SUDBURY -- It wasn't a regular Thursday morning for GOVA transit in Sudbury as drivers received free coffee and treats, without leaving their bus.
The first of its kind in the city, Tim Hortons set up a mobile drive-thru trailer that was big enough for a city bus to drive up to.
Tim Hortons owner and operator Gordon Sinclair said it was a way of saying "thank you" for the essential work that transit has done during this pandemic.
"We wanted to do this approach because we thought, you know, they're on the bus and they'd like to come through the drive-thru. It's something different. Something exciting. Shows them how much we really appreciate them by going to this extent," said Sinclair.
The trailer was set up at the Larch Street yard giving drivers a chance to grab a free beverage and treat before heading out to start their day.
"It's important to let them know that they're appreciated and the sacrifices they're making to come out every day and transporting us around," said Sinclair. "Just to acknowledge that we appreciate everything that's going on within the community and their part in it."
Over 100 employees benefited from the gesture Thursday morning between drivers, fleet staff and administration.
GOVA'S Manager of operations, Bruno Lafortune, said: "Tim Hortons, they're such a big part of our community, and for them to come to Sudbury transit and recognize transit operations and transit operators on the job that they do as essential and bringing people to their workplace or essential places, is pretty amazing."
The drive-thru was available between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. with two different options to get an order. Drivers could drive directly up to the window and experience the convenience of a drive-thru or employees could walk up and place an order on foot.
"Since the beginning of March, Tim Hortons owners and head office have been fuelling and feeding essential workers across the country," said Sinclair. "We wanted to come [Thursday] and show our appreciation to Sudbury transit for getting our essential workers and the residents around Sudbury during this time of COVID-19."
The transit manager is proud of the work the bus drivers have done throughout these uncertain times.
"When you look around and you look at Sudbury transit, I think the operators have done a great job. The pandemic has been unknown for a lot of people, scary for a lot of people, and you know what, the operators have shown up every day, come to work, protected themselves, kept bringing people to work - to essential places. So my hats off to them, they've done a truly amazing job," said Lafortune.
