City Transit drivers get unique experience

Last fall, North Bay City Transit Manager, Dorothea Carvell received a memo from BC Transit stating they were on the lookout for bus drivers for the Vancouver Olympics.

“We put that notice up on our bulletin board,” Carvell said. “Like many others (Transit Services) probably did as well.”

Five transit drivers jumped on the chance to represent North Bay at the Olympics, however, they were subject to the same criteria as if they were applying for a new job.

“They had to submit resumes,” Carvell said. “They called back for our recommendations – and of course all five of these (drivers) are probably the best that we could have sent.”

Obviously there was no hesitation for some of the drivers, who actually used their vacation time to take part in this experience.

“Right away I said I wanted to do it because it sounded pretty exciting,” transit driver Nina Sparkes said. “They (BC Transit) contacted me a few weeks later – they gave me an interview on the phone – and that was it.”

Sprakes said the whole process was very quick and easy, but once she got to Vancouver there were some obstacles she had to overcome.

“First of all, the crowds are much larger,” Sparkes noted.

Driving coach buses and double-deckers is something this North Bay Transit driver had never done, until 3 weeks ago that is.

“We had very little training on that,” Sparkes said. “But it was okay because somebody once told me ... once you drive a bus – a bus is a bus.”