Region of Waterloo receives two awards for transit leadership

Waterloo Region – On Wednesday, November 21, the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) awarded the Region of Waterloo with two transit leadership awards.

Chair Ken Seiling received the Individual Leadership award for Excellence. This award recognizes a single major contribution made by an individual which has resulted in the improvement of public transit.

Under his leadership, on January 1 2000, public transit in Waterloo Region was revolutionized when Kitchener and Cambridge transit systems merged to form one Region-wide transit network – Grand River Transit.

Chair Seiling’s ongoing contribution to public transit recently culminated in the building of a light rail transit system in Waterloo Region. This project was created in cooperation with municipal, provincial and federal partners. This once-in-a-lifetime project not only moves people, but also shapes the community by intensifying development in the core areas and preserving the valuable farmlands that lie outside our urban cores.

Vimal Jegatheswaran, a bus operator with Grand River Transit received the Individual Leadership award for Heroism. This award recognizes individuals who have performed a heroic act and have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

While driving his bus route Jegatheswaran observed a man attempting to take his own life. Jegatheswaran pulled over and offered support until emergency services were notified.  A man’s life was saved because of Jegatheswaran’s quick thinking.

CUTA is a national association that supports public transit as the core of integrated mobility across Canada. CUTA awards are presented each year at the annual conference.

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For more information please contact:

TJ Flynn Manager, Community Relations, ION, 519-575-4757, ext. 3461 or via email tflynn@regionofwaterloo.ca