Over the past year, you may have noticed some friendly new faces at select GO train and bus stations across our network.  

 Our Station Safety Ambassadors (SSA) are the frontline team that Metrolinx entrusts to help keep customers and communities feeling safe, offering visible customer service in our stations and on our property. Metrolinx SSAs are responsible for detecting and deterring disorder at stations, and protecting the safety and security of customers and employees in station parking lots, platforms and buildings. 

Ani W., who was one of the first ambassadors hired, studied Police Foundations and completed a diploma in Community and Justice Services at Centennial College before joining Metrolinx.  

"I came across the SSA program and felt that it would be my chance to connect with others, share my story, and hopefully make an impact on someone," says Ani, who was once under-housed herself when she first arrived in Canada. 

“At a very young age, I set out for an adventure to find my place in this world,” says Ani, who is from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. “My journey was a bit more challenging than anticipated, because I did experience homelessness for a few years …but I was not going to let that be the death of me – I am now a mom of four beautiful children who motivate me to keep fighting every day.” 

For the past year, Ani has been part of Metrolinx’s inaugural cohort of Station Safety Ambassadors, working at three different GO stations so far. 

On a typical day, Ani’s work involves a combination of proactive safety measures and responsive action. Working with a partner, she ensures that the station is safe and clean, assists and communicates with passengers, and links vulnerable individuals to available social supports as needed.  

“We do patrolling. We're like the eyes of the station,” Ani explains. "We are provincial offences officers, so we can issue tickets as well, but our primary focus is customer service and assisting vulnerable populations." 

With her friendly demeanour and optimistic outlook on life, Ani has made a positive impression on customers and colleagues in the stations. “My partner and I love to talk to everyone while walking on the platform," says Ani. "We would meet the trains, chat with the Customer Service Ambassadors and customers. It is our pride and joy to hang out with customers, and we are always willing to help.” 

Ani built relationships with the customers she helped, and riders even noticed when she switched stations. “I heard from customers that they were saddened by my departure,” Ani said. “They were delighted to converse with us and mentioned that we made them feel secure.” 

Most meaningfully, Ani has also been able to connect with and assist vulnerable and underhoused individuals through her frontline work, from simply listening to their stories to proactively helping them connect to community resources such as meals and shelter.  

“From where I came from, I feel like this is where I was supposed to be,” says Ani. “I think the SSA program is amazing, and it's given me the opportunity to give back.”