Chinook’s Edge bus driver earns second place at provincial school bus road-eo

Cremona area school bus driver Samantha Smith is pleased to have earned a second place standing at the provincial Bus Road-eo in Nisku on June 7. Smith was one of three Chinook’s Edge drivers to attend the event, after a regional bus road-eo several weeks ago. 

Lori Whitlow and Rick Wilson, Chinook’s Edge bus drivers, also competed in the event. Also, Transportation department staff participated as judges and a course marshalls.

Corinne Varga, Chinook’s Edge Transportation Director, says, “I am very proud of our drivers who attended both the local and regional school bus road-eo because they are willing to put their skills to the test with their peers.” 

Varga says, “They all have the mindset of safety first and the competition just improves their daily skills. I strongly believe a lot of the credit for how well our drivers do at bus road-eos goes to our training department, which is top notch especially when it comes to safety.” 

Varga says the road-eo course is challenging in that it consists of some maneuvers that Chinook’s Edge drivers do not perform on a daily basis. Also, drivers are also competing in a Freightliner style bus which Chinook’s Edge does not have in its fleet, so bus drivers have a lot less experience with the locations of controls, how the bus steers including a turning radius that is very different, and where the blind spots are.

She says, “Chinook’s Edge is fortunate to have many drivers interested in competing in the road-eo. It is a chance to challenge their skills, have fun with their fellow drivers, and it is just a great learning experience.” 

Varga extends special recognition to Smith for placing second in the big bus category, out of 51 contestants from all over Alberta. She says, “this just proves what a rockstar she is, and how blessed we are to have her as a driver in Chinook’s Edge.” The 2025 bus road-eo was the second time Smith participated in the event.  

“I was nervous and excited going into this,” says Smith. “Last year I was third in the local competition and went to provincials. This year I wanted to improve how I did, and to compete against myself. I didn’t expect to place as high as I did, but I am proud of how it went.” 

“The bus road-eo is a fun experience. I enjoyed getting to challenge myself with maneuvers that I don’t do when I'm driving every day,” says Smith.  For example, Smith says there is one challenge that requires the driver to move the bus’s tires through tennis balls, with about 1.5 inches of clearance between the balls and tires on each side of the bus.

“I liked being able to challenge myself in a controlled environment,” says Smith.

Smith says she is already looking forward to next year, and competing against herself to improve.  Also, she is currently training a bus driver and hopes that individual will compete in next year’s bus road-eo. 

“I love being a school bus driver, and especially seeing the students every day,” says Smith. “My bus is a little like the front of my fridge; it’s covered in pictures the students gave me. To watch them grow up, and turn into wonderful little humans is so great.” 

“Special thanks to Kelly Frere, who has been a great trainer,” says Smith. “Also Corinne [Varga] and Paula [Spiller] have been encouraging. I am fortunate to be working for Chinook’s Edge. I couldn’t ask for any better support or training.”