Since the starting of my final month in post secondary education, I have learned a lot about myself. For instance I have learned that taking Grand River Transit and getting to know the majority of the bus drivers and supervisors (who are really awesome and really good friends of mine now) and have supported myself throughout my last year at Conestoga College. I have also gained a lot more new friends from my program and they are also really awesome and good friends of mine now, but as we look at the final month of school, we all have our career path set out. Since starting in the Public Service program I have always looked at being a planner scheduler for Grand River Transit, I did apply and was hoping so greatly to get the position, but I got no call back. So since then, I have been looking at other cities and other transit systems like TTC, Mississauga, London, Guelph, GO transit and so on. I have applied but got no call back from them either. So, it was the past few weeks I have been thinking about what I could be doing as a career, and I final found what I want to do as a career.
For a career, I am looking at going to go drive for Grand River Transit as a bus operator. I have been told this since I was in high school and at Conestoga College as well as my one year at Laurier university. There are many great things I can do as being a bus operator for Grand River Transit, for instance, I know every route in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo so I have an advantage over the new drivers currently being trained and I also know the trainers at Grand River Transit, and the majority are driver friends so I know I will be trained by the best.
Personally, I cannot wait to go drive for Grand River Transit, ever since I was a little guy, I always loved watching buses, trucks and trains go by, now I am turning it into a career.
Until the next blog entry, have a wonderful Easter weekend and a great day folks! I hope to see you on the road behind the wheel of a Grand River Transit bus.
Saturday, 28 March 2015
Sunday, 1 March 2015
Entry 22: Last months of school
Hello everyone,
I have been doing my best to try and do a blog at least once a month but once co-op starts that might have to change. I do hope everyone enjoyed the month of February, although it was a very cold month, it seems like winter will finally let us warm up and prepare for spring. This blog will not be a very long blog, this is just an update blog.
Now without further interruptions I shall explained what has happened back in the month of February!
Student engagement at Conestoga College
As I have mentioned in previous blog entries I have been working with the Region of Waterloo on their strategic plan. The Region was mainly interested in hearing back from Conestoga College students at the Doon, Cambridge and Waterloo campuses. My team and I got lots of student feedback, both positive and areas for improvement that the region should be looking at.
Transit News
Since my last blog, I have studied more than just Grand River Transit in Waterloo Region, recently I have looked at London Transit, GO transit, TTC, Brantford Transit, and many more other systems. The most confusing system I have looked at has have to be the TTC. Compared to the other systems TTC has to be the most confusing maps I have ever looked at. On their website, TTC has divided their map into six sections to get others to understand their routes and what not. Even though I did download and study their routes individually (174 routes later) I had to use another website to understand the branches and what the routes interline with each other. GO transit is looking at doing a massive expansion throughout Ontario, areas do include Hamilton, Waterloo Region and other areas. From what I have seen in GO's strategic plan, Waterloo region is going to have at least three to six GO stations, two of the stations do include a station off of Highway 7 in Breslau and a station at Waterloo Region Airport.
Last two months of School
I still cannot believe that this will be my last year at Conestoga College. It feels like yesterday my class and I just started our program and now it's almost over. I do hope my class mates do keep in touch over the next years after we graduate, they have been such great people to work with, I wish them the best in their future careers.
That is all for this blog update, I wish everyone a safe evening, until the next blog.
I have been doing my best to try and do a blog at least once a month but once co-op starts that might have to change. I do hope everyone enjoyed the month of February, although it was a very cold month, it seems like winter will finally let us warm up and prepare for spring. This blog will not be a very long blog, this is just an update blog.
Now without further interruptions I shall explained what has happened back in the month of February!
Student engagement at Conestoga College
As I have mentioned in previous blog entries I have been working with the Region of Waterloo on their strategic plan. The Region was mainly interested in hearing back from Conestoga College students at the Doon, Cambridge and Waterloo campuses. My team and I got lots of student feedback, both positive and areas for improvement that the region should be looking at.
