When OC Transpo driver Yasha started his shift one morning in September 2025, he expected an ordinary day behind the wheel. Instead, he found himself helping save the life of a young man in crisis. Yasha was driving the 44 Hurdman route near Albion Road after turning from Walkley Road when he noticed something alarming ahead. “I saw a gentleman laying down in the middle of the road over there, which did not seem normal,” he said. The longtime OC Transpo operator immediately stopped his bus, turned on the four-way hazard lights and ran toward the man. “I asked him, ‘What are you doing? Why are you laying down?’ And that’s when he told me he wants to take his life,” Yasha said. Rather than leaving the situation for emergency crews alone, Yasha stayed with the man and tried to convince him to move to safety. “I’m like, ‘Hey, listen, you don’t have to do this. Come with me. I’ll try to help you out,’” he recalled. “He was saying, ‘No, I want to stay.’ I begged him, ‘You need to come with me.’ And that’s when he actually trusted me.” Yasha helped the man onto the bus while passengers were transferred to another vehicle. He then activated the emergency alarm to notify OC Transpo supervisors and stayed with the man until help arrived. “In all the buses we have a red button. It’s an emergency,” Yasha explained. “That’s when I pushed the button, letting my supervisor know that there’s an emergency inside the bus.” This call helped earn Yasha OC Transpo’s Transecure Call of the Year Award. On Tuesday, OC Transpo held its annual Safe Driving and Transecure Award ceremony, recognizing transit employees who have gone above and beyond while on the job. Each year, the transit agency honours operators and staff who intervene to help people in need. Drivers are also recognized for milestones, such as 20 years or more of accident-free driving. This year, Yasha was among nearly 60 OC Transpo employees honoured for outstanding actions and safety leadership. During the ceremony, awards included Transecure Call of the Month Awards, employees who have reached Safe Driving Award milestones in the past year, as well as this year’s Chief Safety Officer Award. The Transecure Call of the Month recognizes employees who have gone above and beyond to provide an exceptional response to safety and security issues or events. The Safe Driving Awards recognize employees who have reached a significant accident-free milestone for their outstanding driving performance. The Chief Safety Officer Award recognizes an employee who showed exemplary traits contributing to a culture of safety. “Yasha’s story is such an incredible one,” said Sabrina Pasian, chief safety officer with OC Transpo. “As a bus operator, you’re the eyes and ears on the road. You’re really the front line.” Pasian said many acts of safety and care happen quietly, without public attention. “Safety is one of the hardest things to recognize employees on because when it’s done right, nothing happens,” she said. “There’s no collision, there’s no injury, there’s no headline. So, it’s these types of quiet moments, these quiet decisions and outcomes that we really wanted to celebrate.” “Safety doesn’t end at the door of a bus or at the door of a station.” Pasian says every bus operator goes through a training program. All employees also receive safety training, including what to do in an emergency. Yasha says OC Transpo’s safety training helped prepare him for moments like this. In his 14 years on the job, he has dealt with several emergency situations, but says compassion and patience were critical that day. He also says he understands many passengers are frustrated with ongoing transit challenges, especially during harsh Ottawa winters, and says drivers often hear those concerns firsthand. “I feel bad, but I try to do the best as I can, like all the other bus drivers,” he said. Now wearing another safety pin on his uniform, Yasha says the encounter and the young man he helped remain on his mind. “I probably would give him my phone number and say anytime you need anything, call me. If you need someone to talk to, call.” After more than a decade driving buses across Ottawa, Yasha says serving the city remains a source of pride. “Wearing this uniform, it’s an honour,” he said. “It’s an honour to serve the city.”
