Eddie Robar received the Edward J. Dowling Award for Distinguished Service at the 2023 CUTA Awards Ceremony.

Eddie embarked on his career at Halifax Transit as a scheduling coordinator, steadily climbing the ranks from supervisor to manager and, eventually, director of transit over a span of 15 years. After his tenure in Halifax, he took the reins at Edmonton Transit Service for five years before transitioning to lead the City’s fleet and facilities portfolio. Recently, he earned a promotion to the role of Deputy City Manager for City Operations. Throughout his career, Eddie has been a driving force behind transformative improvements in public transit for Canadians. His achievements include crafting strategic plans, regional transit strategies, network redesigns, transit policy enhancements, climate initiatives, and nurturing future leaders in transit. Notably, he served as a board member for CUTA, holds a board position with CUTRIC, and has been honoured with national awards, including recognition as a Top 40 Under 40 recipients by Mass Transit Magazine.
Currently, Eddie serves as Deputy City Manager in Edmonton, where he’s made a lasting impact on transit. He championed long-term strategic plans, initiated network redesigns, promoted eco-friendly fleet transitions, advocated for regional fare structures, and improved the rider experience.

Eddie has a strong record of securing multi-year funding for transformative changes. He led Edmonton’s largest public engagement initiative, with 40,000 residents contributing to a ten-year transit plan, including a comprehensive bus network redesign. His ability to blend strategy and operations, motivate teams, and earn respect as a senior leader is undeniable.

In Edmonton, Eddie introduced regional smart fare, Arc, and regional fare capping, pioneering these features in Canada. He oversaw the first network redesign in over two decades, implemented in 2021. Eddie also played a pivotal role in introducing 60 battery electric buses and establishing comprehensive in-depot long-range charging infrastructure. These accomplishments are just a glimpse of his 20 plus year career achievements.