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Red Deer Catholic school bus driver receives transportation award

Apr 16, 2018 | 1:06 PM

Red Deer Catholic Transportation bus driver, Kelly Farranto, is being recognized as a leader in the student transportation industry, after being awarded with the March Driver of the Month Award from Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA). 

Farranto, currently drives a full-time bus route and is a Parts Manager at Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools Transportation Department. She started her career as a professional school bus operator when she was 18 years of age, following a long family history of transportation professionals. Now, married and with children of her own, she has introduced a new generation to the school bus sector.

Farranto was one of the first women to train drivers to operate Motor Coach. Over her impressive career, she has had the opportunity to meet many people and transport athletes and coaches to events, such as the Brier and the World Junior Hockey Championships. Farranto was also a part of a convoy of bus drivers that went to the Yukon to transport school buses back to Alberta. One of Farranto’s goals is to one day operate a big earth mover.

“Honestly I wasn’t at all surprised when I heard that Kelly received the award. Kelly actually helped train me when I started here at Transportation. I have known her for awhile and she has had a passion and skill level for safe driving,” said Assistant Transportation Manager, Shevon Medicraft at Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools.  

“The impact is phenomenal for us here in Transportation. We have not only recognized Kelly in the Transportation department, but also across the province people are recognizing her.”

Her 33 years of a clean commercial driving record can be accredited to the “big picture of driving” and her morals of working hard, honestly and with respect. She still maintains those values and applies them to the thousands of students that have passed through her door.

She affirms there is nothing better than when a student who has been on her bus route in the past, comes up to her and says, “Thank you. You don’t know how much I needed your ‘good morning’ and ‘have a good day’ greetings.”

AMTA provides programs for employers to nominate their employees for performance in health and safety. They define standards for performance of drivers and have established guidelines for evaluation. Employers recognize the program as an important tool for spotlighting employees committed to road and workplace safety. For more information, please visit the AMTA website at https://amta.ca/.