URBAN/MUNICIPAL CA3 ON HW 469

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1 1994 Year in Review Insert Enclosed

Specia

PUBLISHED BY AND FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE HAMILTON STREET RAILWAY COMPANY VOL 11/3 * SEPTEMBER 1995 AN PLBLIC IBRARY

BRYAN KERESZTES ...0 «»™ Bryan Keresztes, HSR's Roadeo Champ, dida gag yy Roo kie of t he. Year

marvellous job at the CUTA National Bus Roadeo in Regina, Saskatchewan. Bryan was named Rookie of the Year and presented with °

a trophy and a $200 cash prize. As if that OCT, 29 1995 wasn't enough, our champ also took sixth place overall -- only seven points behind the second place winner.

ROVERNMENT DOCUMERTS

Bryan and his wife spent six days in Regina and they enjoyed every minute of it. "We had a ball," says Bryan. "We met lots of new friends and we were treated like royalty every step of the way."

Bryan, who has been driving for 10 years, pitted his skills against 24 other contestants on what he describes as a "challenging course." Well done, Bryan. You did us proud! Roadeo Nationals in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Bryan shows off his Rookie of the Year trophy and a caricature he had done at the

The Wheels on the Bikes Went ‘Round and ‘Round

After our bike roadeo was rained out in May, there were 47 excited kids eager to show off their cycling expertise at the

MRTC on Sunday June 11.

All participants received a baseball cap, a frisbee, and a door prize. Lucky grand

prize winners Mike Good and Michelle

Jarvis each won a new bicycle.

Trophies went to the following super cyclists:

Anthony Monachino (age group 5-8) Erica Gordon (age group 9-12)

Joe Bisciglia (age group 13-15)

A good time was had by all and, if all the

smiling faces were anything to go by, the

bike roadeo was well worth the wait

Z* BUS BEAT #S

BUS BEAT

is produced by the Customer Services Section of the Hamilton Street Railway Company 330 Wentworth St. North Hamilton, Ontario

L8L 5W2

(905) 528-4200

Editorial opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the section.

Please forward all submissions to one of the following Bus Beat representatives:

Carole Morris-McHugh

editor, ext: 426 Keith Andrews 267 Christine Hils 222 Edy Graziani 250 Rabin Daljeet 276 Gord Heidman 805 Maria Pateman 215 Rick Toni 284 Steve Walsl 284 Submission deadline for the | next 1 Noven 5

To Your Health

Mary Beth Beasley Employee Health Centre

Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway

If you've been in a book store lately you've likely come across the "self-help" section. Publica- tions abound, aimed at making people feel better about themselves and those around them. Some books can be self-serving and "me" oriented, offering rather simplistic suggestions for personal happiness. Recently, I discovered one that goes beyond me, advocating a perma- nent change in the way we, as individuals, view life that can impact positively on us, our fami- lies, friends and communities.

I do not fancy myself a great literary critic, and this column is generally reserved for wellness information, not book reviews. However, I feel strongly about the message contained within the book I'm about to recommend because I believe it holds a critical key to health and well-being.

"Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway" by Susan Jeffers begins with the premise that, for many of us, much of what we say and do and how we interact with the world around us is driven by fear - we avoid making difficult decisions and taking risks for fear of doing the wrong thing and not being able to cope with the consequences. I

Alternate Fridays 8 EHC Hours: M

3:30 a.m.-4:30 Pp-™-

quote, "in all my life I have never heard a mother call out to her child as he/she goes off to school, 'take a lot of risks today, darling.’ She is more likely to convey to her child 'be careful, darling.’ This 'be careful’ carries with it a double message: the world is really dangerous out there, and you won't be able to handle it."

This book suggests that situations and choices aren't necessarily good or bad or right or wrong - just that they take us down different paths of learning. The author goes on to discuss many concepts such as how to take responsibility for yourself, diffuse your internal "chatterbox" (one of my favourites!), move from pain to power, and make "no-lose" decisions. What a strong and positive message for adolescents and young adults as they move out into the world and try to make sense of it all. And, for those of us striving to support HSR's service quality initiatives, I think this is a must read!

Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway is available in bookstores and through the library. I hope you

get a chance to read and enjoy it as much as I did - let me know!

Petrie at extension 299.

