Since 2011, the Los Amigos Project has coordinated the delivery of decommissioned emergency vehicles, handi-vans/buses and school buses to the people of Mexico. The project is spearheaded by members of various Rotary Clubs in southern and central Alberta, and this year, Southland Transportation stepped up with a donation of a 2011 Ford Handi-Bus to benefit the people of Tepic Nayarit, México. 

Donations to the Los Amigos Project are critical to the communities in Mexico that do not have the funds or opportunities to purchase these vehicles. This April, a fleet of donated vehicles left Lethbridge, Alberta, to begin the nearly 4,000 km journey to Tepic Nayarit, México.

A Fleet of Donated Vehicles Traveled Nearly 4,000 Kilometres

When the vehicles arrived in Mazatlán, Mexico, the keys were handed over to representatives from Tepic Nayarit, who then drove the final four hours to the fleet’s new home. The convoy’s arrival at its final destination was greeted with much fanfare, including a parade and a special presentation to local officials in the town square.

Randy Smith, Los Amigos Project Coordinator, has seen firsthand the impact these vehicles have in the communities they serve.

“A few years ago, I had the privilege of witnessing what the donation of a handi-bus meant to a number of athletes in wheelchairs. They were so thankful and thrilled with the donation. They explained that they would now be able to travel to neighbouring communities and participate in sporting events. With huge smiles on their faces, they crowded around the bus and kept trying to touch it.”

Southland Transportation is proud to partner with the Los Amigos Project to give these vehicles a new life in Mexico and make a difference in people’s lives.

PWT was featured prominently in a recent CBC Calgary news story reporting a huge jump in transit usage in Banff National Park. 2023 saw more visitors leave their vehicles at home to take advantage of On-it Regional Transit, Roam Local Transit and the Parks Canada Shuttle service operated by Diversified Transportation.

Diversified Transportation Launched its Parks Canada Shuttle Service in 2023

Diversified Transportation just wrapped up a very successful year one of a three-year contract to provide shuttle service to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Ridership experienced a nearly 30% increase in passengers from 2022. The scheduled service included stops to and from the Park and Ride at the Lake Louise Ski Hill to the Lake Louise lakeshore, Moraine Lake, the community of Lake Louise, and the Lake Louise Campground.

On-It Regional Transit Had a Record-Breaking Year

With 4 million visitors a year coming to Banff National Park, On-It Regional Transit saw a dramatic increase in ridership.

The summer of 2023 was the service’s busiest season ever, with 976 journeys, the introduction of a Thursday evening service and 42,745 tickets sold – an increase of 72.9% (24,724 in 2022). On-it also ended the season with a seat utilization of 84.22%, an increase of 10.8%.

Not only did On-it see record numbers of travellers, but it extended service to Thanksgiving weekend for the first time and saw unprecedented ticket sales, with seats at 98.57% of capacity.

Jonathan Weal, Director of Business Development, says there are big plans to build on the success of 2023.

“Our goal, and that of our partners, is to increase service daily during the summer months and weekends throughout the year. Our thanks to our partners at Roam Transit, the Town of Banff, the Town of Canmore and Parks Canada for their support and belief in this service and for the drivers and support staff at Southland Calgary for making this a reality every weekend.”

Southland has operated the On-it Calgary to Bow Valley route (Banff and Canmore) since 2017. Initially, the project was a joint venture between the Calgary Regional Partnership and the Towns of Banff, Canmore and Parks Canada. After the dissolution of the Calgary Regional Partnership in early 2018, Southland has been awarded successive contracts through RFP, most recently in 2022.

Southland continues to provide the Transportation, ticket booking through Betterez, Customer Service through our Call Centre, and Service Ambassadors at the stops in Calgary and Banff.

As one of Canada’s largest and most successful people transportation companies, Pacific Western Transportation has a knack for hiring the best people – and many times, we don’t have to look very far.

Recognizing and promoting internal candidates sends a powerful message to PWT’s workforce: hard work, dedication, and continuous learning are valued and rewarded. So many of our company’s Core Values reinforce this important practice – like Dedication, Loyalty, Integrity, Accountability, Resourcefulness, and Teamwork.

When employees know their contributions are acknowledged and rewarded, they’ll remain committed to the company’s mission and goals and see their employment at PWT as an investment in their future.

