BC Transit GradPASS program returns to Peace region next month

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John and Dawson Creek 12th grade high school students will be able to ride the bus for free during part of June this year thanks to BC Transit’s GradPASS program.

BC Transit has announced the return of the initiative for the 35th year, allowing grade 12 students across the province to use its services for free during any two days in June.

According to a press release from BC Transit, participating schools – including those in the two Peace region communities – are distributing GradPASS tickets to eligible students in late May.

This includes North Peace Secondary School and the Key Learning Centre in Fort St. John, and Mountain Christian School and Dawson Creek Secondary School in Dawson Creek.

“To use a GradPASS, students simply scratch off their two chosen travel days, which do not have to be consecutive,” the release reads. “When boarding the bus, they present the card along with a valid student ID to the driver.”

The program began in Vancouver in 1989. Today, 189 schools across B.C. participate in the initiative. The cost of the program is covered by the local government and BC Transit itself.

BC Transit told Energeticcity.ca it has sent more than 25,000 GradPASSes in total this year to schools in 79 communities.

Anyone interested in using public transit in Fort St. John or Dawson Creek can find details on routes in the two cities on the BC Transit website.