She was “Driven” to be with her Kids

By Vandana Gadia

When a bus passes by on a bustling street, heads still turn at the sight of a woman behind the steering wheel. Despite our claims of gender equality, certain male-dominated professions remain largely inaccessible to women.

However, this did not deter Arnavaz Dhabhar from entering—and excelling in—a male-dominated field nearly 18 years ago. She is one of the pioneering women who drove public transport buses in Mississauga.

“The journey I embarked on” (pun intended) was far from smooth in the beginning. “We faced numerous challenges, and even our male counterparts made things difficult for us,” recalls Arnavaz. Yet, she met every obstacle with grace, wit, and humor. “I would joke with those who doubted my knowledge of the routes or simply brush off their sarcastic comments,” she says.

What led her to pursue a traditionally male-dominated career? The answer lies in her unwavering dedication as a mother who refused to be separated from her children. “Leaving them in daycare was never an option I considered. Instilling values in my kids was my top priority.”

When her children were young, she found out that there was one profession that allowed her to bring them along—driving! This marked the beginning of a career she embraced when her youngest was around three years old. “I could have my child with me while I worked. That was truly a game changer!”

Arnavaz later took a hiatus but returned to driving at 40, carefully planning her shifts around her children’s needs. “I chose early morning shifts so I could be there to feed my kids when they returned from school. I would prepare warm meals, take them lunch, squeeze in an hour of rest, help with homework, and then engage in extracurricular activities. We set aside our own aspirations and dedicated ourselves to raising our children well,” she explains.

“Some parents opt to send their children to daycare, and there’s nothing wrong with that choice. But I personally couldn’t do it—maybe because that’s not how I was raised. It was a conscious decision we made as a family.”

“We upheld many Indian values and ensured our kids stayed connected to their roots. Our vacations were only to India because our parents were aging, and we wanted our children to spend time with them. Grandparents are invaluable.”

“They need to understand their heritage and the struggles we faced. It took years of hard work and perseverance, but today, I see the results—my three daughters have grown into remarkable women. They resonate with me deeply, each one pursuing her aspirations through purpose-driven career choices. That is my reward.”

The secret Arnavaz’s success?  “My husband has always supported me. He is a priest in my faith, deeply inclined toward good values. When I worked night shifts, he would accompany me on the bus for moral support. Despite my petite stature, he stood by me like a rock, whether I was behind the wheel or not. My father was also incredibly supportive.”

Also, Arnavaz thoroughly enjoyed the “ride” .
“I’m not one to strictly adhere to rules—I create my own guidelines. When you’re on your bus, you’re the boss,” she quips with a radiant smile.

Being different, bold and having the courage to thrive in  a male-dominated bastion came from the way she was raised. She was used to being the “first” woman in many professions. “Growing up in Bombay, I was very fond of fine arts and became very passionate about it and decided to pursue a career in Textile Designing with Printing as my specialization. Later on, I joined Svadeshi Mills as a Textile Designer/Printing Assistant in Kurla as the first woman technical staff on board. Thanks to my loving parents, Khorshed and Behramsha Sukhadia, for their unconditional love and support, I was able
to grow and be a strong individual woman.”

And there is a beautiful, creative side to this brave woman. “I also completed my graduation in Bharatnatyam by performing the Arangetram (my mother’s dream) just before I left for Canada in 1989 and soon after met my husband, Ervad Jamshed. We got married in 1993 and started our family. Soon after my brother-in-law, Ervad Farrokh, joined us. I am blessed to have
3 daughters, Humin married to Martin, Sanaya married to Thomas, and Yasna making us a family of 8.”

Arnavaz continues to tap into her creative potential. ” Now that my children are older, I went back to school and received my certification for Event Management with specialization in Floral Designing, and started SHAY Designs as my home based business whereby I could apply my designing skills through flowers.”

Kudos to this multi-talented Inspired Indian!!!