Kelly Frere, winner of the 2022 Provincial School Bus Roadeo. (Supplied)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

the best in alberta

Chinook’s Edge School Division bus driver wins provincial competition

Jun 7, 2022 | 4:03 PM

You could call Kelly Frere a bus driver extraordinaire.

Frere, who drives a bus route in Penhold for Chinook’s Edge School Division, won the Provincial School Bus Roadeo in Nisku this weekend, with a field of about 50.

To qualify for the provincial event, drivers must win at the local level first.

Frere also works as an educational assistant at Penhold Crossing Secondary School, is a Senior Driving Instructor for Chinook’s Edge, and is the S Endorsement ‘Train the Trainer’ for Central/Southern Alberta.

“I couldn’t be more proud and excited for Kelly, but also for our division. This is the first time a driver from Chinook’s Edge has won,” said Corinne Varga, Transportation Director for Chinook’s Edge School Division. “This is the tenth time Kelly has qualified to compete at the provincial level and she has placed very high several times in past. She is a very skilled driver and works hard everyday – she is so deserving of this recognition.”

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The competition involves an intense written component, followed by a series of technical diving skills. This includes such things as student loading, railway crossings, and diminishing clearance, among other challenges.

“Kelly has 22 years of experience behind her, with both Prairie Bus Lines and Chinook’s Edge, so we are all very aware of how talented she is,” added Varga.

“We are proud of all our bus drivers. They all engage in S Endorsement and other refresher courses, and we hold regular professional development opportunities to enhance different driving techniques. Our drivers are always learning and they are highly skilled professionals. That creates a high level of safety for our students and communities.”

Along with the title of the province’s best school bus driver, Frere earned a cheque for $500.

She also qualified to compete at an international competition, though it has been cancelled for 2022 due to COVID-19. It’s anticipated, the division says, that this year’s qualifiers will be invited to participate in 2023.