Squamish Transit's most enduring bus driver has retired.
Bill Sadler was one of the first transit workers to drive Squamish residents around town and he'll be missed said Scott Pass, Squamish Transit manager.
"He's an outstanding employee, very reliable," said Pass. "It's going to be a big loss, it's a shame that he has to retire."
Sadler reached the compulsory retirement age of 65 and drove his last route Friday (Dec. 30).
Sadler said he's seen Squamish Transit flourish over his 10 years as a driver.
"When I started we had the one small bus," he said. "Then it went up to the two bigger Orions and then it went to the new busses, the low riders that we have now."
Sadler said he'll miss the driving - before being a bus driver he drove transport trucks for 23 years. And he'll also miss the people he's carried around Brackendale and Garibaldi Highlands on the number one bus, and on the number two bus throughout downtown and Valleycliffe.
Squamish Transit employees will gather on Saturday (Jan. 7) to confer a plaque commemorating Sadler's loyalty. And what does the former driver have planned for retirement?
"Not an awful lot, just relaxing, probably spending more time with the grandkids," he said. "And I'd like to take a train across Canada. Let somebody else do the driving."
