More than 40 students from Collège catholique Samuel-Genest found themselves stranded in a parking lot near St. Laurent Shopping Centre in east Ottawa on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred as the group headed home to the Vanier neighbourhood after school.
Details of the Incident
The school bus driver returned to the depot on Coventry Road, parked the vehicle, and left the students aboard around 2:45 p.m. A student or parent promptly contacted Ottawa police to report the situation.
Patrick Pharand, director of the Consortium de transport scolaire d’Ottawa (CTSO), confirmed that approximately 40 students were on the bus at the time. The company’s regional manager arrived at the scene along with a CTSO staff member to ensure the students’ safety.
“The students remained safe throughout the incident,” Pharand stated in a communication to parents.
Response and Resolution
CTSO staff reached out to parents immediately, and a replacement driver took over to transport the remaining students to their designated stops. Several parents also arrived to collect their children directly from the location.
Pharand emphasized that the driver involved will no longer operate a school bus for the consortium.
School and Ongoing Investigation
Collège catholique Samuel-Genest serves students in grades 7 through 12 and falls under the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, Ottawa’s French Catholic school board.
The Ottawa Police Service continues to investigate the matter to determine further details and any potential charges.