PWT has no shortage of employees who have cultivated a successful career in transportation. Here are a few examples of some of our best and brightest who have made the most of their opportunities.

Janine Reid: Payroll Lead

Janine Reid’s story is becoming a very familiar one at PWT – “former School Bus Driver works her way up the company ranks.” In August 2011, Janine started driving for SOUTHLAND Transportation when her kids were just one and two-and-a-half years old.

“Becoming a school bus driver was an ideal job for me at the time, to be able to stay home with my children and continue to work. But after driving bus for several years, I felt I had fulfilled my role and wished to move into the office side of Operations.”

After eight years transporting special needs children to and from school, Janine accepted the position of Private & Charter School Board Liaison, which naturally led to her next job as CBE School Board Liaison, which began in April 2021.

“I very much enjoy all aspects of being a part of the payroll team. Even though I have completed my schooling, I am still learning from my boss and others, all while being able to teach a few things to others as well. I am proud to have worked with the Southland family for 12 years, and I’m grateful people have taken a chance on me each time an opportunity presents itself. I always make it a personal goal of mine to be the best I can be and excel at my work.”

Darren Horswill: Maintenance Manager, Prairie Bus Lines

Darren Horswill came to Canada in 2009 from the U.K. after 22 years as a mechanic in the British Army. Darren started working in Alberta’s booming oil patch, but as the oil and gas sector cooled, he knew he needed to find a company that offered both stability and the promise of career advancement. When a former colleague recommended Darren look at becoming the Shop Foreman at Cold Lake Bus Lines in 2018, he jumped at the chance.

“I hated the feeling of not knowing if you were going to have a job at the end of the day. When I got to Cold Lake Bus Lines, I realized by the way the company treated its employees it was an ideal organization to work for.”

Because Shop Foreman was as far as he could advance in Cold Lake, Darren began looking for new opportunities within the Pacific Western Group of Companies. After first applying for an opening in Edmonton, he later seized the opportunity to become the Maintenance Manager in Red Deer at Prairie Bus Lines in late 2022. After running both shops for several months, Darren moved to Red Deer permanently in February 2023 after they hired his replacement in Cold Lake.

“There is always opportunity within PWT if you’re willing to go the extra mile and potentially relocate – the company will certainly help out with that. It’s also important to talk to your managers or supervisors about where your career could potentially go. Just keep your eye on the internal job posting boards, and nothing is out of anybody’s reach.”

Darren’s commitment to PWT has been celebrated by his nominations for the Bowie Sustainable Leadership Award in 2020 and the R.B. Colborne Award of Excellence in 2022. He knows that this is a company that provides its employees with a chance to build a successful career in transportation.

“There are so many opportunities if people want to look for them. If you are willing to work and if you want a promotion, it is always available. It’s really that simple. If you want it, go for it, and you’ll get it!”

Hugh Harms: Safety Supervisor, Southland Transportation

Hugh Harms joining PWT in 2016 is an excellent example of why we target people looking to make a career change. After a career in accounting, Hugh was itching to try something new, and after seeing ads for School Bus Drivers at SOUTHLAND Transportation, he thought, “I’m a good driver,” so he applied.

“I began training in early January 2016 and quickly realized I had so much to learn as a driver. I tried to take in everything my Training Officer Carlos Quintero taught me and got my class 2 license on January 20. I began a school route for Calgary Arts Charter School two days later and loved driving for those kids every day!”

Hugh quickly became known as someone who loved to step up when needed, so he picked up charter work as it became available, taking almost every job offered. As summer approached, the Charter department needed help and asked if Hugh wanted to keep on driving. Because Hugh was known for always pitching in, he ended the summer with close to full-time hours.

“I did not fully understand all the job entailed, so I reached out to a former Southland Safety Supervisor to ask her about the role. I heard enough from her that I decided to apply for the position. It would mean leaving school bus driving and training behind, but I had the potential to really help people to be safe.”

Hugh was hired as Safety Supervisor in late February 2020, and in his latest role at PWT, he attends emergencies and helps where needed, performs practice bus evacuations, and controls traffic at large events so our drivers and clients stay safe. He’s also helping develop emergency response guidelines so everyone will know how to handle an emergency safely.

“For me, I did not look at change or the unknown with apprehension. Rather, I embraced it and tried new opportunities because I saw their potential. I am so glad I did because now I help people every day. That is a great feeling at the end of the day, knowing I did what I could to help people get Safely Home.”

