Good Citizen Savona

For many years, 55-year-old Sam Savona has been a familiar face at the TTC Board meetings at Toronto City Hall. Savona is a member of the Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit (ACAT) and has also served two terms as ACAT Chair.

In October, Savona was awarded one of the highest honours bestowed by the Province of Ontario – the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship. The award was presented to Savona by The Honourable David Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. The Good Citizenship Medal recognizes individuals who, through exceptional long-term efforts, have made outstanding contributions to their community.

In presenting the award, the province states that Savona is a powerful advocate in the area of transit services for people with disabilities. As a member of ACAT, he diligently helped to improve Wheel-Trans services, and was instrumental in persuading the former Metro Council to install elevators in subway stations.

“When Savona provides comments and advice on how to modify the TTC system to better meet the needs of people with disabilities, he brings to the table a lifetime of experience, learning and adaptation, which is incredibly valuable to our work,” said Mitch Stambler, Head of Strategy and Service Planning. “Sam’s commitment to making transportation available – a basic right – for everyone, is evident in his relentless work on this matter and his ongoing and unwavering availability to help out in any way possible.”

ACAT consists of 15 members who advise the TTC on difficulties faced by people with disabilities and seniors, and recommends the elimination of barriers to accessible public transit in Toronto.