Councillor Stephen Blais was proud to present Cumberland residents, and OC Transpo operators, André Bastien and Basharat Malik with Safe Driving Awards.

André Bastien has served over 2.6 million customers and travelled a whopping 1.7 million km over 44 years without an accident.

“It’s incredible to think that André has driven accident-free longer than I have been alive,” says Blais. “These two men have not only provided a great service for Ottawa, but they have set the bar for what it means to be a safe driver in Ottawa.”

Meanwhile, Basharat Malik has serviced over 1.5 million customer trips and travelled over 1 million km’s accident free.

“Nearly 7 decades of driving without an accident between them; these two gentlemen do OC Transpo proud,” adds Blais. “Millions of customers have benefited from their gentle hands and excellent reflexes to arrive safely at their destinations.”

Photo Caption: Both gentlemen receive their awards from Transit Commission Chair Stephen Blais, Mayor Jim Watson, City Manager Steve Kanellakos, union president Clint Crabtree, Transit Commission Vice-Chair Michael Qaqish, managers Troy Charter and John Manconni