The first woman to serve as president and CEO of BC Transit is hailed as a “titan” of business by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.
Erinn Pinkerton, who oversees public transit across 130 communities in the province, is the recipient of the business organization’s 2024 Award of Distinction.
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The award honours a businessperson still active in business who, over a number of years, has made a noteworthy contribution to the Greater Victoria community. This award is in recognition of the positive influence the honouree has had on the economy, business, and the overall community, signifying the achievement, resourcefulness, and determination they have shown. An independent panel of business leaders served as judges.
“Erinn is a titan in Greater Victoria’s business community, highly respected in communities across B.C. and across the continent for the innovation she has led,” chamber CEO Bruce Williams said in a news release. “It’s always difficult for the award judges to choose one person among the many worthy candidates each year, but Erinn’s success speaks for itself.”
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The agency has an annual operating budget of more than $420 million, employs a fleet of roughly 1,200 vehicles, and has more than 1,100 employees and 1,700 contracted employees.
The chamber calls Pinkerton a visionary leader who is modernizing public transit through innovation and technology. This includes goals of transitioning the BC Transit fleet to zero emission vehicles by 2040 and introducing electronic fare payments across the province by the end of 2024.
“I’m honoured to receive this award from the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, and I share this recognition with everyone at BC Transit,” Pinkerton said. “This award is a meaningful affirmation of our shared commitment to providing safe and reliable service to our customers. I accept it with gratitude, knowing that every member of our team has played a crucial role in achieving this success.”
The award will be officially celebrated at the 2024 Greater Victoria Business Awards held in May at the Victoria Conference Centre. Nominations for the awards are open until Jan. 18 and available online at victoriacc.awardify.io/nomination-form.
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