Transit News
Since my last blog, I have studied more than just Grand River Transit in Waterloo Region, recently I have looked at London Transit, GO transit, TTC, Brantford Transit, and many more other systems. The most confusing system I have looked at has have to be the TTC. Compared to the other systems TTC has to be the most confusing maps I have ever looked at. On their website, TTC has divided their map into six sections to get others to understand their routes and what not. Even though I did download and study their routes individually (174 routes later) I had to use another website to understand the branches and what the routes interline with each other. GO transit is looking at doing a massive expansion throughout Ontario, areas do include Hamilton, Waterloo Region and other areas. From what I have seen in GO's strategic plan, Waterloo region is going to have at least three to six GO stations, two of the stations do include a station off of Highway 7 in Breslau and a station at Waterloo Region Airport.
Last two months of School
I still cannot believe that this will be my last year at Conestoga College. It feels like yesterday my class and I just started our program and now it's almost over. I do hope my class mates do keep in touch over the next years after we graduate, they have been such great people to work with, I wish them the best in their future careers.
That is all for this blog update, I wish everyone a safe evening, until the next blog.
Tuesday, 20 January 2015
Entry 21: Public Transit, Final School year, Transit Redesign Meeting, and My Future
Hello everyone,
I'd like to warmly welcome everyone to 2015. 2015 is expected to be a huge change for the way we look at transportation and my final year at college. So let us begin to look at public transit, my final year at college, my own transit redesign, and my future career.
Public Transit
Back in November 2014, Grand River Transit proposed huge transit improvements for September 2015 include the following:
- The removal of all the extensions on local routes
- Route 7 being condensed from Fairview Park to Conestoga Mall
- The Zeller Drive neighbourhood getting bus service.
- The 204 Victoria-Highland iXpress (Ottawa/Lackner to the Boardwalk)
-Stage 1 of The 205 Ottawa Street iXpress (Ottawa/Lackner to Courtland)
These are just some of the service improvements proposed for September 2015.
Final Year at School
This section will tie in with the Public transit section above. Back in November, my friend and I attended the majority of the Public Consultation Meetings for the proposed 2015 service improvements, as well as request from my GRT driver friends. For the very first of the meetings, I brought up the recently implemented 203 Mid-Region iXpress from Cambridge Centre to Sportsworld Crossing and Conestoga College Doon and Cambridge campuses during peak hours. The planner looked at me and asked "your name wouldn't be David by any chance would it?" I said my name is David Sej, yes. Then I got feed back from my ideas I sent into them, the planners really liked it. So, at the second last final meeting, the planner that knows me set up a meeting so I could present my own transit redesign to get feedback as well as agin information.
Transit Redesign Meeting
December 17, 2014, I went to the Regional Building on Frederick Street for my meeting with the Planners. Unfortunately the planner that set up the meeting was ill so, the head planner filled in for him. Both planner and the head planner really liked my redesign. After the meeting I told my GRT friends what options the 2015 service finalized map would look like.
Future Career
Since I have been studying many transit systems in Ontario, I am looking at becoming a Planner and Scheduler. I believe getting my passion and hobby and turning it into a career would defiantly benefit myself as well as the Region Community.
That is the 1 blog post of 2015, I hope every enjoys it.
David S.
I'd like to warmly welcome everyone to 2015. 2015 is expected to be a huge change for the way we look at transportation and my final year at college. So let us begin to look at public transit, my final year at college, my own transit redesign, and my future career.
Public Transit
Back in November 2014, Grand River Transit proposed huge transit improvements for September 2015 include the following:
- The removal of all the extensions on local routes
- Route 7 being condensed from Fairview Park to Conestoga Mall
- The Zeller Drive neighbourhood getting bus service.
- The 204 Victoria-Highland iXpress (Ottawa/Lackner to the Boardwalk)
-Stage 1 of The 205 Ottawa Street iXpress (Ottawa/Lackner to Courtland)
These are just some of the service improvements proposed for September 2015.
Final Year at School
This section will tie in with the Public transit section above. Back in November, my friend and I attended the majority of the Public Consultation Meetings for the proposed 2015 service improvements, as well as request from my GRT driver friends. For the very first of the meetings, I brought up the recently implemented 203 Mid-Region iXpress from Cambridge Centre to Sportsworld Crossing and Conestoga College Doon and Cambridge campuses during peak hours. The planner looked at me and asked "your name wouldn't be David by any chance would it?" I said my name is David Sej, yes. Then I got feed back from my ideas I sent into them, the planners really liked it. So, at the second last final meeting, the planner that knows me set up a meeting so I could present my own transit redesign to get feedback as well as agin information.
