This week photographer Sarah Blais finally got a chance to meet with some streetcar drivers working for the TTC, and got the low down on how their uniforms work.
The first gentleman was Vincenzo Caputo, who has been with the TTC for nine months. Since he’s new, he doesn’t have a regular route — but his favorite so far has been Harbourfront and King because “that’s where all the action is happening.” For all of the TTC workers there is a specific uniform consisting of grey trousers, long and short sleeved dress shirts, and ties. They also have a winter parka, a spring jacket, and a navy blazer to rock on top. For the summer they have golf shirts, which are Vince’s favorite part of the uniform.
On his days off Vince shops at Mexx or Abercrombie & Fitch, but prefers comfier pieces for his wardrobe like sweatpants and tees. For lunch he had homemade thin crust pizza with prosciutto, cheese, and hot peppers (no arugula).
Jamaican-born Ronald Shakespeare (yes, Shakespeare!) has been with the TTC for six years. His favorite part of the uniform is also the golf shirts in the summer time. When he isn’t at work he shops at the Bay and Old Navy. Apparently his wife is quite trendy, so he likes to keep things fashionable too. The glasses he has on are Giorgio Armani, and his watch is Orient (purchased in England).
Ronald drives the Dundas route in the morning, and College-Carlton in the afternoon. One time a few years ago when a Jamaican won the 100-meter race, a man noticed that Ronald was Jamaican and was blasting Bob Marley in a car alongside him. At the stoplight he turned it up while Ronald and him just enjoyed the music. Right now Ronald is listening to a lot of Beres Hammond.
Glen Santacona has been with the TTC for three years. He commutes from Brooklin, Ontario everyday where he has a beautiful wife and two kids. Glenn’s son Brett is a talented guitarist/keyboard player/singer in an up and coming band called Dog Tagz (and he’s only 14!).
For his uniform, Glenn prefers the golf shirts, because he says the streetcars get kind of hot in the summer, but is happy to wear whatever is required. Outside of work he shops around Whitby at places like Zellers and Mark’s Work Warehouse. One time Glenn had a woman show him her Metropass and say, “whatever you do — don’t let my sister on.” The weird part was, there was nobody getting on with her… Just another day driving the TTC.
Previously in the Uniform Project: florists. Follow Sarah Blais on Twitter: @sarahblais_.
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