Hard Day Behind the Wheel?

Calling GO Transit Employees

Just a reminder that you have full access to HSR gym facilities at WSTC and MRTC.

Both gyms are well equipped and offer just what you need to unwind after a busy shift.

Lockers are also available, simply contact Carol

the Gym!

BUS BEAT ° 3

Fun and Games at HSR Picnic

Photographs by 5!

Operator Karen Miksza m(@)

[t was hot (boy, was it hot) hazy and humid on Sunday July 16; the perfect day for a picnic at Waterfront Park in Brantford. Around 300

HSR employees and family members de- scended on the park for some fun in the sun at > ee _ the HSR/Sports & Rec Picnic. ri

Laurie Peel (human resources) tells us that her daughters Heather and Charlene "had the greatest time. They were so excited by the races and prizes." Laurie goes on to say that "one of the nice things was that everyone knew each other. There was a real sense of camaraderie that definitely added to our enjoyment."

V Larry Pearson V Relaxing between games

Games, races and prizes galore kept everyone entertained throughout the day. There were also numerous activities on offer in the park including mini golf, batting cages, amusement arcade, and go-carts. Perhaps the most popular spots, however, were the pool and lazy river ride -- just the ticket on a steamy sunny afternoon.

"The kids just love all the water activities, says Jim Dahms (planning & design), "and if they are happy then so are the parents. Sports & Rec do an absolutely wonderful job organizing the picnic, and this year was no exception."

Many thanks to Sports & Rec for putting together

such a wonderful day. Everyone had a ball -- thanks

to YOU!

V Steve & Brandon Ames

A The Simonyai Family

< Karen Miksza's nephew Alex

4 * BUS BEAT ¢ SEPTEMBER "95

g\ In the Near Future. . .

The HSR will be taking delivery of 25 fully- accessible low-floor buses from New Flyer Industries during the spring of 1996. In antici- pation, Rich Chesal, Accessible Transportation Services Manager, has formed an internal project team for planning the introduction of the buses. The team's objectives are:

*To identify existing transit routes which would most benefit from low-floor bus services. *To address concerns and issues relating to the special features of the new buses, and to estab- lish procedures to guide the use of these

Don't feed the animals... features.

Welland Transit hosted their annual slo-pitch ball tournament on the week- *To determine and implement a procedure for end of July 22. Two HSR teams entered the tournament which, unfortu- evaluation of the new low-floor buses.

nately, was rained out on the last day. Foul weather certainly didn't dampen

the team spirit, however, and a great time was had by all. In the coming months, the team will be looking HSR's Team One remained undefeated at the end of the first day of play. for input from HSR employees, customers and Shown relaxing above are Team One members: back (I-r) Barb and Chris potential customers.

Campbell, Carol Ames, Sherry Lewis, Nick Pellegrino, Dan Arnott, Steve

Ames, John Ford. Front (I-r) Kim, Shelley and Jerry Romano, Jim O'Leary, Look for updates on the low-floor bus project in Joanne Agro, Shaun Battram, Don Pearcey, and coach Larry Griffiths. future editions of Bus Beat.

Sunday June 4th... great weather . . . great company .. . good food . . . good prizes... must have been the annual golf tournament at Sundrim Golf Club in Caledonia.

At day's end, the standings looked like this: Most Honest Golfer - Male:

Alex Simonyai (maintenance)

Most Honest Golfer - Female:

Rosanna Melatti (administration)

Low Net - Male:

Basil Dorey

| | Ti-Cat Ticket Winners Low Net- Female:

MD Season Vickeeihee Christine Cowperthwaite (systems)

5 Longest Drive: | Seats: Ken Watt. Pre- 8 oe ; ee ; Paul Thompson (fare administration) | | Season: Colin i

I THINK (7 STILL NEEDS

Closest to the Whole:

| Robertson. Regula obertson. Regular Jeff Doucette

| Season: Robert Arnott, Pte Croce haile: | Tim Dietz, Ray

“as Desi Minaji (wind-down operator) Fackelman, Paris | Low Gross - Female:

Haggar, Chris Runtes, : soa pepe Julie Brower (customer services) | A. Sakalahskas, Al

Smith, Robert Tolmie,

hn O'Donoghue and Bob Lai ae | Dallas and Derek Toni. es Feb MR eo) se Oe pi: it free rounds of golf at the tournament.

