Issue 142 | September 29, 2023 | |
A message from TTC CEO Rick Leary | |
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Tomorrow, September 30, marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada – also known as Orange Shirt Day. As this solemn day falls on Saturday this year, our recognition began early with a sunrise ceremony and flag-raising at Arrow Road Division today.
To honour the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities, all employees have received an Every Child Matters pin and are invited to wear it on the job, on September 29 and 30, as well as an orange shirt if they have one. All TTC buses will fly an orange flag with the Every Child Matters message, and window decals with the same message are displayed on streetcars and Wheel-Trans buses.
Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history, and ongoing impacts of residential schools, is a vital component of the reconciliation process. My thanks to the United Indigenous Council and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations for their advice and guidance on how best to recognize this day.
TTC Board meeting
The TTC Board meeting on Tuesday was the first for new TTC Chair Jamaal Myers and Commissioners Josh Matlow and Dianne Saxe. There were a number of major items discussed, including an update on the TTC’s Partnership Approach to Community Safety, Security and Well-Being on Public Transit.
Commissioners approved dedicating $10 million in projected savings this year to begin hiring for 178 new positions. Those include 130 high-visibility Customer Service Agents and 30 uniformed Supervisors, among other support positions. This decision helps us to fulfill our duty of care obligations when it comes to Toronto’s most vulnerable residents, especially those who use the transit system as a shelter in the winter months.
Please see below for more highlights of Commission decisions approved on September 26.
SRT farewell
Last Saturday, we celebrated and said goodbye to the SRT. Thousands of Line 3 fans attended our open house at Scarborough Centre Station for a heartfelt send-off after nearly 40 years of RT rail service to the residents of Scarborough. It was a great event attended by Mayor Olivia Chow, TTC Chair Jamaal Myers and a number of Scarborough City Councillors.
Last month, the TTC confirmed that train service, originally scheduled to end in November, would not restart following the July 24 derailment. Some elements of the Line 3 bus replacement plan are already in place to ensure riders are supported and can effectively plan their trips now and into the fall.
Stay safe.
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Rick Leary
TTC CEO
September 29, 2023
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Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | |
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The significance of the orange shirt
The United Indigenous Council at ATU Local 113 and the TTC would like to share the significance of Orange Shirt Day.
The commemoration of Orange Shirt Day was inspired by Indian Residential School (IRS) survivor Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwepemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. Her grandmother had bought her a new orange shirt for school. When she arrived at school, she was stripped of her clothing and never saw her orange shirt again. September 30 commemorates the atrocities that occurred in the IRS system experienced by thousands of Indigenous children. The orange shirt represents the stripping away of Indigenous culture, language, traditions, freedoms and self-esteem.
Fallon Simard, an Indigenous artist from Couchiching First Nation in Grand Council Treaty #3 Territory, created the above artwork, Portrait of Priscilla Simard. It is a portrait of Fallon’s KoKo (Grandmother), a survivor of the Indian Residential School system, wearing an orange shirt. Fallon wanted to honour his KoKo for her strength, courage and love.
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Myths and facts about Indian Residential Schools
Recognizing the devastating history and the ongoing effects of residential schools is an important part of the reconciliation process. Below, we break down a few of the myths associated with the history of Indian Residential Schools.
1. Myth: Canadian Residential Schools is ancient history.
Fact: The last Residential School closed in 1996, and the impacts of the system are still felt today by over 150,000 children were subjected to this horrible experience.
2. Myth: The Canadian Government officially apologized to the survivors of the Indian Residential Schools (IRS) at the time when the last IRS closed in the 1990s.
Fact: No, it was in 2008—12 years after the last Indian Residential School closed— when the Canadian Government acknowledged that this approach was wrong, cruel and ineffective, and offered an official apology to the Indigenous People of Canada.
3. Myth: There are only 13 Calls to Action by the Canada Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report (TRC).
Fact: There are 94 Calls to Action by the Canada Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which are broken down into 21 categories. Only 13 have been implemented in seven years, since the TRC report was developed.
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Honour Song
The Honour Song in the video on the left is sung to remember the lives lost and the survivors affected by the legacy of residential schools.
The Honour Song is introduced by Wheels and Tires Serviceperson and member of the Bear Clan from Serpent River First Nations Brent Pelletier.
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Help us showcase inspirational women at the TTC for Women’s History Month in October!
The national theme for Women’s History Month this year is She Did, So Now I Can. Throughout October, we’ll be celebrating women at the TTC who have had a positive impact on others and inspired greatness. If you are an employee who identifies as a woman who has been inspired by other female TTC employees, we want to hear from you. Reach out to us at MyTTCWeekly@ttc.ca to get involved.
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Enter your pet in the Cutest Pet Contest, a United Way fundraiser
Categories include cutest pet, most mischievous/funniest look, best smile and owner/pet look-alike. Entries are $10 per category. See the poster for more information. Contact Maxwell.Tomlinson@ttc.ca if you have questions.