Transit Redesign Meeting
December 17, 2014, I went to the Regional Building on Frederick Street for my meeting with the Planners. Unfortunately the planner that set up the meeting was ill so, the head planner filled in for him. Both planner and the head planner really liked my redesign. After the meeting I told my GRT friends what options the 2015 service finalized map would look like.
Future Career
Since I have been studying many transit systems in Ontario, I am looking at becoming a Planner and Scheduler. I believe getting my passion and hobby and turning it into a career would defiantly benefit myself as well as the Region Community.
That is the 1 blog post of 2015, I hope every enjoys it.
David S.
Saturday, 27 September 2014
Entry #20: Public Transit, My List, Special Note
Good morning/afternoon/evening fellow bloggers,
I deeply apologize regarding the lateness of my blog as I have been very busy regarding public transit and what steps I have to take to get my ideas heard, but that is for another day.
School Update:
Recently, I have been doing extremely well in my final year at Conestoga College in the Public Service program. All the professors are very nice and most of them come from a background working in the Public Sector. I have a focus on what part of the public sector I am most interested in, that is working for Grand River Transit (GRT) and the Region of Waterloo. I have had an interest in working for the Region of Waterloo and GRT for a long time now, I am most hoping I can get my final career on the road with this program with the assistance from the co-op and career services provided at Conestoga College.
My List
Most recently, during the summer, I began a list of improved local and new transit services within the Waterloo Region. I can give an example of what service changes I came up with.
Route 19 Victoria South - Revised route and schedule, Modified route to Hazelglen Drive and Ingliside Drive and continues down Victoria Street South to Ira Needles to the Boardwalk terminal. Service removed from Highland Hills terminal.
Special Note
As what I have posted on the blog's Facebook page, I am taking my proposal of transit improvements to Waterloo Region Council (after the election).
Well, that is all for today, hope you all enjoy your day!
I deeply apologize regarding the lateness of my blog as I have been very busy regarding public transit and what steps I have to take to get my ideas heard, but that is for another day.
School Update:
Recently, I have been doing extremely well in my final year at Conestoga College in the Public Service program. All the professors are very nice and most of them come from a background working in the Public Sector. I have a focus on what part of the public sector I am most interested in, that is working for Grand River Transit (GRT) and the Region of Waterloo. I have had an interest in working for the Region of Waterloo and GRT for a long time now, I am most hoping I can get my final career on the road with this program with the assistance from the co-op and career services provided at Conestoga College.
My List
Most recently, during the summer, I began a list of improved local and new transit services within the Waterloo Region. I can give an example of what service changes I came up with.
Route 19 Victoria South - Revised route and schedule, Modified route to Hazelglen Drive and Ingliside Drive and continues down Victoria Street South to Ira Needles to the Boardwalk terminal. Service removed from Highland Hills terminal.
Special Note
As what I have posted on the blog's Facebook page, I am taking my proposal of transit improvements to Waterloo Region Council (after the election).
Well, that is all for today, hope you all enjoy your day!
Sunday, 3 August 2014
Entry # 19: New School Term, New Topics, Final Year in Post-Secondary Education
This is going to be my final year in post-secondary education, it will be very different not returning to Conestoga College after the summer term. Anyway, let's get underway what has happened over the summer term, I have not been posting blogs throughout the summer because, I believed that, the summer it self would be a very quit, nothing big will occur, I was horribly mistaken, the Russian Separatists shot down that passenger airplane, ISIS taking a page out of Adolf Hitler's book, and the airplanes being shot down or gone missing.
