The second Canadian province officially joined the America’s Best school bus family when an Alberta representative punched his ticket to participate in the America’s Best Training and Skills competition for technicians and inspectors this fall in Kansas City.
David Rempel, the head mechanic at Grasslands Public School in Brooks, took home the winner’s trophy in the first Alberta School Bus Technician Competition in Red Deer during the Alberta Student Transportation Adivsory Council Convention. Marshall Casey of America’s Best told STN that 19 technicians in all vied for first place on March 18, “and the competition went very well.”
The runner-up was Jeremy Grigor, a heavy-duty mechanic apprentice at Palliser Regional Schools in Carmangay. Jeff Neufeld, shop foreman at Chinook’s Edge School Division No. 73, finished third.
In addition to the live event, participants completed a one-hour exam that tested them on their knowledge of school bus fasteners, transmission functions and sensors and wiring.
Last summer, British Columbia became the first province to hold a technician event and send representatives to compete at America’s Best.
The 13th Annual America’s Best Training and Skills program is scheduled for November in conjunction with the National Association for Pupil Transportation Summit.
