Kelowna

Cst. Tim Monteith has enjoyed a fulfilling career with the RCMP, spanning nearly 20 years and counting.

Photo: Contributed - RCMP

Cst. Tim Monteith

For most of his service, Monteith has been involved in traffic enforcement and has been working in Kelowna for the last 12 years.

Sometime around 2006, a school bus safety program was initiated and Monteith started heading out with school buses locally to enforce the Motor Vehicle Act and increase the safety of school children.

Monteith noticed that enforcement alone really wasn't getting the job done, and so, in conjunction with media students from Rutland Middle School, several Public Service Announcement videos were produced.

"The school bus safety program is now a combination of both enforcement and education, which enhances its overall objective," says Monteith.

His efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Monteith was recently honored by the Association of School Transportation Services of BC (ASTSBC) by being asked to speak at their 47th annual conference last week.

"We were so impressed with his work, especially his involvement with the Public Service Announcements, that we invited him to speak to our members at our conference," says Dennis Powell, President of the ASTSBC.

On July 10th, Monteith showcased his work and the locally produced Public Service Announcement videos to the membership of the ASTSBC with rave reviews.

Other school districts may now have the tools to enhance their own school bus safety, using strategies already employed in Kelowna.

"This just reaffirms to me that what we do out there every day has a huge positive effect on our communities," says Monteith.