While many West Shore residents will wake up Christmas morning with no intention of venturing outside of their homes for a while, others are rolling out of bed and getting ready for work.

BC Transit operator Coralie Leslie is one of many drivers who will be shuttling people around on Christmas Day, delivering passengers to where they need to be.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 have a fixed route B次元官网网址� I drive all the routes,B次元官网网址� she said. When Leslie does have her pick, she enjoys the Goldstream Avenue route. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 almost a two-hour round trip,B次元官网网址� she said, comparing it to in-town routes that feel like sheB次元官网网址檚 driving in circles all day.

B次元官网网址淚 quite like working Christmas Day. ItB次元官网网址檚 quiet and the people you are carrying around are in a good mood. ItB次元官网网址檚 a nice feeling,B次元官网网址� she said. While many might hope for a white Christmas, she prefers it doesnB次元官网网址檛 snow because that makes her job a lot more difficult.

In terms of her shift, Leslie said sheB次元官网网址檚 working B次元官网网址渁n early straight, which means IB次元官网网址檓 off by 2 p.m.,B次元官网网址� and that sits quite well with her. B次元官网网址淎s long as IB次元官网网址檓 off in time to go for dinner.B次元官网网址�

While Leslie has enough seniority to have Christmas Day off, she prefers to work at least part of the day, so that someone who needs the day will be able to have it off. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 need it, my kids are grown,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪ometimes itB次元官网网址檚 just a question of trading a couple hours.B次元官网网址�

An operator with BC Transit for 35 years, she came to work for the company at a time when not many women were driving buses.

B次元官网网址淚 was teaching driving with Young Drivers and to be honest, I got tired of talking.B次元官网网址� As much as she loved driving, she didnB次元官网网址檛 want to take on long-haul trucking or a similar career. Instead, she took up driving transit buses. B次元官网网址淚 think I was the fourth female operator hired,B次元官网网址� she recalled.

B次元官网网址淎t the time it was an unusual choice, but it worked out extremely well.B次元官网网址�

While Christmas is a time for joy and cheer, sometimes those feelings can be overshadowed by aspects of life that donB次元官网网址檛 take time off for the holidays.

Staff at Victoria General Hospital in View Royal will be busy as usual Christmas Day, making sure patients are well cared for and those who need emergency services are looked after. But just outside of the hospital is another building that can sometimes be missed.

B次元官网网址淭he hospital works hard to get people home B次元官网网址� but you canB次元官网网址檛 rush that process,B次元官网网址� said Christina Peacock, Jeneece Place house manager. Every year the facility hosts families who are unable to spend the holiday season at home while loved ones are in care at VGH. B次元官网网址淣one of those aspects of life stop for the holidays.B次元官网网址�

A team of volunteers is taking over the kitchen at Jeneece Place on Christmas Day to make sure all of those families still have a little bit of magic in their lives. The team, who are mostly neighbours, band together every year to fundraise and create a wonderful holiday feast with all of the fixings and trimmings.

B次元官网网址淭hey bring everything in B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 nicer than I cook at home,B次元官网网址� Peacock said. B次元官网网址淭hey also set the table, so itB次元官网网址檚 very festive.B次元官网网址� She noted that families who have enjoyed the meal in the past have commented on the strong memories they made during the event.

For the past eight months the house has been running at more than 90-per-cent capacity, a trend Peacock predicts will continue in the new year. While she canB次元官网网址檛 say for sure how many families will be there on Christmas Day, sheB次元官网网址檚 anticipating at least five, with some new faces expected to be settling in over the next several days.

Having worked Dec. 25 in the past, Peacock said bringing some cheer to families spending their time at the hospital with their baby or child is important. If sheB次元官网网址檚 able to slip away from the house, she takes platters of treats into the hospital for families who arenB次元官网网址檛 able to come for dinner B次元官网网址� or arenB次元官网网址檛 emotionally in a place to sit down for a big meal. B次元官网网址淣obody wants to be here, but if you can turn it around a bit, thatB次元官网网址檚 a good thing,B次元官网网址� she said.

Recognizing how tough it can be for families with a sick child, the community has always come through, Peacock said.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 overwhelmed at how caring people are. The community is always thinking of us B次元官网网址� not just at Christmas but all year.B次元官网网址�

Services continue on Christmas Day

There are other individuals getting up the morning of Dec. 25 just like itB次元官网网址檚 any other work day.

All essential service providers have some level of staff ready for emergencies, and that includes everyone from paramedics to firefighters to dispatchers. But itB次元官网网址檚 not just emergency responders who are at the ready. Often overlooked are the staff of movie theatres, restaurants, hotels, popular holiday venues and other service workers such as bus and taxi drivers. Whether they celebrate the holiday or not, they are taking time away from their families and friends to help keep things running and perhaps make the day a little more special for others.

So if you encounter someone working on Christmas Day, try to spread a little extra good will their way.

katie@goldstreamgazette.com