GLOBAL – June will soon be bustin’ out all over, and across British Columbia, thousands of Grade 12 students will be bustin’ out of class. That means ceremonies, celebrations and the need for a safe ride home.
BC Transit and its partner communities are thrilled to offer, once again, the GradPASS: two days of free, unlimited transit travel during the month of June. It’s expected that more than 21,000 GradPASS cards will be given out this year.
GradPASS was first introduced in Vancouver in 1988 as part of the Counterattack Program and the Victoria Regional Transit System embraced it in 1990. Over the past 28 years, the number of participating communities has grown to 45, from Sooke to Revelstoke, from Abbotsford to Hazelton and Prince George. (Editors: a complete list of participating communities follows.)
“The Class of 2016 is on an exciting journey, and we’re pleased to provide safe travel – especially during graduation celebrations,” said Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone. “To that end, I urge grads to take advantage of the free two-day transit GradPASS.”
“We are justifiably proud of this year’s crop of high school graduates,” added Education Minister Mike Bernier. “And wish them all the very best as they begin this next chapter.”
“School is a place where good habits are developed and encouraged,” adds BC Transit President and CEO Manuel Achadinha. “A great habit is to make sustainable transportation choices when travelling to post-secondary school, work or play.”
GradPASS is easy to use. Generally, grade-12 homeroom teachers receive the passes and hand them out to their students. The students simply scratch off their two chosen travel days (they don’t have to be consecutive days) and show the card to their bus driver. GradPASS is not transferable and can only be used on participating local systems.
Communities Taking Part in GradPASS 2016
Abbotsford
Armstrong
Campbell River
Chemainus
Chilliwack
Cowichan Bay
Cranbrook
Duncan
Gibsons
Hazelton
Kamloops
Kelowna
Keremeos
Kitimat
Lake Cowichan
Langford
Lumby
Mission
Nanaimo
Oak Bay
Oliver
Osoyoos
Parksville
Pemberton
Penticton
Powell River
Prince George
Prince Rupert
Qualicum Beach
Rossland
Revelstoke
Saanich
Salt Spring Island
Sechelt
Sidney
Sooke
Squamish
Summerland
Terrace
Trail
Vernon
Victoria
Whistler
Williams Lake
Winfield
Drew Snider
Communications / Media Relations Consultant
DID: 250-995-5720 / MOB: 250-508-6396