The history of PWT is chock full of go-getters making the most of their opportunities. We’ve had employees start as wash bay attendants, mechanics and school bus drivers – and work their way up to Regional Directors and Vice Presidents.

PWT isn’t just a place to start working – it’s a place to grow a career.

PWT employees can establish a rewarding career in the transportation industry in multiple ways, and it all starts with staying informed. Be sure to check out our latest opportunities updated on our job board – published every Friday afternoon on InTouch!

“I first came to SOUTHLAND in August of 1979 and started in bus #20. At that time, our highest bus number was 71.”

The following year, Alice moved to the Highfield yard and remained a school bus/charter driver for six more years before moving into the shop to become the first-ever parts person. She would stay in that role until leaving the company in 1994 to pursue other interests.

“I left for 20 years to try some other things, but I wasn’t very happy, and I ended up coming back to Southland in 2014. I worked in specialized transportation and drove a handi-bus for a few years. I also did a little dispatching and was a training officer when COVID happened. We all got laid off, and the first thing that opened back up was school bus, so I ended up going full circle and coming back to driving a school bus.”

While returning to a company she had a strong connection with was an easy decision, the year 2014 also marked a much more significant and life-changing transition.

At age 55, Alice came out as a transgender woman.

“I had started transitioning before I came back in 2014, and trying to find a job as an openly transgender person was not easy. I had companies that would just hang up on me when they heard my voice.”

The decision to live her life truthfully and openly wasn’t made lightly, and Alice wasn’t sure how she would be received in the workplace as a transgender woman. Fearing judgment and uncertainty, she took a leap of faith and approached Southland for a chance to rejoin the team.

“When I went back to Southland, they were very welcoming. Nobody gave me a hard time, but some of the older drivers were a little funny with me at first until they realized I knew what I was doing and I could do the job. It’s worked out very well. I just needed someone to give me a chance.”

Alice has also felt that her presence in the workplace has made it easier for other transgender people to follow in her footsteps.

“I was the first one at Southland to come in as an openly trans person. Initially, I got a lot of funny looks, but after a few months, everybody accepted me and welcomed me, and it made it easier for other people to do the same thing. I think I’ve made it easier for others to follow, and hopefully, I’m a bit of a role model in that way.”

Alice also thinks that SOUTHLAND has an opportunity to reach out and actively recruit people from the 2SLGBTQI+  community to let them know that this is a company that will welcome them.

“I’ve suggested that we target that group because there are people in the 2SLGBTQI+ community who do have trouble finding jobs. I know that Southland is always looking for people, and I know there are good people there, and maybe if we advertise in that community, we could attract more candidates.”

While Alice admits that she experienced some bigoted comments from passengers while driving the specialized transportation mini-buses, the kids on her school bus route have been terrific.

“I started back to school busing three years ago, and the school I drive for is wonderful, the teachers have been very supportive, and the kids at St. Philip Elementary have been really good. They have never had a problem. Kids have to be taught to hate, and they are very accepting until someone teaches them otherwise. The younger generation are more accepting because they have friends who are gay or trans, and they understand better than the older generations who are set in their ways.”

Since coming out in 2014, SOUTHLAND Transportation has stood firmly by her side, but Alice would like to send a special shout-out to former Vice President of Student Line, Murray Glass, for his support and friendship. Having someone in a senior leadership position at the company who welcomed her from the get-go made a big difference.

“Murray Glass was about as high up as we can go, and he’s been great. Murray and I are friends, and I could always go and talk to him if I had any issues, and he has an open-door policy that way. He’s been like a buddy and has been very supportive.”

Alice knows the 2SLGBTQI+ community is in the spotlight, but she also accepts that not everyone is an ally. Her message to them is simple.

“Not everyone agrees with me, but my feeling is – if it doesn’t involve you or a member of your family, butt out and give people the freedom to make their own decisions. Life is hard these days, so don’t make it harder on the most vulnerable members of our society.”

Ultimately, all Alice wants is to be respected for the job she proudly performs every day. She also feels that being out and visible in the community shows that trans people just want to live their lives feeling comfortable in their own skin.

“I’ve been told many times by adults that they admire and respect me for the courage I’ve shown, but to me, I’m just being myself. I believe it’s important for kids to see that it’s OK to be yourself, to be comfortable in your own skin, and not submit to the will of others just because they live in a world of outdated gender stereotypes.”

