Transit Driver Appreciation Day

PRINCE GEORGE – March 18, 2015 is Transit Driver Appreciation Day. BC Transit and the City of Prince George are celebrating by saluting some of the extraordinary men and women who go the extra mile (kilometer) to safely provide exceptional 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 www.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.

Prince George Transit is proud of all employees and would like to send a special salute to one operator. Chris Holbrook is marking his 10th anniversary behind the wheel.

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Chris was both a professional BC Transit driver and a volunteer driver during last month’s Canada Winter Games. Throughout the Games, Chris spent time connecting with athletes, locals and visitors by collecting Winter Games’ pins. By the end of the two-week event, Chris had 58 unique pins, countless new memories and a renewed sense of pride in his community.

For the past seven years, Chris has been behind the wheel at the annual Seniors Holiday Lights Tour. Plus from 2005-2014 he donated his time and talent to the Prince George Regional Highway Rescue team.

“Chris is an exceptional driver and person. He has given of his time to support the Seniors Christmas Lights Tour for seven years and most recently he was one of the amazing volunteers that helped make the 2015 Canada Winter Games a success. We were lucky to have him as our driver for the Torch Run and he made a special day even more enjoyable,” Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond said. “On Driver Appreciation Day we want to celebrate the dedicated service that transit drivers provide, both on and off the job.”

“Chris is one of the reasons the Canada Winter Games was a success in Prince George last month,” Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris said. “His skill and professionalism ensured passengers were transported to and from venues, and that a transit trip was part of a memorable experience for citizens and visitors alike. My thanks to Chris, and all the transit operators for their service on Driver Appreciation Day – and every day.”

“Transit in Prince George is not just a service for many residents, it is an essential service,” said Mayor Lyn Hall of Prince George. “Transit helps young, talented students get to the University of Northern BC and to the College of New Caledonia, and it helps the elderly and persons with disabilities or fixed incomes move about the city safely and efficiently. On behalf of Council, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to drivers like Mr. Holbrook, who have-literally-gone that extra mile for Prince George. They were a big reason for the success of the 2015 Games, and they will play a huge role in getting residents and visitors out to the many 100th Anniversary events we have planned this summer.”

“BC Transit operators work hard all year long as our front-line ambassadors, providing outstanding customer service,” said BC Transit President and CEO Manuel Achadinha. “On Transit Driver Appreciation Day, I invite the public to join me in thanking our drivers for delivering daily on the company’s core values of safety, integrity and customer service.”

For more information on routes and schedules please consult www.bctransit.com/prince-george

Media contact:
Meribeth Burton
Corporate Spokesperson | BC Transit
d: 250-995-5720 c: 250-507-8145 media@bctransit.com