International News
This summer has been horrible for airlines, my family and I stopped using airlines because the fee for a family of six (6) would be ridiculous, but that is not the point, the main factor I am truing to understand is, why are passenger airplanes being targeted? This is the question everyone should be asking themselves right now, they are not a threat, they just move people from one country to another. Russia is going to be in huge trouble, why, the European Union, Canada and the United States have imposed sanctions that will hurt Russia's economy and move them into isolation. This is summer, as I say again, has been absolutely horrible for airplanes, mainly passenger airplanes. The crisis in Israel and Gaza, that is also extremely terrible, the cease fire that was supposed to last 72 hours, only lasted 48 hours or less. There is so much tension between the two that, I have a feeling, will wipe each other out, unless the United Nations and the EU and Western countries help them compromise, I know that the United States is doing their best to help, but so far it is like taking two steps forward and two steps backwards, it is not going to get better when the two sides absolutely hate each. This summer, around the world, has been, violent, deadly and dangerous, I do hope, we will not be looking into the face of another world war.
Waterloo Region News
Now for news coming from Waterloo Region, construction season is still in full swing, the proposed LRT has been approved, and the construction for it has begun. The infrastructure for it is being done, and the person who's lawsuit got thrown out of court for trying to stop the LRT, has given up his case. Grand River Transit has implemented another of it's iXpress routes back in April, the mid-region iXpress. This iXpress travels from Sportsworld Crossing (King Street. E in Kitchener) to the Cambridge Centre (Hespeler Rd) via Maple Grove Rd (Highway 38), the Community of Fischer Mills in Hespeler, and the L.G. Lovell Industrial Park. From the research I have been looking at, the 203 Maple Grove iXpress's future route will be Franklin Blvd, Fischer Mills, Maple Grove, Sportsworld, Conestoga College Cambridge & Doon to Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener. I went into detail if Waterloo region will get anymore iXpress routes, and from what I have been reading, we will be getting 5 more, the 204 Victoria-Highland iXpress will be implemented next year. I have a feeling that 2015, a lot more changes will occur, just like in 2011 a lot of changes were made.
I will be doing weekly updates for the blogs, I will do them every Sunday, since Sunday is the beginning of the new week, I can cover the past week's news and other updates as the week follows. During the week, I will make a brief news break, no blog, the blog will tie everything together.
NHL Hockey news
NJ Devils veteran goalie Martin Brodeur will not be returning in the Devils jersey (I have a hunch he will retire this season)
NJ Devils goalie Cory Schneider singed a 7 year contract
Montreal Candadiens P.K. Subban has agreed to an 8 year contract
That is this month's updates, the weekly blog posts will begin in the second week in September.
Enjoy the rest of your summer everyone.
Cheers,
David
International News
This summer has been horrible for airlines, my family and I stopped using airlines because the fee for a family of six (6) would be ridiculous, but that is not the point, the main factor I am truing to understand is, why are passenger airplanes being targeted? This is the question everyone should be asking themselves right now, they are not a threat, they just move people from one country to another. Russia is going to be in huge trouble, why, the European Union, Canada and the United States have imposed sanctions that will hurt Russia's economy and move them into isolation. This is summer, as I say again, has been absolutely horrible for airplanes, mainly passenger airplanes. The crisis in Israel and Gaza, that is also extremely terrible, the cease fire that was supposed to last 72 hours, only lasted 48 hours or less. There is so much tension between the two that, I have a feeling, will wipe each other out, unless the United Nations and the EU and Western countries help them compromise, I know that the United States is doing their best to help, but so far it is like taking two steps forward and two steps backwards, it is not going to get better when the two sides absolutely hate each. This summer, around the world, has been, violent, deadly and dangerous, I do hope, we will not be looking into the face of another world war.
Waterloo Region News
Now for news coming from Waterloo Region, construction season is still in full swing, the proposed LRT has been approved, and the construction for it has begun. The infrastructure for it is being done, and the person who's lawsuit got thrown out of court for trying to stop the LRT, has given up his case. Grand River Transit has implemented another of it's iXpress routes back in April, the mid-region iXpress. This iXpress travels from Sportsworld Crossing (King Street. E in Kitchener) to the Cambridge Centre (Hespeler Rd) via Maple Grove Rd (Highway 38), the Community of Fischer Mills in Hespeler, and the L.G. Lovell Industrial Park. From the research I have been looking at, the 203 Maple Grove iXpress's future route will be Franklin Blvd, Fischer Mills, Maple Grove, Sportsworld, Conestoga College Cambridge & Doon to Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener. I went into detail if Waterloo region will get anymore iXpress routes, and from what I have been reading, we will be getting 5 more, the 204 Victoria-Highland iXpress will be implemented next year. I have a feeling that 2015, a lot more changes will occur, just like in 2011 a lot of changes were made.
