This 71-year-old in Goderich, Ont., is heading back to school this fall, as a new bus driver

He's served in the Navy, repaired TV's and worked at a casino, but Patrick Sutherland is taking on a new role: driving the school bus. 

"I was feeling isolated," said 71-year-old Sutherland, who lives in Goderich, Ont., north of London. He cared for his wife, Janie, for five years, until her death last summer. After months of solo daily walks with his dog, he thought, "I gotta do something useful." 

Sutherland read about the recent bus driver shortage in a local paper. 

"I love kids, I have three grandkids. They ride the bus. I thought, 'Well geez, that would be fun. Maybe I might even get to drive them some day.'"

He was also drawn to the idea of being a part of people's routine. 

"I'd be part of a little community, and get to know the kids and their parents. I'd see the town every day, like a mailman who walks the neighbourhood," he imagined. 

With ex-Navy precision, he's been working through the list of credentials needed for the job. It began with driver's training.

"I was scared to death," he said, adding that he'd never been on a school bus before because he walked to school as a kid. "It's so big. When you back it up to turn it around, it's scary as heck," he said, describing the training as, "a lot to learn."

"I did become a better driver," he said.

After passing all his tests, he bought a steak to celebrate. 

Sutherland is planning to head back to school this fall as a spare driver, saying it's likely his grandchildren's route is taken by a permanent staff member. As an occasional driver, he's hoping for the day he's called to pick them up. 

"Someday that person's gonna take a day off," he said, calling himself the rookie. 

Whichever route he winds up driving, Sutherland says he's excited for the school year ahead. 

"I love kids, so I don't think there's going to be an issue," he said. "Nothing's gonna he surprise me," he said. "I'm looking forward to it."

Amid province-wide shortage, London region needs 120 school bus drivers

 In September 2020, the province was short about 2, 000 drivers and several London-area routes were cancelled. 

It's too soon to know if we'll see another shortage of bus drivers this fall, School Bus Ontario said in an email. The non-profit organization advocates for various school bus operators. 

"There are so many variables at play: local economic conditions; whether those who've driven in the past want to return to work; and even the route that they are given makes a difference," Executive Director Nancy Daigneault wrote in an email.