Behind the scenes: Transportation Operations
They connect us, keep the economy alive, and ensure our health and safety
Contributors: Ian Duggan, Sherry Morley

The team working in transportation operations plays a vital role in our organization. Their expertise enables us to keep our community running, with an estimated 1.2 million trips made each day on the Regional road network. Meet a few members of the team working behind the scenes to keep people safe and moving.

Welcome back from CAO Bruce Lauckner
Some staff are preparing for changes starting November 29
Contributor: Ian Duggan, Sherry Morley

Some staff at the Region are set to start a phased-in return to their buildings on Monday; others have been at work for the duration of the pandemic. No matter which group you are in, many of us will experience change in the coming weeks and months ahead. CAO Bruce Lauckner chats with us about what that will look like and what he looks forward to the most.
GRT operator rescues lost child
Contributor: Teresa Chiavaroli

Grand River Transit operator Bhupinder Singh was driving his route on a cold October night when he saw a child in shorts and a T-shirt sitting on the edge of the road, crying. Singh guided the child onto the bus and contacted his supervisor.
 
“The boy said his mom told him to leave his house, so he left. When Bhupinder discovered him he didn’t know where he lived or his address,” said Maurice Levesque, the supervisor who responded to the call that night. The family had recently moved to the neighbourhood and the child couldn’t remember how to get back home.
 
While Levesque contacted police, Singh spoke with the child. He asked if he was ok and if he was hungry. Singh then went to McDonalds and bought him chicken nuggets while they waited for police to arrive. When the manager at McDonalds heard the story, she insisted on giving him the food for free.
 
“I was in the right place at the right time,” Singh says. “When I got home I told my wife what happened, and she was really happy to hear we could help the boy.”
 
“It’s our job to look after people,” says Levesque. “I don’t think Bhupinder thinks what he did was special. But the care he showed for that young boy, that’s above and beyond.”
Portraits of Our People
Contributor: Carl Nattrass

Matthew O'Neil, Manager of Rapid Transit Coordination, talks to us about how much collaboration is needed to create a new turning lane. Nine teams are working on the project at King and Victoria to change a right-turning lane into a bus priority lane.    
Meet Matt

Q. How do you challenge yourself?
 
A. I recently ran a marathon, My son said to me, “Dad, at least try to win.” I just said, “Ok, I’ll try.” Ha, I did not win but I ran the whole thing in just under my four-hour target, pretty happy with that. My wife and kids came and saw me at the finish. Didn’t hurt much. But I also trained five to six days a week for five months. Took up running as a healthy choice, and figured a marathon is a good goal before I turn 40.

Q. What’s something an outsider wouldn’t know about your industry?

A. An outsider wouldn’t know how complicated train controls and system integration is. Trains don’t operate exactly like cars with traffic signals, the is a central control facility that monitors their location, controls bells, signals and gates, ensures speed limits are followed in automated train protection (ATP) zones, and checks that trains don’t get too close to each other.

Q. What’s your favourite thing about your current job?

A. The ability to use my knowledge, experience and skills to help make good decisions to the benefit of residents and taxpayers. The opportunity to work with a wide group of staff and departments within the Region.
Student shares takeaways from Take Our Kids to Work Day
Contributor: Sherry Morley

“We should try to be true to our own beliefs, even in settings where on a consistent basis stress is present.” That's the most important life lesson 14-year-old Kyana Ellis says she learned at the Region’s Take Our Kids To Work Day on November 3.

“We should also take time to be kind to ourselves, whether by creating a life structure in which free time is present and scheduled for, or by taking time to separate work from home life,” she added. Kyana is the daughter of Peter Ellis, Principal Planner in Planning, Development and Legislative Services. She hopes to pursue a field in the sciences.

“A surprising thing I learned about the Region was the immense range of jobs here,” said Kyana. “Science-based jobs, geography-based jobs, jobs for people who learn by doing. And, I believe, this makes students like me feel like our passions can find a place in Waterloo Region.”

Kyana said the panelist questions were her favourite part of the event because of the "informative answers to prepare us for the future and teach us about jobs at the Region.”

Paramedic Justiene Cameron was among the Region employees on the panel. She said one student asked how she overcame boredom and stress in her job, to which she responded, “Boredom does happen, but when you revert back to the emergency being patient centered, it realigns your mindset.”
Does your team have a story to share?
We are looking for success stories that show how we serve people in different ways. 
Email us with yours!
National Housing Day
Dashboard tracks affordable housing progress and Cisco shares his story
Contributor: Gloria Bairos

On National Housing Day, the Region launched a public dashboard that shares progress made on the affordable housing plan, Building Better Futures: 2,500 Homes in 5 Years. The plan aspires to increase the number of new affordable homes created from an average of 50 each year to 500. We will surpass this goal in the first year of the plan, with 680 new homes in development across the region this year. 

During the celebrations on Monday, Cisco, a community member and former client in Housing Services, shared his personal experience with homelessness, addiction, and recovery.