Hey, Bus Driver!

The Kelowna Rockets are thankful for the change of heart.

After dipping his toe in the water doing charter work in nearby Penticton, Curveon made the jump to Kelowna Transit, where he juggles that gig with his commitment as a full-time driver for the hockey club.

“They treat me like family”, Curveon added. “Having played hockey when I was younger and having the opportunity to haul such high caliber players and to be a part of an amazing organization is surreal.”

It is no small feat to drive a bus across Western Canada, negotiating it over mountain passes and city streets.

“You get into some tight spots and the nerves start to get to you a little bit, but they’ve (Rockets) spared no expense. I’ve got all the tools that I need to make sure I don’t come into contact with anything.”

Curveon must feel like a rock star behind the wheel. The envy of his colleagues, he is the captain of a 2019, Prevost H3-45, which in laymen’s terms is like driving a large Cadillac.

“This thing rides nice. It is smooth. It is quiet. It has lots of power. We are not the last to the top of the hill. Everybody has a nice comfortable seat, especially the coaches”.

Manufactured in Sainte-Claire, Quebec, the bus was driven all the way to Kelowna for delivery, a mere 46-hour journey that takes a few days to accomplish.

“Motorists duck in front of us on city streets, and my objective is not to slam on the brakes and have everyone going into the windshield or joining me at the front. Driving city bus, that happens all the time too”, the 50-year-old said with a chuckle.

Curveon’s greatest challenge, when driving the 45 foot-long, 102 inch wide rig, is following a road game. While everyone behind him, coaches, and players are relaxing with some bedding down for the night, the Calgary resident has to be alert and at his best.

“I drink water. I have a cup of coffee. You have to be mindful of when you are taking it in so you don’t have to stop every two hours to use the washroom. You need to plan your sleep, making sure you are refreshed and ready to go for the entire journey.”

Is it more difficult to drive at night or during the day?

“I find it harder during the day”, Curveon said without blinking an eye. “The sun beating through the windshield on your head starts to put some stress on the body. At night, less traffic, less stress, and wide open highways. A bit of wildlife running around but they tend to stay away for the most part”.

A long time Calgary Flames fan, he won’t apologize for being a cheerleader of the Kelowna Rocket players.

“It is nice to not only be a fan but work alongside them (players)”, Curveon continued. “It is interesting to see how these guys develop. Coming in as a rookie to when they age out, they develop themselves into being confident in what they do and give it all they have on the ice.”

With safety paramount, the law now requires no more than 13 hours behind the wheel, with bus drivers having to log in and out when on duty. That wasn’t the case years ago, where if you could keep your eyes open, it was generally ok to operate one of the biggest vehicles on the highway.

Fans don’t see it, but every time the team bus arrives at its destination, as the players exit, they all thank Curveon, by name, for a job well done.

“I really appreciate that. It is a nice boost in confidence that they are comfortable and happy and appreciate what I’ve done.”

I echo the players’ sentiment.

Thanks ‘Shaner’ for getting us there safely.

by Regan Bartel

Hey, Bus Driver!

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