(Vancouver, BC) Today, delegates to the Union of BC Municipalities Convention 2024 passed a resolution in support of expanding BC's Get on Board program to Grade 12 to ensure all youth have access to free transit in BC. The resolution recommends the Province also provides sustainable and full funding for the entire Get on Board program.

Over the past eighteen months, municipal and regional governments around the province passed local motions supporting Transit for Teens with many submitting motions to the 2024 UBCM Convention. The Centre for Family Equity was pleased to collaborate with municipal councillors on these local motions in both urban and rural municipalities and districts around the province in the lead-up to the UBCM convention.

We express our gratitude to all the electeds who brought the motion to the UBCM Convention 2024 floor today and for all those who voted in support of the resolution. Huge thank you to councillor Teale Phelps Bondaroff who was instrumental in coordinating support among municipal electeds on Vancouver Island, around BC, and at the UBCM convention with the District of Saanich passing the first municipal motion in the BC Transit region in May 2024.

Many youth delivered effective presentations to their local city councils in support of Transit for Teens motions - thank you to all the youth leaders who impacting this progress! Municipalities, districts, and school boards that have passed various motions in support of expanding the Get on Board program up to age 18 include the City of Langford, City of New Westminster, City of Vernon, District of Oak Bay, District of Saanich, Town of Gibsons, City of New Westminster, New Westminster School Board, Powell River School Board, the Vancouver School Board and the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities.

Transit for Teens has been endorsed by over 30 other stakeholders including the BCTF, CUPE BC, HEU, PSABC, the Urban Native Youth Association, the Surrey Teachers’ Association, and many organizations supporting youth and families in BC.

About
Transit for Teens is an initiative of the Centre for Family Equity (CFE) working in collaboration with many dedicated allies and endorsers. CFE addresses family poverty in BC through research, policy recommendations, legal action, law reform, and targeted programs.

Please visit our Transit for Teens website page to learn more about this initiative. 

Media Contact:
Viveca Ellis, executive director, Centre for Family Equity
[email protected]
604-366-1008