Rick Stiebel/B次元官网网址 Gazette staff
After countless kilometres behind the wheel, Joe Hronek has gently applied the brakes to a career that spanned 38 years as a bus driver for B.C. Transit.
Hronek, a Colwood resident, began driving with Metro Transit, the precursor for B.C. Transit, in 1980 following eight years working for Correctional Services Canada (CSC) at William Head Institution. Ironically, HronekB次元官网网址檚 wife, Stephanie, had put in a few years as a bus driver before she took a position with Corrections Canada, where she worked as a parole officer.
B次元官网网址淵ou could say that our careers crisscrossed,B次元官网网址� Hronek noted. B次元官网网址淚t made for some interesting conversations around the dinner table.B次元官网网址�
When asked what kept him driving a bus for so long, Hronek was hard-pressed to explain.
B次元官网网址淚 never thought IB次元官网网址檇 drive a bus for 38 years,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t went so darn fast. I loved my co-workers and my passengers were lovely people, 99.9 per cent anyway. IB次元官网网址檝e kept the cards and letters I received from passengers over the years. They mean more to me than anything else.B次元官网网址�
Once Stephanie retired three years ago after 30 years with CSC, Hronek said he started to think about retiring in December 2016.
B次元官网网址淪he did some part-time work and then took a full-time job at Victoria General Hospital,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪tephanie describes her job as an air traffic controller for nurses. She thrives in that sort of environment. WeB次元官网网址檙e very different in that way.B次元官网网址�
Retiring finally provided stability in terms of planning their days off together, Hronek said.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been able to go up to our property in Cowichan more often. ItB次元官网网址檚 given us the opportunity to plan more time together. ItB次元官网网址檚 nice after all these years to have supper ready when she gets home from work. She loves it.B次元官网网址�
Retirement has also enabled Hronek to spend to more time working on his Austin hot rod, which he calls B次元官网网址渁n ongoing projectB次元官网网址� that he plans to take to more car shows.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a big roller derby fan as well,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 have a daughter whoB次元官网网址檚 a member of a team in Courtenay, and IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to taking in more of her games.B次元官网网址�
Hronek is also looking forward to devoting more time to his membership in the First Special Service Force Association. The group gets together to keep the history alive of the unit consisting of Canadian and American soldiers, made famous for their exploits in the 1986 movie, The DevilB次元官网网址檚 Brigade.
His curiosity began after one of his co-workers looked at a picture of HronekB次元官网网址檚 uncle, who served with the group, and recognized the insignia. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 the one who really sparked my interest. The association spend a lot of time contacting friends and family from that group. ItB次元官网网址檚 very rewarding.B次元官网网址�
Hronek joined the Victoria-Esquimalt Military Reenactors Association a year ago as another way to foster his fascination with military history.
B次元官网网址淚 dabbled a little (with the association) last year, but now I have the time to jump in with both feet. I also want to pick up my didgeridoo and get back to playing that now that IB次元官网网址檓 retired.B次元官网网址�
When asked if there are any stories heB次元官网网址檇 like to share from his time as a bus driver, Hronek had a couple that came to mind.
B次元官网网址淢y most surprising one happened on my 35th birthday,B次元官网网址� he recalled with a smile. B次元官网网址淎 couple of co-workers arranged for a strip-o-gram to get on my bus during a layover. That was very memorable.B次元官网网址�
Another time several young ladies who had obviously been enjoying a night on the town were getting off his bus when one of them told the others that she was going to thank the driver. B次元官网网址淪he gave me a very passionate kiss on the lips. Those are things you donB次元官网网址檛 forget.B次元官网网址�
Hronek said one of his proudest moments involved the other drivers he worked with.
B次元官网网址淎 driver, a real prince of a guy, experienced what you can only describe as every driverB次元官网网址檚 worst nightmare. It was back in the days before there was stress leave, so all the drivers offered to cover his shifts until he was able to return to work. I was so proud of our co-workers and will never forget what they did. I still get emotional talking about it.B次元官网网址�
Hronek, who retired on Nov. 9 as number one on the seniority list, ranks 35 years plus of continuous safe driving as his greatest accomplishment.
When asked if there thereB次元官网网址檚 any advice he wanted to share, he didnB次元官网网址檛 hesitate for a second.
B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 chase after buses, thereB次元官网网址檚 always another one coming along soon enough. And pedestrians and cyclists would be doing a huge favour not just for drivers but for themselves if they didnB次元官网网址檛 wear dark clothing. You can buy a flashlight for $3, and it makes it much safer for everyone at night.B次元官网网址�
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