Diane and Bill's outstanding commitment to customer service was formally recog- nized with the presentation of personalized plaques by Terry Anderson, Chairman of the Transportation Services Committee.

After spotting a stranded motorist on the Jolley Cut operator Diane Blythe wasted no time in pulling over to offer assistance. Thanks to Dianne, the grateful motorist was soon back on the road.

When Bill Smith heard a cry for help he wasted no time in getting off his bus and going to the rescue of a woman who was being attacked. In the ensuing struggle, the

Applause

...our people please

Good customer service is vital to the success of the HSR. Fortunately, we have many capable, conscientious and courteous employees who deliver the type of service our customers expect. This service does not go unnoticed. Cheers to the following people who received commenda- tions from customers or co-workers.

Diane Blythe Rabin Daljeet Gary Dougan Godwin Farrugia Ken Goobie Richard Horsman Claude Laframboise Gord Lilley Steven Medway Karen Miksza Paul Mitchell Michael Pocock Edward Reid Laurent Shand Alison Shoesmith Doug Reiger Siegfried Tepper Cecil Williams

Diane Blythe and Bill Smith Receive Service Excellence Awarus

Diane Blythe * operator since 1987

Bill Smith © operator since 1961

assailant landed several blows on Bill before running off. Despite the injuries he sustained, Bill says he wouldn't hesitate to do the same again.

Helping Our Community

Operation Pal Update

Break down of Operation Pal reports from January through to July 1995.

Vehicle Accident 4 Suspicious Person 3 Fires Suspicious Vehicle 2

4 Crime in Progress 4 Pedestrian Assistance8 l

Motorist Assistance Missing Person 2

Here are two examples of recent PAL reports:

Operator arrived at intersection and noticed that a child had been struck by a van. Operator got out of vehicle to check situation. Operator then called control, requested ambulance, and relayed information on accident and child's condition in a calm and cool manner.

Police looking for a missing Alzheimer's patient called control for assistance. Description was broadcast to all buses. King operator called in to say that missing person was on bus. Operator kept person on bus until police arrived and returned him to safety.

Coming

Events....

September Sports & Rec Fall Get-a-Way-Draw

September 15th United Way Carnival, Car Fry & Casual Day

October 28th

Halloween Dance at The Renaissance Manor Win a day off with pay!! Tickets $12 from Sports & Rec reps

December 10th Children's Xmas Party at Teamster Hall

December 31st New Year's Eve Party

6 °° BUS BEAT “SEPTEMBER 95

CONGRATULATIONS

Doris and Jim

Anne and Joe

News Flash...

Retired chief inspector Stan Thompson's youngest daughter Lori wed Cliff Battram, stepson of operator Gary Arsenault on Septem- ber 16. Lori is also the sister of MRTC tire man Bob

Thompson. Wow, talk about

keeping it in the company!

Attendance

Awards

Winners of the $100 Transit Attendance

Award Program for the

Grace Anderson (transportation services) Kenneth McEwan (Opera ns) Ronald Snowden (Operations) 1e & all employ- who achieved perfect

attendance.

Anniversaries

Congratulations to all retirees celebrating anniversaries .. .

Doris and Jim Hastie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday July 15.

Anne (Penny) and Joe Borsellino celebrated 50 happy years together on Sunday July 16.

Lillian and Ted Donovan celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 29. Best wishes also to Lillian on the occasion of her 90th

birthday.

Joyce and Stan Thompson celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary on September 13.

Lillian and Ted celebrated their anniversary on the recent pensioner's association outing.

Birthdays

Tony Tollis (Manager of Accounting Services) celebrated the big 4-0 on June 13. Tony wasn't prepared for the scary sight that greeted him in the lobby that morning -- a huge grade 9 portrait of himself. Apart from the loss of a few hairs, you haven't changed a bit, Tony!

Which one is full of hot air. Tony jr. on the left or Tony sr. on the right?

Marriages

Best wishes and good luck to. . .

Sharon Skeemer (WSTC cafeteria) on her marriage to Mark Smith on August 12.

Operator Fred Gansser and Rosi who were married on

April 15.