I will be doing weekly updates for the blogs, I will do them every Sunday, since Sunday is the beginning of the new week, I can cover the past week's news and other updates as the week follows. During the week, I will make a brief news break, no blog, the blog will tie everything together.
NHL Hockey news
NJ Devils veteran goalie Martin Brodeur will not be returning in the Devils jersey (I have a hunch he will retire this season)
NJ Devils goalie Cory Schneider singed a 7 year contract
Montreal Candadiens P.K. Subban has agreed to an 8 year contract
That is this month's updates, the weekly blog posts will begin in the second week in September.
Enjoy the rest of your summer everyone.
Cheers,
David
Thursday, 24 April 2014
Entry #18 Blog On Hold from April 25 2014 to September 1, 2014
Good day my fellow internet surfers,
As of today, this blog will be put on hold until further notice. I have been focused on studying for final exams and getting a full-time summer job.
To enter this final blog of the term, let me just say, it has been an honour providing you with insightful news topics throughout Canada, Waterloo Region and the United States, as well as sharing peaceful and positive images on the Facebook page.
I WILL be sending brief updates on the Facebook page, but they will range from 1-7 sentences long, with a lot of information.
The peaceful and positive images will continue to be posted.
I hope you've had some fun reading some of the issues and events occurring throughout the Waterloo Region, I will be posting brief blogs in the future, none of them will be lengthy, possibly just one to tow paragraphs long with my final thought.
I Hope you all have a safe May long weekend and a safe summer.
This is David Sej, signing off, for now.
As of today, this blog will be put on hold until further notice. I have been focused on studying for final exams and getting a full-time summer job.
To enter this final blog of the term, let me just say, it has been an honour providing you with insightful news topics throughout Canada, Waterloo Region and the United States, as well as sharing peaceful and positive images on the Facebook page.
I WILL be sending brief updates on the Facebook page, but they will range from 1-7 sentences long, with a lot of information.
The peaceful and positive images will continue to be posted.
I hope you've had some fun reading some of the issues and events occurring throughout the Waterloo Region, I will be posting brief blogs in the future, none of them will be lengthy, possibly just one to tow paragraphs long with my final thought.
I Hope you all have a safe May long weekend and a safe summer.
This is David Sej, signing off, for now.
Friday, 7 March 2014
Entry #17: Waterloo Region OK's LRT and Kitchener Prepaires to Pay for River Road Expansion
It has been a month since I posted my last blog about the issues of bullying and why folks today should not take it as a joke but as a serious offense. This blog will have a different look at things and topics within Waterloo Region.
Yesterday, Waterloo Region Council OKed the $818 million dollar LRT project and one business owner threatened Regional council with a law suit, but one councilor said the project is on "solid ground". The business owner said it violated section 24 of the Regional Planning Act, which says "Despite any other general or special Act, where an official plan is in effect, no public work shall be undertaken and, except as provided in subsections (2) and (4), no by-law shall be passed for any purpose that does not conform therewith. R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, s. 24 (1); 1999, c. 12, Sched. M, s. 24." All I can say is, this guy has done SOME of his homework with regards the LRT, he is so right with the local business along King Street (From Waterloo to Kitchener), when construction begins to put the tracks along the route for the LRT, it will hurt local business greatly. They will lose a lot of profit during the summer, until the contruction for the LRT is completed in that area. As a person that takes public transit, I do enjoy the Region's bus system, which is known as the Grand River Transit (GRT) but taking the LRT might be difficult for others. The main question I want council to answer is: Will the LRT make connections with the GRT buses or will we get to watch as our connection pulls out of a transit terminal as we wait for the next one? Since I have been taking GRT for seven (7) years now, I have seen great things and great changes within the system and along each of the routes. I would rather see my tax dollars go towards aBRT (a Bus Rapid Transit) with the routes operating every 15 min Monday to Saturday and 30 min on Sunday. That is the one transit system people would love to have, but sadly, I will ask this question: do you want your taxes increased to help fund for this project? I can answer that: I have a hunch the majority of you would have said no to this. Thus, we have to live with the LRT.
