A Calgary man convicted in the violent attack of a Calgary Transit bus operator has been sentenced to four years in custody, as members of the transit union continue to push for stronger protections for workers behind the wheel. Curtis Baker Spence, 21, received the sentence Friday after pleading guilty to robbery and breaching a release condition stemming from the May 2025 attack on 67-year-old transit operator Amarjit Grewal. Baker Spence will receive credit for the 13 months he has already spent in custody. With enhanced credit for time served, that amounts to about 20 months, leaving him with roughly 28 months remaining. He is expected to be released in October 2028. The sentence includes a 10-year weapons prohibition, a lifetime ban from possessing prohibited firearms, weapons, devices and ammunition, as well as a restitution order of $32,000 to be paid between Baker Spence and co-accused Darryl Flett. Attack left transit operator seriously injured The case stems from an early morning attack on May 14, 2025, near Falconridge and Castleridge boulevards in northeast Calgary. Court heard Baker Spence and Flett boarded Grewal’s bus around 1 a.m. and asked to be taken to a different location. After Grewal explained they were on the wrong route and provided directions, the pair left the bus. According to agreed facts and a us surveillance video presented in court, Grewal heard a loud noise as he attempted to drive away and exited the driver’s area to investigate. Court heard Baker Spence used a collapsible baton during the assault outside the bus and forcibly took Grewal’s cellphone, while Flett joined the attack using an edged weapon. Grewal suffered serious injuries and has remained off work for more than a year. Crown argued for longer sentence Crown prosecutor Greg Piper had asked for a sentence of four-and-a-half years, arguing the attack was unprovoked, involved weapons and targeted a vulnerable public worker. Piper said transit operators face unique risks because of the nature of their jobs. “Calgarians rely on transit operators to get around to do all the things that they need to do in their lives, take care of their business, and transit operators work alone early in the morning or late at night,” Piper said. “They deal with all members of the public in all different states, and they are entitled to protection from the law.” Piper also highlighted that Grewal was 67 years old at the time of the attack and was working alone. “He was alone and senior, and particularly vulnerable,” The Crown argued the court should consider the impact of the violence, including the fact Grewal suffered lasting injuries and has not returned to work. Piper said the city’s transit system plays a critical role in Calgary. “The transit system is the circulatory system of the city, gets people to where they need to go to do the things that they need,” he said. Defence points to Baker Spence’s background The defence asked for a shorter sentence of three-and-a-half years, pointing to Baker Spence’s age, guilty plea and difficult upbringing. The defence argued Baker Spence grew up surrounded by instability, violence and homelessness, while also dealing with mental health challenges. The court heard those circumstances did not excuse his actions, but the defence argued they were important factors in determining a fair sentence. The judge ultimately ruled Baker Spence would serve four years, saying the offence involved several aggravating factors, including the extreme violence, use of weapons, and the fact the victim was a transit operator carrying out his duties. Union pushes for transit worker protections Before the sentencing hearing, members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 583 held a rally outside Calgary’s Municipal Complex calling on the court to consider Section 269.01 of the Criminal Code. The section requires courts to treat assaults or threats against public transit operators and transit workers as an aggravating circumstance during sentencing. ATU Local 583 president Mike Mahar said the union wanted to ensure the provision was considered. “The criminal code states that, the courts must take it into consideration as an aggravating factor if a transit operator is assaulted during the commission of their work,” Mahar said. “And so we want to make sure it’s looked at in this case and in all cases.” The judge noted Section 269.01 is specifically tied to aggravated assault offences. Because Baker Spence pleaded guilty to robbery, the judge said it did not apply in the traditional way, but the circumstances involving the transit operator could still be considered when deciding the sentence. Mahar said the case highlights the risks transit workers face while doing their jobs. “The impact is huge on the industry right now, Calgary Transit is trying to hire 800 transit operators,” Mahar said. “And they count. It’s a good paying job. It’s a relatively clean job. If it wasn’t for some of these things because you’re at risk every time you go to work and you’re working alone, you’re working in isolation,” Mahar said. Mahar said Grewal remains motivated to return to his job. “We’ll get him back on the job, hopefully as a transit operator.” Mayor and councillors call for safety changes Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas attended the rally and spoke in support of transit workers. “If you assault a transit operator, you need to go to jail,” Farkas said. “If you assault anybody who is working at the city, you need to go to jail.” Farkas said the city has a responsibility to continue improving safety measures for employees. “We need to continue advance everything that we can do internally to be able to address some of the internal policies, other communications and enforcement,” he said. Calgary city council has already approved a $15-million capital investment to retrofit city buses with enhanced assault barriers and protective shields for drivers. The funding was fast-tracked following a series of violent and high-profile attacks involving transit operators, with the city saying the upgrades are focused on improving protection around the driver’s workstation. The safety initiative includes installing stronger, full-coverage barriers on buses, adding signage outlining passenger conduct expectations, and requiring ongoing reviews of transit safety training and annual safety reports to council. Farkas said the issue extends beyond transit operations. “It’s actually an employment proposition,” Farkas said. “You’re not safe on transit if you’re the operator and you are subjected not just to potentially physical violence, but other verbal assaults and other impacts to your own mental health as well as psychological safety.” Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal said the city needs to continue looking at prevention, enforcement and education. “This council stands behind them, and we will always keep working to make sure their safety is above all else,” Dhaliwal said. Dhaliwal said the attack has sparked a broader conversation about protecting transit operators. “These are great people who are serving the citizens every day,” he said. He said more resources are needed, including increased enforcement on buses. “Safety shield is just a start,” Dhaliwal said. “But we need to be getting more officers, education, and working with school authorities, working with other employers.” The sentencing for Darryl Flett, who pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and breaching release conditions, is scheduled for Aug. 21, 2026.
