TTC receives three CUTA awards

I’m proud to announce that the TTC won three awards from the Canadian Urban Transit 

Association (CUTA) at its Annual Fall Conference in Montreal in October.

CUTA presented our organization with the 2022 Corporate Leadership Award in the new category of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for our campaign to recognize Indigenous Heritage Month and our first-ever Pow Wow last June. We also received the 2022 Environmental Sustainability Award for our Green Bus Technology Plan. 

And finally, the William G. Ross Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Brian Leck, retired Head of Legal and General Counsel. Brian retired as our General Counsel in 2021 after nearly 32 years of distinguished service with the TTC. Prior to his retirement, Brian had invested hundreds of volunteer hours in his capacity as CUTA’s Honorary Counsel. 

Congratulations to all involved!

Halloween Fest was a monster smash hit

Last weekend, Bay Lower was transformed into an immersive and interactive trick-or-treat spot that saw more than 5,000 visitors during the TTC’s first Halloween Fest event. Spooky at normal times, Bay Lower was eerily decorated for Halloween.

Congratulations to our United Way campaign organizers, participating departments and more than 100 volunteer employees and students who helped make the Halloween Fest a truly spooky and memorable occasion for everyone. It was a great time for a great cause!

Honouring Remembrance Day 

Next week, the TTC Honour Guard is proudly representing our workforce in the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph at Old City Hall. While the Royal Canadian Legion’s poppy campaign continues in TTC subway stations, I urge all employees to wear a poppy, make a contribution, and take a moment to thank the veterans you see on the system. As in previous years, at 11 a.m. on November 11, the TTC will pause service for two minutes to honour those who died in service. 

Stay safe and don’t forget to turn you clocks back one hour on Sunday as daylight saving time ends.

Donate to the 2022 United Way Campaign

Help reach this year’s goal of raising $750,000 for United Way Greater Toronto. Click here to access the online donation form.

United Way funds agencies all over the GTA that alleviate food insecurity, homelessness and gaps in the mental healthcare system. Learn more on the campaign’s MyTTC | SAP Jam page.

Sign up for the United Way bowling tournament fundraiser

When: Thursday, November 10, 2022, 4 to 6 p.m.

Where: Playtime Bowl & Entertainment (33 Samor Rd., North York)

You can sign up individually or in a team of up to three people. Admission is $45 per person. See the poster for more information.

Extended: Count Me In employee demographic survey closing on November 30

In just two minutes, you can help build more inclusive programs and policies at the TTC. Fill out our short, multiple-choice survey about how you identify, including your race, gender, religion, sexual orientation and disability status, to help paint a clearer picture of the TTC’s diverse workforce. Access the survey.

Treaties Recognition Week from November 6 to 12

This year, Treaties Recognition Week is from November 6 to 12. Treaties Recognition Week honours the importance of treaties and helps Ontario residents understand the significance of treaty rights, treaty relationships and their relevance today.

Watch TTC's land acknowledgement video above.

New PRESTO readers coming to TTC vehicles 

PRESTO is in the process of installing new card readers on TTC buses and streetcars. It will take until January 2023 to complete the installations. 

The new readers are an important step in the TTC’s ongoing modernization efforts and will be future-ready for new customer-friendly services like open payment (credit/debit card and mobile device taps) when PRESTO makes that available on the TTC in 2023. They are the same readers currently used by other transit agencies across the Greater Toronto Area, including GO Transit.

The readers have been replaced on Wheel-Trans vehicles and will be replaced on fare gates in early 2023.

For more information speak to your manager or supervisor. 

TTC hosts successful Halloween Fest fundraiser for United Way

Last weekend, the TTC hosted its first ever Halloween-themed fundraiser for United Way Greater Toronto in Bay Lower Station. The event had a spooky "Trick-or-Train," a TTC history exhibit and other fun activities for the public. Over 5,000 people attended.

Thank you to the event organizers and to everyone who volunteered to make this event such a great success.

See more photos on the United Way 2022 MyTTC | SAP Jam page.

Birchmount Division celebrates Halloween

Pictured above: Employees at Birchmount Division dressed up in some fun and spooky costumes for Halloween on Monday.

Operations Support celebrates long service milestones

Last week, Chief Vehicles Officer Rich Wong presented long service milestone pins to staff. Congratulations to:

• Terry Lesyk – Divisional Assistant Manager (25 years)
• Erin Wemyss – Program Manager Operations Integration (15 years)
• Angela Li – Business Analyst (10 years)
• Hanh Nguyen – Administrative Coordinator (10 years)
• Tom Gardiner – Senior Advisor, Operational Performance (5 years) 

Pictured above: Terry Lesyk receives his 25 year pin from Rich Wong. 

TTC's Human Rights and Investigations Department moves to Union Station East Wing

As a part of ModernTO, TTC employees will be making moves to consolidated and fully modernized office spaces between 2023 and 2028. 

