OC Transpo driver brings Christmas cheer to Ottawa bus riders

If you get on an OC Transpo bus this holiday season, you could be greeted by a bushy white beard and a "ho ho ho."

Driver Pierre Morin has been dressing up as Santa and decoratinghis bus for Christmas for the past two years, but says he's always in character.

Upon boarding his bus, passengers aremet with a rainbow of decorations, lights and even a miniature Christmas tree.

Morin, an Ottawa bus driver for 22 years whocurrently drives route 97 from Bayshore to the Ottawa airport, says he goes to all the effort just to see people smile.

"I like to give an enjoyable and safe ride to people, and this is a way to do it." Morinsaid.

When passengersblock the aisle, Morinpolitely asks them to move to the backif theywant to stayon hisnice list.

He gets onto thebus15 minutes before his shift starts so he can hang the lights. Because he drives a different vehicle everyday, he has to set up and take down everything for each workday.

Despite that work,Morin says it's all worth it when he sees people's eyes light up as they're met with a jolly laugh from ol' St. Nick.

Last year, Morin said, a rider confided that her husband had died around Christmas and seeing the holidaybus helped cheer her up.

"A smile is cheap and priceless." he said.

'Has kept safety paramount'

OC Transpo hasn't always felt merry whendrivers show a little creativity: in 2011 they silenced singing bus driver Yves Roy after receiving complaints from some of his passengers.

However, OC Transpo director of transit operationsTroy Charter said in an email Friday that Morin is "an experienced operator" who "in expressing the holiday spirit [has] kept safety paramount."

"The decorations are minimal and are located outside the operator's field of view," Charter wrote.