Hauke Andresen has driven many roads in his life, but now he can sit back and be a passenger.
The New Westminster resident has recently retired from driving for Coast Mountain after 19 years of transporting riders to where they need to go.
"I used to be a driving instructor before that and instructing really doesn't pay a lot," he told Glacier Media.
"This was way more secure and had a pension attached to it. And since I was planning for my retirement, this was a go-to thing."
Andresen's career has taken him on many different routes.
He did an apprenticeship with a bank in Germany, as an investment advisor, for five years.
Andresen then immigrated to Canada and became a stock broker. He then went to New York City, working on Wall Street for roughly seven years as the CEO of a German bank affiliate.
He returned to Canada and started a mining corporation and worked for stock brokers again.
"Business went 'boom' and I had to find something else to do," he recalled. "I took up driving instructing. I always liked to teach."
"Then after that, it was driving the bus around."
Andresen said he has enjoyed his time bus driving. He's always been a people person.
"I like to do four things every day: I like to serve my community. I like to perform one act of kindness. I do something for myself, one thing and I try to make somebody laugh or smile, and those fit my whole parameters of what I wanted to do every day."
Andresen said he basically drove every single route in the Coast Mountain/TransLink system, except for Port Coquitlam.
"You name it, I've done it. I've done it all."
@katrinaaandresen My dad retired today! I’m so proud of him for his commitment to the work he’s done for not only these last 19 years with cmbc, but also my whole life. He has been such a great role model for hard work and I think he raised both my brother and I to be passionate about the ways we contribute in our communities. I’m especially the way he loved making people smile on his bus every day. Happy retirement, I love you dad. 🫶😭💕🚌🚏#vancouver #newwest #busdriver #retirement #dadsretirement ♬ original sound - katrina 💌
His daughter, Katrina, wanted to give her dad a special gift for the milestone, which actually ended up turning him into somewhat of a viral celebrity online.
"When my dad first started driving a bus, I remember I hadn't even really been on a bus yet. I was too young."
During her dad's last trip on Jan. 27, 2025, Katrina decided to capture the moment on video.
"When I heard his voice on the speaker, I started tearing up on the bus. And I just kind of knew it was a moment that could impact people," she said.
She then posted the video on TikTok and received a huge positive response.
"When I posted it, it was at maybe 400 views and then I went to bed and woke up the next day and it was like 40,000 or 50,000 [views]."
In a statement to Glacier Media, president and general manager of Coast Mountain Bus Company Michael McDaniel thanked all bus operators for getting folks to work, school, doctor's appointments, and wherever else.
"Whether you’re currently behind the wheel or retired, your service has made a real impact on this region. Thank you for all that you do," he said.
For Katrina, it made a "really cool, unique gift that no one else really could have gotten him."
In the video, Andresen announces to his passengers that it's his last day of driving a bus after nearly two decades of service.
"This is my last day. I was able to serve my community for the last 19 years and I appreciate it," he said in the clip.
"Have a nice day, and for the one last time, end of the line."
