deal of responsibility and I thank them for their dedication
on Transit Driver Appreciation Day – and every day.”
“The Regional District of Nanaimo and all transit passengers are lucky
to have such professional employees within our organization,” said RDN
Chair Joe Stanhope. “Our transit operators work a little magic every day,
making a very complex and highly-skilled job look effortless and easy.”
“For 365 days of the year, the men and woman of BC Transit work hard to
provide outstanding transit services to our customers,” said BC Transit
President and CEO Manuel Achadinha. “March 18 marks Transit Driver Appreciation
Day and I invite the public to join me in thanking our drivers for delivering
on the company’s core values of safety, integrity and customer service.”
Why March 18? It is believed to be the debut of transit services
in Paris in 1662. For more details on Transit Driver Appreciation consult http://transitdriverday.org/
On the website, you will find transit driver thank you cards. BC Transit encourages
our customers to print off a card for their favourite driver or to thank operators
when they depart the bus.
For more information on routes and schedules please consult www.bctransit.com/regions/nan
or call 250.390.4531. Parksville/Qualicum inquiries can be made by calling 250.954.1001.
Media Contacts:
Dennis Trudeau
Regional District of Nanaimo
General Manager, Transportation and Solid Waste
250.390.6505
DTrudeau@rdn.bc.ca
Meribeth Burton
BC Transit
media@bctransit.com
ph: 250.995.5720
