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WEEKEND, AUGUST 7-9, 2015
Downturn means bus driver boom
WHOOOOO WILL HELP US? Wildlife centre may be forced to close
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scenario. This year, the company says applications are up and they’re on track to have a full complement of drivers by the start of the school year. First Student Calgary has also seen a 32-per-cent increase in bus-driver applicants compared to last year. “It’s huge. It’s unfair for Aaron me to say, but whenever we Chatha hit the ‘R’ word, the recesMetro | Calgary sion, it actually benefits our The economic downturn has business,” said Mike Stiles, proven to be an advantage for assistant location and safety Calgary and area school manager. “We are recesbus companies. sion-proof,” he added. Last summer, “Kids always have to DRIVER’S SEAT Southland Transget to school. We First Student expects have guaranteed portation was to have close to 800 jobs.” short dozens of total drivers at the drivers and manSome partbeginning of the agers ended up time drivers use school year. It still having to drive the position to has 35 open supplement insome routes in positions. September, in an come from a full“all hands on deck” time job, he added.
Applications flood in for ‘recessionproof ’ jobs
JENNIFER FRIESEN/FOR METRO