The man known to Lakeshore children as “Chuck” or “Mr. Bus Driver” is finally handing in his keys after 50 years of driving kids to and from school.
The 71-year-old school bus driver, Charlie St. Pierre, is retiring at the end of the school year.
“I’ll miss the kids,” St. Pierre said. “It’s tough to say goodbye.”
St. Pierre started driving for G & L Stevenson Transport when the company started in 1964.
Lee Stevenson, co-owner of the family owned bus charter, said St. Pierre has been one of his best employees. With no complaints, no accidents and being able to count his sick days on one hand, Stevenson said he will miss having St. Pierre on his roster.
“You aren’t going to find people like him today,” Stevenson said. “He’s been unbelievably dependable.”
School bus driver Charlie St. Pierre is retiring after 50 years behind the wheel.St. Pierre will be saying his goodbyes to students at Tecumseh Vista Academy, shown here on Wednesday June 18, 2014. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)
St. Pierre starts his weekdays at 5:45 a.m., making his first stop at 7:10 a.m. His route starts in Belle River and St. Clair Beach, dropping students off at Belle River high school. He then picks up a group of kids from the county and drives them to L’Essor in Tecumseh. His last route ends around 9 a.m. when he drops off kindergarten kids at Tecumseh Vista Academy.
St. Pierre has driven students of all ages and watched them grow up before his eyes. He’s watched their fashions change — drastically — with kids dressing in more expensive, fancier clothes. He’s also watched the region become more diverse and multicultural.
“Kids are now are more aware of what is going on in the world,” St. Pierre said. “When I was a kid, more than 50 years ago, it was enclosed and the population was a lot less. We knew a lot less people. Now everyone mingles.”
And the buses have also changed considerably.
For almost 30 years, St. Pierre drove a manual stick-shift but now all buses are automatic. He said safety has improved, with new windows and escape hatches.
And while he’s had a few close calls with drivers who ignored the flashing safety lights on his bus, St. Pierre’s driving record is accident-free.
“You have to have eyes all around you,” he said of the secret to his success.
St. Pierre has gotten to know students, teachers and parents in the Lakeshore area and said interacting with the younger generation is fun.
“You end up learning what’s going on in their lives,” he said.
Saying goodbye to the kids next week will be the hardest part.
“If I miss it too much, I’ll just come back and start over again,” said St. Pierre, who hopes to remain on call for G & L Stevenson Transport to drive charters for field trips or sporting events.
“I just know I can sleep in, now.”
jboyce@windsorstar.com or on Twitter @BoyceWillBBoyce
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