Room: International AB
Sponsor(s)
Session Description
Telling Transit’s Story – Creating Allies
Stream: Leadership Stream
Introductory Speaker: Keegan Tully – PowerOnEnergy
Moderator: Doug Spooner – Grand River Transit
1. Building Collaborative Transit Leadership: GRT Approach
Speaker:
Doug Spooner – Grand River Transit
Randy Helmer – Coast Mountain Bus Company
Joseph Reid – The City of Belleville
Councillor Chantal Huinink – Region of Waterloo
Transit systems function best when transit leaders and elected officials work together. This presentation highlights how Grand River Transit (GRT) in the Region of Waterloo has built an effective, collaborative relationship with Regional Council that strengthens strategic planning, improves accountability, and supports continuous improvement. Participants will learn practical strategies including:
– Education Sessions
Engaging council early in the term to share transit operations, finances, fare programs, and overall service strategy, while welcoming questions and feedback to gain initial alignment.
– Business Plan
Using council as a “community sounding board” to complement resident and business engagement, helping leaders gauge community priorities.
– “In the Room” – Council Sessions
Turning potentially combative discussions into continuous improvement opportunities through KPI setting, project updates, and system-wide planning.
– Creative Engagement
Thinking beyond formal channels, such as MobilityPLUS Day, an annual event where councillors, customers, operators, dispatchers, and leaders gather to focus on accessibility services and MobilityPLUS programs.
Attendees will learn practical strategies for building similar partnerships, enabling transit agencies and elected officials to work as one team to deliver better outcomes for riders and the community.
Speaker(s) / Presenter(s)
Doug Spooner – Director, Transit Services, Grand River Transit (GRT)
Bio:
Doug joined the Region of Waterloo in 2023 as Director of Transit Services, following stops at Metrolinx, the Invictus 2017 Games, the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, and his own consulting firm. Doug’s experience spans a variety of transportation fields including system/space design and operation, network design, procurement, policy development and stakeholder integration. From 2024-2026, Doug became the Acting Commissioner for Transportation Services and recently returned to his role as the Director of Transit Services. His role sees him working alongside a fantastic team to deliver a variety of Regional services including transit, multi-modal travel, and roads.
Randy Helmer – Vice President Maintenance, Coast Mountain Bus Company
Bio:
A senior executive with a proven history in change management, strategic planning, and employee development in public transportation, municipal government, healthcare and energy fields. With exceptional interpersonal, communications and leadership skills, corporate targets and objectives are achieved on time, and on budget through collaboration with councils, employees, and external stakeholders.
Bio:
As a leader in Public Administration, Joseph truly believes an optimal customer service experience should be at the forefront of Public Service and he strives to achieve a positive experience every time he can for the betterment of our community.
Joseph strongly believes in building high trust relationships and having empathy is at the heart of great communities.
Councillor Chantal Huinink – Region of Waterloo
Bio:
Chantal was born with a physical disability in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She and her mom moved to Ontario when she was an infant, so they could be closer to extended family. She is grateful to her grandparents who immigrated from Holland following World War II. They instilled in her a hard work ethic, the value of determination, and a sense of faith.
Raised in Guelph, Chantal’s mom taught her to be a self-advocate and make a positive difference for everyone in her community. She encouraged her to pursue post-secondary education and instilled in her the importance of giving back. Chantal earned her BA in Psychology at the University of Guelph while serving on the board of the Legal Clinic of Guelph and Wellington County and volunteering as a student mentor.
Chantal moved to Waterloo Region more than 10 years ago for graduate studies at Wilfrid Laurier University where she earned a Masters of Divinity and a Masters of Social Work. Over the course of her studies, she worked with the Accessible Learning Center, Christian Horizons, and KidsAbility.
