First Student Canada

First Student Canada is a major contractor of school bus services and public transit systems. A subsidiary of FirstGroup, the company provides services in Canada comparable to those delivered by sister companies First Transit and First Student in the United States. The component parts of the operation consist of the former Laidlaw services and subsequent new acquisitions by First Canada.
Operating subsidiaries.
Laidlaw.
Laidlaw Transit Ltd., is a Canadian registered subsidiary which operates former Laidlaw school transportation services throughout Southern Ontario.
Farwest Group.
The Farwest Group of companies provides transportation services in various communities in British Columbia. These companies were acquired by First Canada in 2004 and are contracted to operate public transit services for BC Transit in Chilliwack, Kamloops, Kelowna Region and the Central Fraser Valley.
Cardinal.
Several companies branded as "Cardinal" operated school buses in different locations across Canada. In 2005, Firstbus Canada acquired 471136 B.C. Limited and Cardinal Transportation B.C. Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia and Cardinal Coach Lines Limited and Focus Capital Inc., Calgary, Alberta and Cardinal Coach Lines (Ont.) Ltd., North York, Ontario.
King Transportation.
King Transportation Ltd., is a Winnipeg based company that provides school bus transportation, special education transportation services, charter and maintenance services. The company was acquired by FirstBus Canada in 2008.
2014 Calgary controversy.
In February 2014, the company was subject to criticism after it fired Kendra Lindon, a school bus driver after she used her own vehicle to pick up children from her route after her bus failed to start. Due to the extremely low temperature (-26 degrees Celsius), and due to the failure of her dispatch to send replacement buses on the previous day, Lindon decided that "it wouldn’t be right" to leave children out in the cold and feared they might suffer frostbite, since many were not properly dressed for such cold weather. Upon learning of Lindon's actions, the company immediately terminated her employment, on the grounds that it was "against company policy to pick up children in a personal vehicle." Lindon defended her decision, stating that "I was not acting as a bus driver at that point, but as a concerned parent...I saw these kids I’ve known since they were five. I was acting as a parent and a concerned neighbour and friend. I couldn’t just drive past them and leave them to freeze."
When contacted by Licia Corbella of Postmedia News, the assistant location and safety manager, Mike Stiles, declined to comment and referred her to the First Student's Cincinnati headquarters, which did not return any calls for inquiry. Three lawyers, who have offered to represent Ms. Lindon pro bono, have suggested that she may have a case against First Student for wrongful dismissal.
School services.
First Student Canada is a major school bus operator mainly in the Greater Toronto Area, Southern Ontario and Alberta.
Clients.
School boards served by First Student Canada include:
Public Transit.
First Student Canada is contracted to provide public transit services for many small communities across the country.