Gary Romikat Automotive Mechanic July 17

Allan Parker Electronic Technician July 25

Fabian Dicesare Transit Technologist II Scheduling

August 28

BUS BEAT © /

Retirees Hit the Road

Retiree Andy Asselin, president of the HSR pensioner's association, put together a wonderful summer outing for the HSR Pensioners Association. Andy, along with 112 happy retirees, boarded two articulated buses on Thursday, June 29 and headed off to the African Lion Safari for a day of good fun and good company.

Retirement Banquet Rescheduled

After seven successful years, HSR's annual retirement banquet has been rescheduled. Due to budget constraints the event will be combined with April's Team Week banquet honouring employees with 25+ years of service.

Harold Tufts (HSR/CCL Operator) Saturday June 3, 1995. Harold retired in 1989 after 30 years of service.

Gusbertus (Bert) Verwey (Operator) Thursday June 29, 1995 at 77 years of age. Bert retired in 1983 after 20 years of service.

Harry Neal Burnison (Operator) Saturday July 8, 1995 at 64 years of age. Harry retired in 1989.

Robert John Harker (CCL Operator) Friday July 14, 1995 at 93 years of age. Robert joined CCL in 1939 and retired in 1967.

Would you like to share a special memory of a past

retirement banquet? Please write or call Carole at x426.

HSR COMMEMORATIVE CORNER STONE

Left: maintenance crew in front of 18 Wentworth (1929)

The Hamilton Street

A corner stone on the Railway Company

new Cathedral High School at 18 Wentw Street North com memorates HSR

Anucorporated in 1873

3 . maintamed it's operations

on this site from

1910-1990 operations on the site

from 1910 to 1990.

8 * BUS BEAT * SEPTEMBER '95

THE BACK PAGE

Bowling for Fun

HSR's Sports & Rec Bowling League finished up their first year with a wonderful banquet and awards ceremony on May 27.

The bowling came right down to the last nail-biting night during which the Split Enz prevailed. Congratulations to our first champions Gord Burns, Elaine Winger, Linda Miller and Joan McCormick.

The final standings looked like this: Split Enz 68 1/2 points, Hot Shots and Strikers 67, Nice Heads 66 1/2, Swines 64, and Wingnuts 63.

Don't forget that bowling started on Monday, September 11. Games are at 7:30 p.m. at Sherwood Lanes, and the cost is $9 per week. For more information contact Gord Winger badge #595 or 387-1608.

reelaxea*tion 1. The act of relaxing or the state of being relaxed. 2. Refreshment of body or mind; recreation. 3. A loosening or slackening. 4. A reduction in strictness or severity. 5. Shirley and Doris kicking back at the cottage.

Shirley Hannigan (receptionist) and Doris Moore (administration) are the picture of relaxation on a summer trip to Shirley's cottage in Oliphant, Ontario.

Do Unto

Others...

"The service/quality provided by an organi- zation will, over time, come to resemble the

Buskin Makes an Appearance

On June 6, operator Gene Carreiro and the reclusive Buskin (a.k.a operator Mike Pocock) paid a visit to the kindergarten classes at St. James School in Stoney Creek. After a brief HSR history lesson, Buskin offered hand shakes and hugs to the excited kids.

quality of the manage- ment system of that organization.” 1992 Achieve International Translation: People Manage customer

lationships the same

| external customers annot be well-served unless internal custom- ers are well-served.

till

545

All Shook Up

Don Pearcey's recent trip to Memphis, Tennes- see is proof positive that one good turn deserves another. Don won the three-day, all-expense paid trip to Graceland after raising over $250 in the recent Big Brothers Bowl-a-thon.

SPI,

1; P 4 Mavis

Art the Plant Man

It all started with one clipping from a neigh- bour's plant, now Art LeBlanc has the WSTC tire shop looking like a lush tropical paradise. Art has 22 hanging baskets as well as an assort- ment of potted plants, all of which are positively thriving in the garage environment.

Art says that not only do the plants add a bit of colour to the area, they also produce oxygen which helps to keep the air cleaner. If you have any hanging baskets that you don't need, why not donate them to Art - he'll certainly make sure that they are put to good use. By the way, all clippings are also gratefully received. "Eventually, I'll have every pipe in here cov-

ered," says Art. By the looks of things, that's not too far away.