Jim Wirsta has been driving the St. Paul Action Bus for over two decades, but as of today, he will be leaving the seat he sat in for the past 25 years, and looking to retirement.
“He’s been talking about (retiring) for a few years,” says town CAO Ron Boisvert. “And now he’s going through with the decision.”
Wirsta had already been driving the Action Bus for many years when the Town of St. Paul took it over about five years ago. St. Paul Abilities Network (SPAN), up until November of 2008, had been running the service.
“I’ve enjoyed it for a number of reasons,” explains Wirsta, as he reflects on his time spent driving the bus. “I’ve gotten a chance over the last 25 years to work with seniors and the mentally challenged. There have been all kinds of highlights in all the years I’ve been doing it.”
Wirsta says he “enjoyed the job because of the challenges and because it gave me an opportunity to help people out and contribute to the community.”
In addition to being a bus driver, Wirsta has been a member of the fire department for 25 years, and in the past also acted as deputy chief for 20 years.
When asked why he started driving the Action Bus, Wirsta explains that he was working for a concrete company in 1988, and was looking for work during the winter when there wasn’t much work to be done with the company.
Starting out as a part-time driver, he came to enjoy the position, and took over as a full-time driver when the original driver with SPAN moved on to start a new business in Edmonton.
“When he left, I stayed and was with the Action Bus ever since,” says Wirsta. “I’ve gotten to know a lot of people really well, having driven the bus all this time.”
Some of the Action Bus clients will surely miss Wirsta’s familiar face.
“There would be clients who would just about choke, they’d be so happy to see me when I got back from holidays,” he explains, adding, “I felt like a valued part of the community, and felt like my job was of a lot of value to the community.”
The Town of St. Paul is now seeking applications for the position of bus driver with the Action Bus.
