Bus driver's 2017 murder still haunts Winnipeg operators despite upgraded safety measures

Five years after a bus driver was stabbed to death on the job, some operators say they still fear getting seriously hurt or killed at work.

"Sometimes you can have all hell break loose," said one bus driver whom CBC is calling Brian. With more than five years on the job, Brian doesn't want his real name used for fear of being reprimanded.

"You can have people that are intoxicated or they're on drugs or can be violent in general, so you're always on edge. Even though you may have nice people, you're always like 'what's going to happen?'"

Monday marks five years since Irvine Jubal Fraser asked a passenger to get off the bus at the end of his line near the University of Manitoba. He and the passenger got into a fight on Feb. 14, 2017. Fraser died from multiple stab wounds. The offender, Brian Kyle Thomas, was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 12 years in prison before he can apply for parole.

CBC News spoke with Winnipeg transit drivers who said they still fear getting hurt or dying at work. Brian, who drives night shifts, said COVID-19 has only made things worse.

"You're dealing with people that are under the influence of some substance, and you have to engage with them differently. You have to play mental ball," he said. "It wasn't something that you were having to call 911 about almost every single day until COVID."

The drivers worry when their route takes them outside of the downtown area. If they need help, they alert the transit control centre. Staff there determine who comes to help — transit supervisors or first responders.

Brian detailed an incident last year when two people he believed were drunk became aggressive at a layover stop.

"I couldn't get any service, so I wasn't able to call control. I couldn't leave my seat because I was worried that I could get assaulted, so I had to play it cool," he recalled.

Brian said he kept driving, and when he finally made contact he was told to continue driving and "watch for a supervisor."

"It seems we don't have the staff for our own safety," he said.

Brian said he hopes governments can do more to help people experiencing poverty, addictions or homelessness, since he said those are the root causes of issues he's facing. To deal with his own stress, he's sought out counselling.

"There's some days where I just go home and cry," Brian said. "You're just mentally fatigued.

"When I talk to family members, they're always shocked. They tell me if you want, you should quit. But of course you can't quit because you have bills to pay."