Final Thought for LRT: I can see the region's economy, going down for the time of the construction of the LRT, I am pretty sure aBRT for Waterloo Region would be better for people as it would cost less money (I have done the math on this one) and it would be more effective and would create more jobs in the Region.
Changing gears now, time to look at the River Road expansion!
Last year, the city of Kitchener has approved the expansion of River Road that will avoid some rare salamander special along the original route. The route goes around the salamander habitat and will link to Bleams Road (on the other side) of Kitchener. As I told my parents this morning, this expansion is desperately needed, because the one road (Fairway Road) is bombarded with traffic and there is no other way around it, which is why the interestion of Fairway Rd. at King Street E is one of the most dangerous intersections in Waterloo Region. With the River Road expansion on the way the traffic on Fairway Road will remain the same up until the opening of the expanded River Road in which, many people will use that road.
Final Thought for LRT and River Road Expansion: our tax dollars should be used to fund and operate aBRT, I have done the math on this, for 3 iXpress Routes (202 University iXpress, 204 Victoria-Highland iXpress and 206 Ottawa Street iXpress) it will cost $6.2 to get the stops implemented and run the routes themselves. Which is much cheaper than to operate a $532 million dollar train from Waterloo to Kitchener. The River Road expansion is an excellent work of tax dollars.
Yesterday, Waterloo Region Council OKed the $818 million dollar LRT project and one business owner threatened Regional council with a law suit, but one councilor said the project is on "solid ground". The business owner said it violated section 24 of the Regional Planning Act, which says "Despite any other general or special Act, where an official plan is in effect, no public work shall be undertaken and, except as provided in subsections (2) and (4), no by-law shall be passed for any purpose that does not conform therewith. R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, s. 24 (1); 1999, c. 12, Sched. M, s. 24." All I can say is, this guy has done SOME of his homework with regards the LRT, he is so right with the local business along King Street (From Waterloo to Kitchener), when construction begins to put the tracks along the route for the LRT, it will hurt local business greatly. They will lose a lot of profit during the summer, until the contruction for the LRT is completed in that area. As a person that takes public transit, I do enjoy the Region's bus system, which is known as the Grand River Transit (GRT) but taking the LRT might be difficult for others. The main question I want council to answer is: Will the LRT make connections with the GRT buses or will we get to watch as our connection pulls out of a transit terminal as we wait for the next one? Since I have been taking GRT for seven (7) years now, I have seen great things and great changes within the system and along each of the routes. I would rather see my tax dollars go towards aBRT (a Bus Rapid Transit) with the routes operating every 15 min Monday to Saturday and 30 min on Sunday. That is the one transit system people would love to have, but sadly, I will ask this question: do you want your taxes increased to help fund for this project? I can answer that: I have a hunch the majority of you would have said no to this. Thus, we have to live with the LRT.
Final Thought for LRT: I can see the region's economy, going down for the time of the construction of the LRT, I am pretty sure aBRT for Waterloo Region would be better for people as it would cost less money (I have done the math on this one) and it would be more effective and would create more jobs in the Region.
Changing gears now, time to look at the River Road expansion!
Last year, the city of Kitchener has approved the expansion of River Road that will avoid some rare salamander special along the original route. The route goes around the salamander habitat and will link to Bleams Road (on the other side) of Kitchener. As I told my parents this morning, this expansion is desperately needed, because the one road (Fairway Road) is bombarded with traffic and there is no other way around it, which is why the interestion of Fairway Rd. at King Street E is one of the most dangerous intersections in Waterloo Region. With the River Road expansion on the way the traffic on Fairway Road will remain the same up until the opening of the expanded River Road in which, many people will use that road.
Final Thought for LRT and River Road Expansion: our tax dollars should be used to fund and operate aBRT, I have done the math on this, for 3 iXpress Routes (202 University iXpress, 204 Victoria-Highland iXpress and 206 Ottawa Street iXpress) it will cost $6.2 to get the stops implemented and run the routes themselves. Which is much cheaper than to operate a $532 million dollar train from Waterloo to Kitchener. The River Road expansion is an excellent work of tax dollars.
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