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Enter a United Way raffle for a chance to win Toronto Maple Leaf tickets
Purchase a raffle ticket for $20 for a chance to win two tickets to the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadians on October 11, 2023. All proceeds will go to United Way Greater Toronto. See the poster for more information.
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Leave no pin standing at a Recreation Council bowling social
When: Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 8 to 10 p.m.
Where: Playtime Bowl & Entertainment (33 Samor Rd., North York)
Tickets are $40 per bowler and include two hours of bowling, shoe rental, and food. See the poster for more details.
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Bring your families to TTC’s Family Day and Bus Roadeo event at Arrow Road Garage
When: Sunday, October 15, 2023, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Arrow Road Garage (700 Arrow Rd.)
Come out for food, rides, fun activities and more! This fun day is free to TTC all employees and is accessible. To volunteer, please contact Kate.Ofriel@ttc.ca or Sandy Tsirlis Sandy.Tsirlis@ttc.ca. See the poster for more information.
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Join the United Way ClimbUP event
Challenge yourself and conquer the 1,776 steps of the CN Tower to support United Way’s fight against local poverty on October 22, 2023. See the poster for more details.
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Take the TTC Pension Plan 2023 Members Survey for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card
Have your say and you could win! The 2023 Members Survey is now live. Between now and October 16, sign up at ttcpp.ca/survey for a chance to win one of three $100 Amazon.ca gift cards when you complete the survey.
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Volunteer at TTC’s Halloween Fest in Bay Lower Station on October 29 and 30
Organizers are looking for volunteers to help with crowd management, stroller parking and general guest services. Sign up to volunteer by October 20. This event is benefitting the United Way. See the poster for more details.
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Sign up for the United Way Trivia Night fundraiser
When: Thursday, November 16, 2023, registration begins at 4 p.m. and trivia questions begin at 6 p.m.
Where: Granite Brewery & Tied House (245 Eglinton Ave. E)
There's a maximum of 25 teams with 4 people per team. See the poster for more information.
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What's happening
News from around the TTC
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Have Your Say - Anti-Racism Strategy and Policy
From October 10 to November 3, the Diversity Department will be gathering feedback across the TTC on the development of the draft Anti-Racism Strategy and Anti-Racism Policy. This work actively supports the TTC’s commitment to ensure a work and service environment that is free from systemic racism.
Diversity will soon reach out to each Group to invite your participation in engagement sessions. More information will be shared in the upcoming weeks.
Frontline employees will also be engaged in convenient and accessible ways, including visits to Divisions and posts on information boards.
If you have any questions, please email the Racial Equity Office at reo@ttc.ca.
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Winners from the SRT event have been announced
On Saturday, September 23, the TTC held an open house for employees, their families and customers at Scarborough Centre Station to celebrate the retirement of the SRT.
If you were in attendance at the SRT Event please check your raffle tickets to see if you won our prizes!
We are looking for the winning raffle recipients for these two prizes:
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100 Year TTC Winning Ticket number: 6903711
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End of Line 3 Winning Ticket number: 6903703
Please contact Tawnia Politis at Tawnia.Politis@ttc.ca or at 437-772-9947 to show your ticket and claim your prize.
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Wheel-Trans launches mobile application
Wheel-Trans launched its mobile application on September 25, 2023, available for both iOS and Android users. The app contains unique features in addition to supporting most of the functions available on the Wheel-Trans Self-booking Website.
Wheel-Trans customers can use the app to plan both door-to-door and Family of Services (FOS) trips, track vehicle location in real time, receive service alerts, view trip history, reset passwords and modify communication preferences.
Wheel-Trans customers can now book their trips using the Wheel-Trans mobile app, Wheel-Trans Self-booking Website, Interactive Voice Response (IVR) or by contacting Wheel-Trans Reservations. For more information, contact Wheel-Trans Customer Service by phone at 416-393-4111 or email at wtcs@ttc.ca.
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Develop your skills and advance your career with The Learning Journey
The Learning Journey is a pdf-based tool that can help employees discover ways to develop their behavioural skills, and in turn advance their careers and reach their professional goals. It provides a comprehensive list of opportunities and resources available to all employees, union and non-union, and can help you at any stage of your career.
You can access the Learning Journey on MyTTC | Home, MyTTC | SAP Jam, or Employee Development’s Intranet page.
Email EmployeeDevelopment@ttc.ca if you have questions or feedback.
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Reminder to complete mandatory Cybersecurity Awareness
e-Learning by September 30
As part of the TTC’s efforts to maintain and improve the security of its information technology systems, employees who have network access are required to complete the Mandatory Cybersecurity Awareness: Just the Facts Training by September 30, 2023.
The Cybersecurity Awareness Training Curriculum has been assigned to TTC employees and contractors with network access on the MyTTC | My Learning, through MyTTC | Home, and includes 13 modules, each about five minutes long.
If you encounter any issues in accessing the modules or in receiving a completion status, please email EmployeeDevelopment@ttc.ca.
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Receive a discounted membership to LA Fitness
TTC employees can receive a discounted membership to select LA Fitness locations. See the poster for more details.
