Service area Canada (nationwide) Date founded 2006 | Headquarters Burlington Parent organization FIRSTGROUP AMERICA, INC. | |
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Slogan Caring for students today, tomorrow, together. Website www.firststudentcanada.com Motto Caring for students today, tomorrow, together Service types School bus contractor, Public transport | ||
First student canada buses leaving
First Student Canada, a subsidiary of the British company FirstGroup and a division of FirstGroup America, is a major contractor of school bus services and public transit systems. The company provides services in Canada comparable to those delivered by sister companies First Transit and First Student in the United States. The component parts of the operation consist of the former Laidlaw services and subsequent new acquisitions by First Canada.
Contents
- First student canada buses leaving
- Laidlaw
- Farwest Group
- Cardinal
- King Transportation
- 2014 Calgary Controversy
- School services
- Clients
- Public Transit
- References
Laidlaw
Laidlaw Transit Ltd., is a Canadian registered subsidiary which operates former Laidlaw school transportation services throughout Southern Ontario.
Farwest Group
The Farwest Group of companies provides transportation services in various communities in British Columbia. These companies were acquired by First Canada in 2004. and are contracted to operate public transit services for BC Transit in Chilliwack, Kamloops, Kelowna Region and the Central Fraser Valley.
Cardinal
Several companies branded as "Cardinal" operated school buses in different locations across Canada. In 2005, Firstbus Canada acquired 471136 B.C. Limited and Cardinal Transportation B.C. Inc., Vancouver, BC and Cardinal Coach Lines Limited and Focus Capital Inc., Calgary, AB and Cardinal Coach Lines (Ont.) Ltd., North York, ON.
King Transportation
King Transportation Ltd., is a Winnipeg based company that provides school bus transportation, special education transportation services, charter and maintenance services. The company was acquired by FirstBus Canada in 2008.
2014 Calgary Controversy
In February 2014, the company was subject to criticism after it fired Kendra Lindon, a school bus driver after she used her own vehicle to pick up children from her route after her bus failed to start. Due to the extremely low temperature (-26 degrees Celsius), and due to the failure of her dispatch to send replacement buses on the previous day, Lindon decided that "it wouldn’t be right" to leave children out in the cold and feared they might suffer frostbite, since many were not properly dressed for such cold weather. Upon learning of Lindon's actions, the company immediately terminated her employment, on the grounds that it was "against company policy to pick up children in a personal vehicle." Lindon defended her decision, stating that "I was not acting as a bus driver at that point, but as a concerned parent...I saw these kids I’ve known since they were five. I was acting as a parent and a concerned neighbour and friend. I couldn’t just drive past them and leave them to freeze."
When contacted by Licia Corbella of Postmedia News, the assistant location and safety manager, Mike Stiles, declined to comment and referred her to the First Student's Cincinnati headquarters, which did not return any calls for inquiry. Three lawyers, who have offered to represent Ms. Lindon pro bono, have suggested that she may have a case against First Student for wrongful dismissal.
School services
First Student Canada is a major school bus operator mainly in the Greater Toronto Area, Southern Ontario and Alberta.
Clients
School boards served by First Student Canada include:
Public Transit
First Student Canada is contracted to provide public transit services for many small communities across the country.