While many people have hunkered down in response to COVID-19, we see the faces – and hear the stories – of workers who keep moving for the sake of us all.

Those jobs are varied, and can include professionals dealing with the elderly, as well as workers who keep the supply-chain unbroken.

But it’s first-responders in Ontario – medical experts, fire fighters and police officers – who arguably carry a special weight in keeping society intact.

They are among the GO Transit customers who still occupy a regular seat on our vehicles.

Toronto Police Sergeant Chris McCann is one of those people.

Sgt. McCann has been a Toronto police officer since 1997, and been consistently taking the same early Lakeshore West train for five years. Officer McCann says despite the uncertain times, and people keeping their distance, the mood on the train is far from isolating.

“I haven’t had one problem taking the train in,” says McCann. “Everyone looks at each other and smiles, without saying a word everyone knows we are going through the same thing.”

According to the veteran police officer, humans remain creatures of habit – even in a pandemic. McCann says he rides in the same car every day and while numbers have dwindled, there is still a sense of normalcy.

“For the last two weeks, about four or five of us get on same car and everyone sits in the exact same spot every day,” says McCann.  “Once we arrive at Union, everyone smiles and nods and gets on with their day.”

Officer McCann notes the new safety measures put in place by GO Transit to protect riders and staff have been very effective. He says despite a reduction in service, people can still spread out, and thanks to announcements by GO’s Customer Service Ambassadors, train riders are making sure they don’t crowd the doors.

For his part, McCann says he appreciates the work being done by all of GO’s front line staff – including GO’s Customer Service Ambassadors and Transit Safety Officers.

“People forget that transit workers are still out there, putting their health at risk as well, but they keep doing their jobs every day in a very professional way,” he says.

For people that have switched their daily commute to the couch or home office, it’s easy to forget the daily challenges faced by essential workers. In especially turbulent times, their work becomes even more difficult – but hopefully a smooth commute can add some much needed calm to their unusual day.

Do you, or someone you know, have a story of why you still count on GO Transit to move you? If so, we’d like to hear it, go here to connect via social media, or simply send us an email at news@metrolinx.com.