TransLink's 'The Buzzer' publication celebrates 100th anniversary

Jun 3 2016, 5:42 am

The Buzzer, TransLink’s free publication found on all transit vehicles in Metro Vancouver, has come a long way since June 2, 1916!

In fact, the first official publication didn’t even have a name! It was the riders of the trams and streetcars that named our dear Buzzer.

In the beginning, the Buzzer was on area jitneys – competition for public transit ran by private individuals. It wasn’t until the GM of B.C. Electric who ran the transit thought that the Buzzer could keep people informed about service and entice riders to stick with the streetcar that the Buzzer became what we know it to be today.

The Buzzer is a mix of everything – an events pamphlet, a transit newsletter, a service bulletin, fun stories, interesting factoids, and more!

Over the years, the Buzzer has changed companies, themes, mastheads, editors and content but the focus is always the same: to deliver informative, fun and interesting transit and community related tidbits to the riders of the transit system.

Contest

To honour this momentous occasion, we want YOU, our biggest Buzzer supporters to share a #Selfie and/or your favourite Buzzer memory on your social (Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter) channels with the hashtag #BUZZER100.

Entrants are allowed one entry, per channel, per day for a chance to win a Monthly Pass loaded on your Compass Card!

Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. on June 10th, 2016 and we’ll randomly select a winner on June 14th, 2016. Make sure to check out the contest terms and conditions for all the details on the contest.

The Buzzer through the ages

We had so much material to work with for our special collectors edition, not everything could make it in the print Buzzer but lucky you! We’ve included some here:

1937 – street puzzle

Image: TransLink

Image: TransLink

1959 – Bob Banks

Image: TransLink

Image: TransLink

1959 – Bob Banks

Image: TransLink

Image: TransLink

1959 – Happy New Year

Image: TransLink

Image: TransLink

1964 – New bus colours

Image: TransLink

Image: TransLink

1978 – Mr. Buzzer

Image: TransLink

Image: TransLink

1979 – transit rescue

Image: TransLink

Image: TransLink

1981 – bus drawing

Image: TransLink

Image: TransLink

1986 – Expo ’86

Image: TransLink

Image: TransLink

1992 – Scott Road bike lockers

Image: TransLink

Image: TransLink

1992 – new bus radios

Image: TransLink

Image: TransLink

1994 – illustration

the buzzer 13

Image: TransLink

 

The Buzzer by TransLinkThe Buzzer by TransLink

+ History
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