Modernized office spaces will provide a more inclusive, collaborative, and productive employee experience. Brighter and quieter working environments with expanded gathering spaces will support the health and wellness of employees, and smart technologies will help lessen our environmental footprint.

Pictured above, the Human Rights and Investigations Department (HRID) is touring their new work space.

End of Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time will end at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 6, 2022. All clocks will turn back one hour, which shifts the hours of daylight earlier. With this time change, it’s important to stay alert and safe.

TTC employees get 10 per cent off SoftMoc purchases

Receive a 10 per cent discount for online purchases at SoftMoc through their corporate membership program. See this poster for more details and the TTC employee discount code.

You can find tons of great deals like this one on the TTC Recreation Council's page on MyTTC | SAP Jam.

TTC encourages young women to consider careers in skilled trades

On October 12, the Vehicles Group commemorated the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl at the Jill of all Trades™ event at Centennial College.

Apprentices and Licensed Technicians from Bus Maintenance and Streetcar Maintenance (pictured above on the left, Carol Johnson, Urja Rana, Kelly Kirkpatrick and Vanessa Fernandez) shared their experiences with more than 100 young women in high school. They were supported by staff from the Vehicles Group and Talent Management, who shared information about apprenticeships and future opportunities in the trades at the TTC.

“This is an excellent opportunity for women in the trades at the TTC to contribute to the growth and development of future generations of young women,” said Foreperson Adil Ali.

| Employee Development

Personal career development at your fingertips

Are you looking to take the next step in your career? TTC employees can access quality programs and resources to help them achieve their long-term career goals. Each week, MyTTC | Weekly will feature a different program or service offered by the TTC’s Employee Development Section.

This week's featured opportunity is Management Essentials.

Management Essentials is an automatically-assigned training program for all new people leaders at the TTC, whether promoted from within or hired externally. This blended learning approach combines e-learning modules with instructor-led training to provide variety, flexibility, engagement and support. Experienced instructors deliver content related to safety, diversity and inclusion, corporate policies, performance management, critical people skills, and more – all from a leadership perspective. The tools, strategies, and resources offered throughout this program are designed to help prepare participants for the challenges they’ll face as new leaders at the TTC. 

“This course covered the concepts that supervisors at the TTC should know. The exercises we did were very creative and you could tell a lot of thought went into developing this program. Overall, it allowed me to recognize the critical elements of a leadership role at the TTC.” – Virgil Umali, Manager, Corporate Deliverables, Chief of Vehicles Office

Visit the MyTTC | Learning Centre to check out more courses offered to TTC employees and contact Employee Development at EmployeeDevelopment@ttc.ca if you have questions. 

| Rewards and Recognition

Congratulations to the Diversity Award recipients

Each week, MyTTC | Weekly will feature award recipients from the six different Rewards and Recognition categories: customer service, safety, innovation and creativity, leadership, teamwork, and diversity.

The Diversity Award recognizes TTC employees who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging. These individuals model inclusive behaviour and act as champions for diversity and inclusion. Congratulations to this September's winners!

You can read more about all of the Rewards and Recognition winners on MyTTC | The Coupler.

Stephen Cartaciano

Special Events and Program Specialist

Marketing and Customer Service

On the move

Joy Lama appointed Project Manager, effective August 2, 2022

For the last seven years, Joy has worked at Honda Canada Manufacturing as a Project Manager. In that role, he was responsible for capital upgrades to plant equipment. 

Joy recently joined the TTC in August as a Project Manager in Streetcar Maintenance. In this role, Joy will be responsible for the planning, procurement and execution of various projects in the Streetcar Maintenance department such as the Russell Carhouse extension and the Harvey Shop modification. 

Joy has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and management and a master of business administration, both from McMaster University.

Damon Quan appointed Manager, Vehicle Maintenance Engineering, effective October 16, 2022

From 2010 to 2015, Damon worked as a Mechanical Engineer in the rail and transit sector. He joined the TTC in 2015 in Streetcar Maintenance as a Mechanical Equipment Engineer. In 2018, he became a Senior Engineer – Systems in Vehicle Programs and then a Senior Engineer – Mechanical Streetcar Maintenance in 2021. 

During his time at the TTC, Damon worked with Bombardier to deliver 204 Low Floor Light Rail Vehicles (LFLRVs) through various stages of the implementation. He was responsible for the maintenance of various rail vehicles parts as well as the major overhaul of the vehicles.

As Manager of Vehicle Maintenance Engineering, Damon provides engineering design and support for streetcar vehicles and will oversee the on-goings of the Streetcar Maintenance Department.

Damon holds a bachelor’s of applied science in mechanical engineering.

