Just 16% of TTC operators are women, but a recruitment campaign aims to change that

As the TTC continues to hire drivers coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the push is on to make sure the workforce aligns with Toronto’s population with just 16 per cent of transit operators being female.

“Obviously that doesn’t reflect the diversity of Toronto, one of the most diverse cities in the world,” Shabnum Durrani, the TTC’s head of corporate communications, told CityNews.

“That’s just something we reflected on internally at the TTC and realized that it’s something that needed to change both from the respect of our employees feeling comfortable on our system but also our customers also feeling comfortable.”

The transit organization recently sponsored social media posts encouraging residents to apply as transit operators. However, the effort to reach out to women, community groups and organizations has been underway since 2020.

Keshia Anglin, a seven-year bus operator based out of the TTC’s Mount Dennis garage, drives routes in Toronto’s west end as well as streetcar replacement routes.

“I love Mount Dennis, this is my home. I can’t see myself going anywhere else as an operator,” she said.

“Dufferin is my favourite … I like a little bit of chaos, it’s definitely a busy route.”

She said she was drawn to apply to the TTC after her aunt worked for the organization for nearly two decades, but also because she just loves to drive.

“I really like the flexibility of the job. We’re a 24-7 service, so you can pretty much find a … schedule that would work with your schedule at home,” Anglin told CityNews, noting she sometimes switches between working days and nights depending on her family’s needs.

RELATED: Service on 17 TTC routes returning to pre-pandemic levels, Mayor John Tory says

She is the type of employee the agency is trying to recruit. CityNews asked Anglin about the fact men make up a large majority of the number of transit operators.

“I never really looked at being a woman as a challenge in this job,” she said.

“I am aware that it is mainly male-dominated, and our customers are aware too because sometimes if you ask any female operator we’ve all been called sir at least once just because no one is looking. But when they see us and they’re like, ‘Sorry, miss,’ and they quickly correct it.

“Representation definitely matters and also when you see people in the community servicing the community it’s very comforting.”

Elizabeth Hoare, the manager of the TTC’s Mount Dennis division, started as an operator nine years ago. But two years into her career, she moved behind the scenes in supervisory and managerial roles.

“As I grew with seniority as we were hiring a lot of people when I was first hired, the shifts got better,” Hoare said.

In her role as a manager, Hoare said she works to mentor new employees. She encouraged women to think about joining the TTC.

“I tell them to come in and be confident. You can drive a bus just like anybody else can. I was a bus operator and I did walk into what looked like a fairly male-dominated division and then you realize anyone can do this job,” she said.

“Yes, there are only 16 per cent of women that work here — there can be many more. Put yourself out there and apply.”

Anglin and Hoare both said their line of work offers stability and work for growth, but added it’s not an easy job.

Regarding the challenges operators face, traffic delays, crowding, and customer frustrations were cited as the most common issues.

RELATED: Union calls on government to better protect TTC staff after 2 employees stabbed this month

But frontline TTC employees have also occasionally been the targets of violent incidents. According to TTC CEO Rick Leary’s most recent monthly report to the agency’s board, seven in 100 employees reported some type of incident in the first three months of 2022 — an increase of 22 per cent compared to the last three months of 2021.

The agency’s board recently adopted a plan to address workplace violence, including actions such as calling on the federal government to amend the Criminal Code to better protect transit workers, working with all levels of government at ATU Local 113 (the union representing TTC workers) to enact a framework that would help stop assaults and increasing public awareness.

“Let’s be frank, it’s a tough job being an operator and knowing that I can support somebody and ensure that they know they have my full support out there,” Hoare said.

“Safety is paramount and feeling supported is the number one.”

From an operator’s perspective, Anglin said traffic and dealing with verbally angry customers are the biggest challenges.

“Probably the communication with us and customers where they get frustrated but they don’t understand why we’re late: traffic, weather would be main issues, accidents happened, if we have issues like maybe a health issue on board. So we have a lot of things we have to handle and juggle, customers, cyclists, other drivers — it can be a lot,” she said, adding she doesn’t take the comments personally

“They’re just upset at whatever delay is causing them to be late for work or late for school … They’re late, I’m late too. If you’re late and I’m late, I’m late going home.”

Meanwhile, when it comes to recruitment, Durrani pointed to the pay, pension, benefits and reliable work hours as benefits of the job.

She said the goal for the organization going forward is to make sure at least four out of 10 new hires in transit operator roles are women.

Click here for more information on the application process.