News Release

Memorial To Honour Local Transit Employees

(Thursday, May 24/07)-- A memorial recognizing transit employees who have passed away since public transit service began in the Halifax-Dartmouth area will be officially unveiled at a ceremony on Saturday.

Dartmouth Councillor Jim Smith said today “This is a great initiative put together by some very caring and innovative Metro Transit employees and I want to express my appreciation to Jeff Campbell, Chris Schroder and Dan Allen. The memorial will be a lasting legacy to the good works of all Metro Transit employees and their efforts and sacrifices to improve the lives of all HRM residents.”

Councillor Smith said he understood that approximately three-quarters of local transit employees fought in the Second World War, but only half of them returned home after the war. The memorial is also in memory of the Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan.

Beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, local cadets will be doing final clean-up in the area in front of the Metro Transit facility in Dartmouth. In addition, they will also be planting a small garden and its produce will be donated to local food banks.

Councillor Smith said a barbeque will begin at noon, prior to the official unveiling of the memorial at 1 p.m. by Mayor Peter Kelly and Dan MacDonald, President of Local 508 of the Amalgamated Transit Union.

He said the event is supported by Metro Transit and HRM Public Works and Transportation.

When:    Saturday, May 26, 2007

Time:      10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Unveiling of memorial at 1 p.m.)

Where:    Metro Transit Facility, Ilsley Avenue, Burnside Park

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Councillor Jim Smith
229-8887

Jeff Campbell
Transit Memorial Organizing Committee
209-3622