Schaffner’s job is ‘the best toy on earth’
When you consider his wide range of professional experience, he's a bit of a renaissance man.
Dave Schaffner, of Canning, said his family has been in the Annapolis Valley since 1753. He has always called the region home, aside from about a week when he lived in Halifax. He called this time “the worst week of my life” and said he now only leaves the Valley when he goes on vacation.
Schaffner has a wide range of professional experience. He worked in print for several years, doing everything from writing and photography to graphic design. In recent years, the member of the Coldbrook and District Lions Club has worked as a projectionist at the Valley DriveIn, which is operated by the club. He said he enjoys being a member of the Lions Club and working to help the community.
Schaffner said the best part about working at the drive-in is getting to meet different people every night and talking to them. He enjoys movies and has had the opportunity to bring some interesting ones to the drive-in, such as the version of Little Shop of Horrors with the alternate ending.
Schaffner hasn't done much at the drive-in this season because he's been busy working for Gaspereau Vineyards. He said they had a hard time finding workers this year and since he was off work as a school bus driver due to COVID-19, he took a job there.
Schaffner has been busy pruning and tucking grapevines but went back to work as a bus driver at the beginning of the school year. He finds driving the bus less stressful than his former career putting print products together.
“Lion Tim Jones's stories of how much he loved his job convinced me to give it a try,” Schaffner said about being a bus driver.
He said the kids are great and you “get to play with the best toy on earth” - a big, yellow bus. Schaffner said it's like driving a giant minivan. Learning all the kids' names is perhaps the most challenging aspect of the job.
He started as a bus driver about a year and a half ago. Schaffner drove a number of different routes in the beginning but has a designated route in the Gaspereau area in the mornings and afternoons this year.
Schaffner also enjoys spending time in the great outdoors and taking photos and videos. He's enjoyed photography for about 20 years. He and his wife, Andrea Burbidge, have a photography business, although COVID-19 has thrown a bit of a wrench in the works. There aren't many events happening, however, they remain busy.
And he has a unique nickname as well. “Bacon” was something that just kind of stuck. He isn't a big bacon eater but recalls chatting on the K-ROCK Facebook page and being referred to as “Bacon Dave.”
Schaffner recently took part in a Q and A session with the Valley Wire:
Q: What is your full name?
A: Dave Bacon Schaffner
Q: Where and when were you born?
A: Kentville - the town had fireworks in my honour that night, at least that's how the legend goes.
Q: Where do you live today?
A: We live in Canning, N.S.
Q: What's your favourite place in the world?
A: We've been all over, and there is no place more beautiful or friendlier than the good old Annapolis Valley.
Q: What would people be surprised to learn about you?
A: After years of working in the high-stress world of print, I got a class 2B license and love the life of a school bus driver. Every day is Christmas, and I get to drive the best toy under the tree.
Q: What's your greatest indulgence?
A: Tea, and homemade wool socks. I may spend a tad too much on both.
Q: What is your favourite movie or book?
A: My favourite book ... if we're going by number of times read, we will go with the Harry Potter series. It brings the warm happy feels, and this year I may have read through the series twice already.
Q: How do you like to relax?
A: A good book in a comfy chair with a big cup of Earl Grey is how I find serenity.
Q: How would you describe your personal fashion statement?
A: Well, friends often mock me and call me Dawson, because my fashion sense died in about 1999. The lined brown corduroy coat is due for a comeback.
Q: What is your most treasured possession?
A: It's corny, but possessions mean nothing, my most treasured things are friends and family.