You can find tons of great deals like this one on the TTC Recreation Council's page on MyTTC | SAP Jam.
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See what the TTC's Instagram account posted this week | |
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"Scarborough, you showed out. 💙
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for joining us as we said a final farewell to Line 3. Your energy, nostalgia, and love for the SRT and the community shined through on Saturday and we were grateful to be a part of it. 🚎3️⃣"
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Leadership changes to Strategy & Customer Experience Group, effective September 17, 2023
Effective September 17 to December 30, 2023, Wendy Reuter (pictured on the top left) has moved into the acting role of Chief of Strategy & Customer Experience. In order to have some continuinty on key projects within this Group, Angela Gibson (pictured on the bottom left), who was serving as Chief of Strategy & Customer Experience (Acting), has into an acting role as Executive Director, where she will continue to support services in Farecard, Revenue Operations, Revenue Protection and Special Constable. This role will also be effective September 17 until December 30, 2023, and will report into the Chief of Strategy & Customer Experience.
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Employee spotlight
Thank you Roger Dow and Edmond Dervishi for your excellent customer service
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When a customer on Bus Operator Roger Dow’s (right) 945 Kipling Express route realized they had left their phone behind on another bus on the same route, Roger was quick to go above and beyond to help out. Roger asked some questions to get more information and realized he knew Operator Edmond Dervishi (left) was driving the bus with the phone on it. He was able to connect with Edmond, who met Roger and the customer at Kipling Station to retrieve it – all while ensuring service was not impacted.
The customer was extremely thankful to Edmond and Roger for their help. Thank you both for displaying excellent customer service to help a customer find their lost item!
If you find a lost item on a vehicle or in a station, and can’t make a quick return like Roger and Edmond, be sure to contact your supervisor and fill out a Lost Article Slip.
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If you have good news stories about an employee showing excellent customer service, keeping the system safe or helping keep the TTC clean, we want to hear about it! Send your good news stories to MyTTCWeekly@ttc.ca to have them featured here and on the MyTTC | Now TVs! | |
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Mark your calendar
Events and observances from October 2-15, 2023
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October - Caribbean Heritage Month, Canadian Islamic History Month, Community Support Month, Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Disability Employment Awareness Month, German Heritage Month, Healthy Workplace Month, Latin American Heritage Month, Learning Disabilities Awareness Month, Women’s History Month
October 2 - International Day of Non-Violence
October 2 - Mental Illness Awareness Week begins
October 4 - National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
October 4 - Sisters in Spirit Day
October 5 - World Teacher’s Day
October 6 - Sukkot ends (Judaism)
October 6 - Shemini Atzeret begins at sundown (Judaism)
October 7 - Simchat Torah begins (Judaism)
October 8 - International Lesbian Day
October 8 - Mental Illness Awareness Week ends
October 8 - Simchat Torah ends (Judaism)
October 8 - Shemini Atzeret ends (Judaism)
October 9 - Thanksgiving
October 10 - World Mental Health Day
October 11 - International Day of the Girl
October 11 - National Coming Out Day
October 12 - Bandi Chhor Divas (Sikhism)
October 15 - Navaratri begins at sundown (Hinduism)
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| Employee Career Centre
New TTC internal job postings
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At the TTC, we are committed to helping you reach your professional goals through internal promotion and transfer opportunities. The Employee Career Centre allows current employees to apply for any available position.
The TTC is committed to fostering a positive workplace culture with a workforce that is representative of the communities it serves. Committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion, the TTC encourages applications from all qualified applicants. Accommodation is available for applicants of all abilities throughout the recruitment process.
New positions available:
CEO's Office
- Construction Liaison Officer (Req I.D. 8292)
- Safety Specialist (Req I.D. 8264)
Corporate Services
- Procurement & Contract Specialist (Req I.D. 7580)
- Senior Systems Analyst (SAP Payroll) (Req I.D. 8183)
Operations and Infrastructure
- Engineering Technologist, Elevating Devices (Req I.D. 8085)
- Assistant Construction and Development Coordinator (Req I.D. 8313)
- Senior Engineer, Design and Standards (Req I.D. 8271)
- Project Controls Coordinator (Req I.D. 8333)
- Roadmaster, Track Maintenance and Rehabilitation (Req I.D. 8187)
- Operations Analyst (Req I.D. 8181)
- Senior Designer, Signals (Req I.D. 8228)
Strategy and Customer Experience
- Revenue Equipment Attendant (Req I.D. 6627)
- Senior Planner, Transit Service (Req I.D. 8063)
- Policy Planner (Req I.D. 8251)
- Manager, Farecard Operations (Req I.D. 7880)
Transportation and Vehicles
- Garage Foreperson (Req I.D. 7095)
- Transit Operator (Req I.D. 8282)
- Foreperson, Rail Vehicles (Req I.D. 7951)
For more information and a list of all current job postings, visit the Employee Career Centre on MyTTC | Home. Log in with your MyTTC username and password.
Please contact Diversity and Culture – Talent Management at 416-393-4570 with any questions.
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