Our frontline staff are your first point of contact when you take transit, helping get you where you need to go. But beyond daily duties, frontline staff are also crucial in helping keep transit safe.

They include Transit Operators, SkyTrain and Canada Line Attendants, SkyTrain Supervisors, SeaBus Marine Attendants, Transit Security Officers, Transit Supervisors, and many others you see throughout the system.

They’re the eyes on the road, at SkyTrain Stations, and bus exchanges 24/7. They are also the ears that hear from transit riders and communities across Metro Vancouver. At times, they are first on the scene, quickly alerting first responders like Transit Police.

Their vigilance and presence across the region make all the difference. These stories show exactly how.

SkyTrain Attendant helps a missing patient return safely

🗓️ February 2026

One night, SkyTrain Attendant Sukh Behal noticed a man who looked very confused at King George Station. He called Transit Police, who were able to determine that the man was a patient and reported missing from Royal Columbian Hospital.

The patient made it back safely to continue getting the care he needed, thanks to Sukh’s keen observation.

SkyTrain Supervisor helps retrieve a stolen bike

🗓️ November 2025

SkyTrain Supervisor Fabian Tong is always alert about stolen bikes on the system, and has located several of them while on shift; one of those occasions happened in 2025.

One night, he noticed a man in possession of a stolen bike at Commercial–Broadway Station. He recognized the bike from the Project 529 website, an online resource for recording missing bikes. Without hesitation, he alerted Transit Police.

Officers arrived and confirmed the bike was listed as stolen.

Thanks to Fabian’s quick action, the bike was returned to its registered owner.

Transit Operator doused fire at a cheese shop

🗓️ August 2024

While driving the #20 Victoria bus in downtown Vancouver around 2 a.m., Transit Operator Brian Donovan saw a cheese shop storefront on fire. Without hesitation, he sprang into action — stopping the bus safely and pulling out a fire extinguisher, which is kept on all buses.

Within seconds, the fire was out and he was back on the bus, on his way to the next stop.

Brian’s bravery and quick thinking earned him special recognition from Chief Karen Fry of Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services. She noted fires can double in size every 30 seconds, so Brian’s swift action to put out the fire, and prevent it from getting worse was truly commendable. He also saved the local business from severe damage that could have caused a shutdown for months.

Transit Operator helps reunite lost child with parents

🗓️ July 2024

While driving the R4 41st Ave RapidBus route, Transit Operator Moneesh Goundar noticed a boy alone at a bus stop, with no shoes and an iPad in hand.

“I thought the parents were behind him, so I looked around to try to locate them,” said Moneesh.

Without an adult in sight, Moneesh contacted T-Comm, Coast Mountain Bus Company’s control centre, who alerted the Vancouver Police Department and found the boy’s parents.

While waiting for the parents, Moneesh kept the boy, who is on the autism spectrum, calm and occupied. “He wanted to watch videos on his iPad but there was no Wi-Fi, so I showed him Paw Patrol videos on my phone.”

Transit Operator saves a passenger from choking

🗓️ September 2024

While pulling into a bus stop on an R5 Hasting St RapidBus, Transit Operator Travis Noel noticed a woman in distress on the sidewalk. She was making signals with her hands across her throat, indicating she was choking. Immediately, Travis parked the bus safely and stepped out to help.

“The first thing that went through my mind was: I hope I can do the Heimlich manoeuvre to help her,” said Travis. “I hadn’t done it before, but I learned the Heimlich manoeuvre in my high school first aid class. Thankfully, after a few attempts, I was able to clear what was stuck, and the woman was able to catch her breath.”

Once the woman settled, a bus passenger offered to stay with her to call for medical help. After the incident, the passenger contacted Coast Mountain Bus Company with words of praise, saying “The driver was very calm and kind… The driver might have saved her life.”

Missing dog made it home safely thanks to a SkyTrain Attendant, Transit Operator, T-Comm, and Transit Police

🗓️ September 2022

Ollie, a Border Collie, was out with his owner one afternoon. For a brief moment, the owner tied Ollie outside of a business in downtown Vancouver. When he returned, Ollie was gone.

The owner reported it immediately to the Vancouver Police Department and posted on his social media.

Hours later, a SkyTrain Attendant saw the post and just before she ended her shift at Lougheed Town Centre Station, she saw a woman board the #9 bus with a dog that looked identical to Ollie. The attendant reported it to Transit Police, who requested T-Comm put out an alert to all Transit Operators in the area.

Transit Operator Anmol Parmar, who was driving the #9 bus, recognized Ollie and the suspect as described in the alert onboard his bus. He then provided real-time updates to TComm Supervisor, Gordon Misner, who coordinated Ollie and the suspect’s location with Transit Police. The officers intercepted the suspect and Ollie made it home safe.

These stories are just a few examples of how frontline staff help keep transit riders and communities safe every day.

As Chief Fry from Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services puts it, “They’re kind of being our everyday heroes out there.”

March 18 is Transit Operator and Worker Appreciation Day. Join us in thanking the nearly 10,000 dedicated transit staff who keep our communities moving safely every day. Show your appreciation by thanking a bus operator, an STA, and other transit staff you see in-person.

You can also share your thanks on social media by tagging #thankstransit and @TransLink.