✨ It was Take Our Kids to Work Day on Wednesday, November 5, and some of Ottawa’s students took a behind-the-scenes look at the hub of the City’s transit service.
OC Transpo was proud to host kids eager to learn about public transit and the team effort that goes into providing it, inviting them to explore a range of our facilities. The day’s events provided the perfect setting for youth to explore future careers and form connections with OC Transpo, inspiring a future generation of workers and transit riders.
Take Our Kids to Work Day began in the Greater Toronto Area in 1994 and has encouraged real-world learning ever since. This day, held annually, provides a unique chance for students to go on the job and learn, and this year, our Industrial bus wash and garage, our model train system and the Transit Operations Control Centre (TOCC) were all open to explore. The day also included stops to meet a Special Constable and tour the newly upgraded garage for Zero-Emission Buses (ZEB).
© City of Ottawa
A unique bus ride
The Industrial Bus Wash was teeming with activity, which isn’t out of character for the spot where hundreds of buses are washed each day, making sure that they are fresh and clean in time for their next trips. It’s also where our fleet of buses is routinely inspected and maintained by more than 150 licensed mechanics. Staying dry from the inside of a bus, students witnessed first-hand the efforts that go into ensuring our fleet starts each day looking brand new.
Nicholas, a student joining his father for the event, said he’s already been taught some tricks of the trade. When asked which role in transit services he would like to work in most, he replied:
“Maybe a mechanic, because my dad was a mechanic, and he’s showed me some stuff that’s cool.”— Nicholas
Inside the nerve centre
The group then took a guided tour of our Transit Operations Control Centre (TOCC). The TOCC is the multi-modal nerve centre of OC Transpo operations. Staff here take approximately 400,000 calls each year, impressing even the most social students, as did the walls of screens that allow staff to monitor over 2,200 CCTV cameras placed across the transit system. Amidst a chorus of radio beeps and broadcasts, the students were able to speak with employees in many of the TOCC’s roles, including Customer Communications Officers (CCO), responsible for providing live service updates to customers, the Rail Controllers who oversee operations on Lines 1, 2 and 4, and even the TOCC Superintendents, who supervise all transit services and ensure the entire TOCC is working in unison.
For Grade 9 student Leona, witnessing the TOCC’s bustling activity was a highlight of the day:
“My favourite part was seeing all of the cameras at the TOCC and seeing what people are doing.” Leona said, adding, “I feel like that’s something I really want to do, and I saw the inside view of it today. I found it interesting, and I feel like it’s very helpful.”— Leona
The kids also got to meet a Special Constable and learned about the role of the Special Constable Unit (SCU) in ensuring safe travels for all on OC Transpo. After speaking with SCU Communications Officers and learning about their role in dispatching and informing our special constables out on the road, students also received a tour of the SCU vehicles often seen serving and protecting our transit network, getting an up-close look at our white-and-red cruisers. As one can imagine, the rare chance to operate the sirens and horns of our SCU vehicles was too tempting to pass up for many students.
Lines 2 and 4 as you have never seen before
Our model train system provides a simulated training environment, recreating our diesel light rail service with model trains, stations and track switches, as well as button-activated bells. It plays a key role in helping current and aspiring rail operators complete training courses, practice operations, and perform safety drills. The students need not have worried, though – we promised not to put them through any courses during their day off school.
Many attendees were particularly excited to see the cutting edge updates made to our garage in preparation of our incoming ZEB fleet, taking a tour behind the scenes to see the transformation that has gone into preparing our facilities for this electrifying revolution in transit.
Wise words from Troy Charter
Finally, OC Transpo Interim General Manager Troy Charter met with the students and shared a little about his journey at OC Transpo.
“I’ve been in the organization for going on 24 years now. I started in recruiting and interviewed a lot of bus operators over the years. I worked my way up to the role I have today and throughout my time here I’ve been inspired by the passion and commitment of all of my colleagues,”
“If there’s one thing I hope the students take away from this experience, it’s that we have a really great and diverse team of people at OC Transpo who are all committed to supporting our customers. This is a place where you can build a career and work your way up through the organization. I’m so pleased that we have events like today that give us a chance to open up our world. Last year, my daughter was able to take part in this wonderful opportunity, and I’m eager for my son to also get an inside look at the phenomenal work my colleagues do when he’s in grade 9. I’m happy to say both are interested in a future career with the City and OC Transpo, and hopefully, other students also feel inspired to join our team someday. If you’re thinking of your future and want a job that really makes a difference, we’re always hiring!”— Troy Charter - OC Transpo Interim General Manager
The experience was a resounding success, with lots learned and many memories made. After exploring so much of what allows OC Transpo to connect and build Ottawa’s communities, many students now have a better idea of what may be further down the line for them, and how they can plan to get there.
