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Bus driver turns in his keys

78991langleyTexBergman
Tex Bergman said his goodbyes to the staff at HandyDART on March 18,which was also his 75th birthday.

After driving his HandyDART bus for 16 years, Tex Bergman has said goodbye to the company and to his clients, to retire to the next stage in his life. Two months ago, he celebrated his 75th birthday and marked the beginning of his retirement.

Bergman has had a long career as a driver, starting at Simpsons-Sears, where he made deliveries for their mail order department for 21 years.

When the company changed its mail order service, Bergman and his wife Nola started a floral courier service, delivering flowers throughout the Lower Mainland. They ran the business together for six years. When a period of 11 months led to the deaths of eight of Bergman’s former colleagues, he made a change.

Bergman recalls telling his wife, “you’ve got to look over your shoulder, as you might be next.”

This notion persuaded Bergman to sell his business, and house and use the money to buy a motor home. He and his wife then began a trip through Canada and the United States. After a year of driving, they returned to Langley, where, in May 1995, Bergman decided he would take a job driving for HandyDART.

He enjoyed his work with HandyDART, and the contact that he had with all of his clients. With a smile on his face he would take the time to talk to his passengers, because sometimes the trip on the HandyDART was their only communication for the day.

“My best memories were working with the challenged.

“I really enjoyed the work with HandyDART,” he said.

In his 16 years of driving the bus, he kept a perfect driving record, by being mindful of his clients and always planning ahead. Not calling himself perfect, Bergman admitted to practising what he preaches, by always driving safely.

He also kept work interesting by enjoying the flexible work hours and by changing his driving territories every few months.

“Keep your cool, enjoy your work,” Bergman advises up-and-coming drivers.

“Be patient and remember that you are dealing with very challenging situations at times.”

His patience and good sense of humour paid off as he remembers the challenge of transporting 60 clients in wheelchairs and 140 ambulatory care users.

His chief concern was always his customers, even as MVT Canadian Bus came into the picture and made changes to the company.

A former colleague at HandyDART, Roy Fleur said: “Tex is a great guy — had the opportunity to work with him. What a guy — so helpful, always smiling. All of the clients knew him and still ask about him.”

Now that he has finished his career with the company, his retirement will be well spent.

He has no long-term plans to slow his life down.

Bergman has just returned from a 12-day vacation to the Bahamas.

“I’m not much for TV or reading, I like being outside and doing volunteering,” he said.

He also plans to do volunteer work at the Langley Critter Care wild animal shelter, where he will fit right in.