Calgary man sentenced to 4 years for brutal transit operator attack
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
News
Named sources
Outcome reported
- A Calgary man received a four-year sentence for his role in a brutal 2025 attack on a transit operator.
- The victim, 66-year-old Amarjit Grewal, was attacked by two younger men, one of whom had a history of violence.
- The attack highlights the dangers faced by transit operators, with union leaders and city officials advocating for increased safety measures.
A Calgary man with a "horrific record for violence" has been sentenced to four years in prison for his part in a brutal 2025 attack on a Calgary Transit operator. Curtis Baker-Spence, 21, received the sentence on Friday, while his brother awaits sentencing in August.
The city of Calgary runs on transit. If Calgary were a body, transit would be the circulatory system.
The victim, 66-year-old Amarjit Grewal, was attacked by Baker-Spence and his brother, Darryl Flett, who were 20 and 22 at the time. The Crown prosecutor, Greg Piper, emphasized the inequality of the assault, noting the attackers were young and armed, while Grewal was a senior citizen working alone and unarmed.
Piper told the court that the case demonstrates the danger transit operators face, comparing Calgary's transit system to the "circulatory system" of the city. The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 583 held a rally at city hall to support Grewal and draw attention to the risks transit workers face nationwide. "The Criminal Code states that there is an aggravating factor when a transit driver is attacked during the course of their work," said ATU Local 583 president Mike Mahar.
The Criminal Code states that there is an aggravating factor, when a transit driver is attacked during the course of their work.
Mahar also highlighted the impact on the transit industry, noting that Calgary Transit is struggling to hire 800 operators. Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas and eight city councillors attended the rally, wearing shirts that read "assault a transit operator, go to jail." Coun. Raj Dhaliwal stated that while the city council has increased the transit budget for safety enhancements, further operational procedure reviews, especially for after-dark shifts, are necessary.
The impact is brutal on them as individuals. Nobody sees or I think recognizes the impact on the industry. Right now Calgary Transit is trying to hire 800 operators, that’s a significant number and we are struggling.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Global News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
