RELEASE: Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario (STSCO) announces new CAO
Roy Wierenga brings 35 years of experience to top role of local transportation consortium
April 25, 2023
Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario (STSCO) is pleased to welcome Roy Wierenga and his 35 years of student transportation experience to the position of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), beginning May 8, 2023.
STSCO is responsible for planning school bus routes for Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir schools.
In his new role, Wierenga will be responsible for the delivery of quality transportation service for eligible students and will work to fulfill the transportation consortium’s primary mission: safe, effective and efficient student transportation that fully supports student success and achievement.
“I have always felt so fortunate and blessed to be able to work in a profession that
supports students and education,” Wierenga said. “When we do our jobs well in transportation, and students arrive safely and on time at school, this has such a positive impact on student success.”
The new position is a return home for Wierenga, who began his career working in Peterborough for Trentway-Wagar Bus Lines and then as Manager of Transportation for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. Wierenga was involved in the establishment of STSCO in 2005 before accepting a position with the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) as General Manager.
During the past 10 years, Wierenga has been employed with Student Transportation of Peel Region (STOPR), where he worked closely with industry and government committees that examined changes for improving student transportation, not only in Peel Region, but all across Ontario. One of these key changes involved the introduction of the new amber warning light system for school buses that came into effect across Ontario this past year.
He is an instrumental part of the Ontario Association of School Business Officials
(OASBO) and currently serves on its provincial Safety Committee, Communications and Advocacy Committee and Electric School Bus Working Group. In 2019, Wierenga was appointed by OASBO to the Canadian Standards Association’s (CSA) School Bus Technical Committee (D250). This is a national committee that examines school bus safety and compliance and sets manufacturing standards for school buses that operate in Canada.
“I am thrilled that my journey in student transportation has now brought me back home to Peterborough where my career started many years ago,” Wierenga said. “I look forward to working with the team at STSCO, our member school boards and bus operators, to find solutions that will ensure a safe and sustainable transportation network for our students and school communities going into the future.”
Wierenga will replace long-serving CAO Joel Sloggett, who will be retiring from STSCO after 18 years.