Commission in 1979 because he wanted to remain in the city and raise his family. He was hired as an assistant to general manager Lewis McMullen but was appointed to the general manager's post when he retired a year later. The transit commission had 16 buses when he joined but the fleet has been reduced to 12 over the years. "My 22 years have been really challenging," he said. "Funding was reduced by the government and expenses were brought into line to operate the system as a business that provided affordable transportation to Belleville citizens." The transit commission, as such, was terminated in 1995 and made into a department of the city of Belleville. His job title was changed to manager of transit and the corporate fleet. Despite all the changes, Ladoucier said he's proud of the local transit system. "We have been able to maintain an excellent service for the citizens of Belleville while coping with reduced funding from the government...we have been able to maintain a high level of efficiency and we are recognized within the top five efficient transit systems with populations of 100,000 or less in Canada," he said. In retirement, Ladoucier will still be easily spotted travelling Belleville streets behind the wheel of his fully-restored 1967 army Jeep, complete with air force insignia. "It's really a poor man's convertible," he quipped. i PHOTO-CROMBIE McNEiu Robert Ladoucier -3 r - t , MCI P