As for her future plans, Alice just wants to keep driving her school route as long as possible. “I turn 65 in a few weeks, and as far as I know, if my health is good, I can keep driving a bus until I’m 71. Hopefully, if my health hangs in there, I can stick around a few more years.”

To say Alice’s journey with the company has been a memorable one would be a massive understatement. If she drives until she’s 71, that would make it 50 years since she first started at SOUTHLAND – and a fitting way to wrap up a trailblazing career in transportation.

A year ago, Jonathan Conte felt his life was in a rut. He had been working at a food delivery job for almost a decade, but the pay and job satisfaction had steadily decreased. He was looking for a fresh start – both professionally and personally.

“I decided it was time to hang up my delivery job for good and try doing something more professional than delivering food parcels,” he said.

Jonathan has always had a passion for driving vehicles and says he’s wanted to drive a bus since he was three years old. However, he felt he needed to work on some independent living goals, such as time management and organization, before trying his hand at becoming a full-time school bus driver.

Jonathan joined the Sinneave Foundation’s Launch + Skills program, which helps Autistic adults thrive and develop the daily habits needed to live and work independently. Jonathan also got assistance from The Society for Autism Support and Services (formerly The Society for the Treatment of Autism). The staff there helped sharpen his resume and interview skills.

With the encouragement and support of those organizations, Jonathan applied to SOUTHLAND Transportation, got the job, and began an exciting new chapter working in the transportation industry.

Jonathan Nearing a Full School Year Behind the Wheel

Jonathan started driving a school bus in October, and as his first school year on the job wraps up next month, he says the experience has been extremely positive. He’d like to give a shout-out to Aubrey, Carlos, and Eddie at SOUTHLAND for making his transition to driving a school bus a smooth one.

“(Those) guys were extremely patient with me and helped me out so much with the materials and skills driving a bus! Some driving rules and laws have changed since I first started driving, so I had to unlearn some of the things I was taught as a Class 5 driver years ago.”

Jonathan has been thriving in his new career, and feels the job is not only professionally satisfying, but highly beneficial to his mental health.

“It’s been life-changing. I used to be a lot more depressed, I used to sleep irregular hours. But, having this job, having to be up at a regular time every day, seeing the same people every day, and being in a regular routine with kids and co-workers that are actually enjoyable to be around – it’s been a wonderful experience for me.”

After starting his career at SOUTHLAND operating a full-size school bus, Jonathan is now driving a microbus that he can park at home, which is a huge plus. His vehicle makes four stops and has a maximum of eight passengers. “I jumped on that opportunity! It’s been wonderful,” he added. “The kids at STS have also been really good – I have no complaints!”

Calgary Autism Organizations Helped Jonathan’s Transition into the Transportation Industry

Jonathan’s skills coach at the Sinneave Foundation says he’s been very impressed with Jonathan’s initiative and drive for self-improvement. Cedric Nicholson says Jonathan’s journey should inspire others on the spectrum to get out into the workforce.

“Jonathan’s story is an amazing story – just because there are so many individuals out there who don’t believe that they have the ability to do it, and when they find out that someone else can do it, it really inspires them.”

Jonathan also thinks his experience applying and successfully landing a job at SOUTHLAND could encourage others on the spectrum to give a career in transportation a shot.

“I want people to know that just because we’re differently abled, that doesn’t mean we can’t do things. It just means we need support or we need to go about doing things a different way than everyone else. The Sinneave Foundation is there to help you with your life skills – to get you to the point where you’re ready to get a job. And there are other agencies out there like the Society for Autism Support and Services to help you land the job and keep the job.”

With the school year winding down in June, Jonathan is already looking ahead to the summer and hopes to secure more charter work. He is planning to upgrade his bus driver training to be able to operate motorcoaches and is also hoping to become a Driver Trainer.

Since getting behind the wheel of a school bus in October, Jonathan feels he’s found a home at SOUTHLAND and a place to advance his new career in people transportation.

“The comradery between drivers and staff is also something I have never experienced before at any of my other jobs,” he says. “We have fun, tell wonderful jokes, help each other out, and feel like an extended family. There are other drivers I’ve met who are also Autistic, so this really is a great place to work!”

Transit work also provides an excellent work/life balance because it live in, and coming home every night to