Sangeetha Lakshmanan appointed Project Administrative Secretary, effective October 17, 2022

Sangeetha began her career with the TTC as a Co-op Student in Streetcar Maintenance in May 2021. Working at the TTC encouraged her to return to school, resulting in an opportunity to work as a Project Coordinator for Crosslinx Transit Solutions' Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) project.

She has now returned to Streetcar Maintenance as a Project Administrative Secretary.

Sangeetha has bachelor’s degree in instrumentation and control engineering and a post-graduate certificate in project management and supply chain management.

Heather Kelly appointed Supervisor – Operations Administration, effective November 13

Heather joined the TTC in December of 2018 as a Garage Operations Assistant at Eglinton Garage. During her time at the TTC, she was also a Quality Assurance Coordinator and Facility Purchasing Coordinator. 

Heather brings her experience in providing technical support and quality control, as well as her strong administrative and customer service background to this new role. She will continue to provide a modernized, streamlined and consistent approach to the way Bus Maintenance manages responsibility, regulatory compliance, and training. She will also be directly responsible for supervising Garage Operations Assistants while promoting a positive work environment.

Mark your calendar

Events and observances from November 7-20, 2022

November 7 - Treaties Recognition Week ends

November 8 - National Indigenous Veterans Day

November 11 - Remembrance Day

November 11 - Veterans' Week ends

November 15 - Lhabab Düchen (Buddhism)

November 20 - Transgender Day of Remembrance

Employee spotlight

Wrapping up Women's History Month in October

Laura Qaqish 

Solicitor, Legal

Laura Qaqish joined the TTC over 16 years ago as an articling student and is now a solicitor with the legal team. Reflecting on her time at the TTC through the lens of Women’s History Month, Laura feels that finding a supportive network was one of the biggest challenges she experienced in her time at the organization. “Having mentorship and powerful role models helps women navigate their career with intention, focus and purpose,” she said. 

Laura thinks it's important that more women are represented in TTC leadership roles. She believes that gender diversity is essential to any workplace because “women have different viewpoints, experiences, and insights that are invaluable to any organization, especially in leadership roles.” Additionally, having women in leadership can provide opportunities to be mentored by women who show younger generations that anything is possible. 

For Laura, Women’s History Month serves as a reminder of the achievements of women, and “helps [her] remember that no matter what societal or cultural norms and expectations exist for women, we have made and continue to make significant contributions to organizations. We are invaluable members of any community, workforce, and family.”

Know someone you'd like to see featured in an Employee Spotlight?

Nominate TTC employees by e-mailing MyTTCWeekly@ttc.ca.

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:

Corporate Services

• Senior Systems Analyst (SuccessFactors Functional Consultant) (Req I.D. 6588)
• Coordinator-Accounts Payable (Req I.D. 6675)
• Senior Systems Analyst (SAP Payroll and Time & Attendance (Workforce) (Req I.D. 6017)

Diversity and Culture

• Investigator (Req I.D. 6587)

Engineering, Construction & Expansion

• Senior Estimator (Req I.D. 6473)
• Design Engineer, Civil (Req I.D. 6268)

Infrastructure and Engineering

• Assistant Foreperson, Subway and Scarborough Rapid Transit Track (Req I.D. 6150)

Innovation and Sustainability

• Manager, New Technology and Innovation (Req I.D. 6313)

Strategy and Customer Experience

• Revenue Equipment Attendant (Req I.D. 6627)
• Customer Innovations Consultant (Req I.D. 5232)

Vehicles

• Garage Foreperson (Req I.D. 5080)
• Equipment Engineer, Mechanical (Req I.D. 6622)
• Foreperson, Rail Vehicles (Req I.D. 6145)

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

Nightmare on Bay Street: TTC’s Halloween Fest delivers spooky subway thrills

By Demar Grant, Toronto Star, October 29, 2022 

"Inside Bay subway station, two floors down, is the gateway to another world, one that’s dark and full of terrors. It’s also filled with history, and fun.

This weekend, the TTC is inviting families to get into the spirit of Halloween, for a good cause."

Read the full article

'I had friends, I lost friends': Veterans reflect on past at launch of annual TTC Poppy Campaign

By Janice Golding, CTV News, October 28, 2022 

"Canadian veterans, along with students from Davisville Public School, launched the Toronto Royal Canadian Legion’s annual TTC Poppy Campaign at Leslie Subway Station on Friday.

“A red poppy is a symbol of remembrance, the hope for a peaceful future. Poppies are worn as a show of support for the veterans who have served, and those who are still serving,” said Commander John Dufort."

Read the full article

Collie Greenwood confirmed by MARTA Board to serve as GM and CEO

Mass Transit, October 27, 2022

"The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Board of Directors voted to confirm Collie Greenwood as the authority’s new general manager and chief executive officer.

[...] A former bus operator, Greenwood rose through the ranks over 30 years to serve as chief service officer with the Toronto Transit Commission and joined MARTA in July 2019 as chief of bus operations and urban planning."

Read the full article

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