(Press release from the City of Ottawa.)
At the 25th annual Transecure Awards ceremony last week, the City of Ottawa honoured the heroic actions of OC Transpo employees who went above and beyond the call of duty to provide aid and comfort to residents in need.
“Each year while providing safe, reliable and efficient transit service, OC Transpo employees continue to look out for the security of the public,” said Deputy Mayor Mark Taylor. “The stories we heard today solidify why our customers continue to show confidence in our transit system – it’s because of the caring, selfless individuals who go out of their way to make a difference.”
One of the recipients was Greg, from Stittsville. He may have saved a life very early one morning in January. Police were anxious to find a young person who had left a suicide note before leaving his home. Greg noticed a teen on his bus who matched the person’s description, and alerted Transit Operations Control Centre. Before Transit Safety and Fare Enforcement staff could reach the bus, the customer got off. Luckily, a Special Constable found him on the highway a short time later and stayed with him until Ottawa Police Service arrived and returned him to his home.
“On the 25th anniversary of the Transecure Awards, we tip our hats to the OC Transpo employees who have gone far beyond the call of duty to help customers and residents in emergency situations,” said Councillor Stephen Blais, Chair of the Transit Commission. “Their dedication during times of crisis is a testament to their professionalism and we thank them for helping make both our transit system and city safe.”
The Transecure program is a community watch program on wheels. OC Transpo employees look out for the safety of all community members and, as a result, become the eyes and ears of the community. They notify emergency services when required and assist individuals who are in distress, offering a safe haven in any OC Transpo vehicle. In 2014, OC Transpo employees made 312 Transecure calls, bringing the total number of calls to 10,527 since the program’s inception in October 1989.
For more information on the programs OC Transpo has in place to make transit safe and secure, please visit octranspo.com.
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