Regional chair Seiling and bus driver honoured with top transit awards

Operator stopped his bus and saved man on verge of suicide

WATERLOO REGION — Outgoing Regional Chair Ken Seiling and a local bus driver have been honoured with transit leadership awards from a national association.

The Canadian Urban Transit Association, which supports public transit as the core of integrated mobility across Canada, presents the awards every year at its annual conference.

Seiling received an award for excellence, given in recognition of a single major contribution made by an individual that resulted in the improvement of public transit.

“This award is really a recognition not of me, but the region and the progressive approach taken to transit and planning,” Seiling said.

Under his leadership, public transit in Waterloo Region was revolutionized when Kitchener and Cambridge transit systems merged in 2000 to form a regionwide transit network, the award release said.

His ongoing contribution to public transit culminated in building the region’s light rail system, bringing together municipal, provincial and federal partners.

Seiling said Grand River Transit was created initially because there were no links between Kitchener and Cambridge.

But transportation management became key to the region’s growth strategy, which aims to intensify development in urban areas to stop urban sprawl and protect rural lands.

Building a light rail system is at the centre of that plan, but reorganizing bus transit is a part.

Seiling credited continuity on regional council for sticking with that vision, with councillors committed to using transit as a tool. “It may be in my name, but it’s really an award for the region,” Seiling said.

Grand River Transit bus operator Vimal Jegatheswaran received a heroism award, which recognizes people who performed a heroic act and went above and beyond the call of duty.

While driving his bus, Jegatheswaran noticed a man attempting to take his own life. Jegatheswaran pulled over and offered support until emergency services were called.

“A man’s life was saved because of Jegatheswaran’s quick thinking,” the award release said.