Black ribbons attached to Lethbridge buses as a tribute to slain Winnipeg transit driver
LETHBRIDGE – In a show of solidarity with Winnipeg bus drivers, Lethbridge operators have attached black ribbons to their driver’s side mirrors today.
58-year old Irvine J. Fraser was stabbed to death, while on the job at the University of Manitoba. It happened in the early morning hours of Valentine’s Day.
Transit Manager Conrad Westerson says the local Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)approached the city to allow them to put the black ribbons on the buses here, and the city agreed. He says drivers here also fear for their safety at times.
“There’s been an increase in assaults against bus drivers Canada-wide, but especially we’ve noticed here lately… we’ve had 4 incidents that were significant in the last year, to the extent that we have installed surveillance cameras on the buses because of the concern for the safety of our passengers and for our drivers.”