Room: Mississauga
Sponsor(s)
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Session Description
(1)ZEB Committee Thermal Event Task Force Presentation:
The RoadMap to Electrification training presentation will address training concerns, provide recommendations, and discuss strategies to support organizations in their transition towards electrification. It will also include details on training aids, procurement procedures, risk evaluation strategies, and the scheduling of refresh training sessions. We aim to ensure that all participants are well-prepared and equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to excel in their respective roles.
(2) Dual Fuel Hydrogen Diesel Technology
(3) Maintenance Round Table
Speaker(s) / Presenter(s)
Omar Rasheed has been with Brampton Transit for 15 years, primarily in the maintenance department. After 11 years as a technician, Omar transitioned to the Maintenance Coordinator role in the Training and Safety Department in 2021 focusing on training, compliance, safety, and maintenance, conducting training sessions for new hires and specializing in High Voltage safety and battery management systems. Omar recently accepted a new position with Metrolinx as a Senior Training and Development Specialist, specifically focusing on Technical Training for Bus Fleet Maintenance.
Serving as the Management Co-Chair for Transit’s Joint Health and Safety Committee, Omar contributed to enhancing safety standards throughout the Department. Additionally, he is currently the lead of the CUTA ZEB Safety, Training, and Maintenance workstream. Working alongside transit practitioners from other organizations, Omar has helped strive to develop comprehensive training programs that are uniformly implemented within the maintenance department. Also, as Co-Chair for the CUTA ZEB Committee’s Thermal Events Task Force, Omar collaborates with external stakeholders on safety measures and recommend guidelines to Transit organizations. Recently, Omar has been working closely with the team at Centennial College with the integration of electric bus training to increase industry support to new apprentices entering the trade.
Mike Macas has worked at the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) for 15+ years and serves as the Chief Engineer of Vehicles. He oversees the engineering and performance of the TTC’s diverse vehicle fleet, ensuring safety, reliability, and efficiency in public transit operations. Mike has been instrumental in the TTC’s transition to low and zero-emission technologies, assessing and implementing battery-electric buses while addressing challenges such as cold weather performance. His leadership in this area underscores his commitment to sustainable transit solutions. Mike has held various positions at the TTC, including Senior Manager of Vehicle Engineering and Manager of Vehicle Reliability & Quality Assurance. Prior to the TTC, Mike spent almost 10 years working for a major automotive OEM as Product Engineering specializing in the design, testing and manufacturing of chassis systems.