Operator Highlight: Hicham Fazry
Meet Hicham Fazry, who has been an operator with ETS since 2016.
Born in Morocco, Hicham spent his youth playing handball at a national level. He played the sport with his brother, competing all across Africa until 1999, when a motorcycle accident left him unable to continue playing. Despite this adversity, Hicham hasn’t let these circumstances impact his warm and friendly demeanor.
Hicham moved to Edmonton in 2007 and spent his early years in the city taking ETS to get around. During this time he befriended ETS operator George Campbell, who continually encouraged Hicham to become an ETS Operator. George was eventually successful, convincing Hicham in 2016 to apply with ETS.
One of Hicham’s favourite aspects of his work is building relationships with riders, with one specific example top of mind. This rider was a fellow City of Edmonton employee when he was driving a Mill Woods route in 2020. He knew this rider and their transfer, and was confused when, one week, she didn’t show up at her stop. Hicham waited an extra minute or two at the stop every day but she didn’t return until the following week. When Hicham asked about why she hadn’t been taking the bus, she said that she had been sick. Hicham’s told her that he had been waiting a few extra minutes each day for her to arrive, and she was appreciative. Later that year Hicham changed routes. The rider was sad to see him go, going so far as to bring Hicham a going away present.
That experience of connecting with a rider has stayed with Hicham throughout the years and influenced how he goes about his work.“It doesn’t matter who you are, I’m going to treat you well,” he says. Hicham’s warm, helpful and welcoming attitude exemplifies what it means to be an ETS operator.
Hicham is just one of the amazing staff members that help keep Edmontonians moving. Take some time to show your gratitude to ETS staff and service partners for what they do. Be it maintenance staff in ETS facilities, the cleaners who keep our buses and trains to a high standard of cleanliness, or our Transit Peace Officers who keep Edmontonians safe, ETS couldn’t operate without them.