Transportation was front of mind at Powell River Public Library on August 21 as residents gathered to hear from two speakers working on transit campaigns across the province. qathet Community Voices (formerly Powell River Voices) hosted Sharon Kravitz with Let’s Ride! Make Transit BC Wide, and Viveca Ellis, executive director with the Centre for Family Equity, who each shared details about their work advocating for transit for all.
Ellis talked about the importance transit plays in the lives of teenagers as part of the centre’s Transit for Teens campaign. The campaign calls on the province to extend the Get on Board program, which currently only supports free transit for riders up to age 12, to those up to 18 years old. This call is for a universal approach to ensure youth are supported in their mobility needs.
Kravitz talked about mobility as a right and encouraged transit advocates to “...ask for what is needed, not for what you think you’ll get.” She also shared the importance of a transit system for evacuation from emergencies like wildfires.
Kravitz pointed out that Saskatchewan once had an intercity bus service provided by a crown corporation set up under an NDP government. She said with the problems experienced with private companies trying to provide the service here in BC, a crown corporation might work here.
An active discussion followed the presentations that included some guidance from local elected officials. City of Powell River councillor Rob Southcott encouraged local advocates Diane Wolyniec and Rae Fitzgerald to come back to council with their 5,000 signature petition calling for a transit connection between qathet and Vancouver.
We learned that BC Ferries won’t currently prioritize loading for public or private transit buses. City councillor Trina Isakson shared that effectively lobbying provincial officials includes making the connection between transit, and climate change and equity.
qathet Regional District board chair Clay Brander explained that the missing transit connection between Halfmoon Bay and Earls Cove is due to the lack of support from the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s Area A residents to pay for transit through their taxes. City councillor Earl Almeida reminded those gathered that BC Transit is doing a service review in 2025, and we won’t likely see improvements or expansion of our system until 2027.
We also learned that the Zunga Bus, while a successful and award-winning pilot program, was not further supported by BC Transit. Instead, BC Transit favoured a pilot in the larger centre of Kelowna.
The city is currently paying for half of Zunga’s operating costs, the same percentage as they pay for BC Transit service.
Potential future actions were identified as: Lobbying BC Ferries to be viewed and experienced as part of the transit system, for priority loading for transit vehicles (public or private), lowering fares for transit vehicles, and aligning ferry schedules with transit schedules; talking to the province and provincial political parties now to get province-wide transit named in upcoming ministerial mandate letters; and bringing the 5,000 signature petition on a transit connection to Vancouver back to city council for consideration.
Anyone interested can visit Let’s Ride! website and “Take the Pledge” at bcwidebus.com/take-the-pledge-2/. The pledge is an opportunity for people to describe their transit needs and share their stories about trying to get around the province.
Lisa Moffatt submitted this article on behalf of qathet Community Voices, a local nonprofit with a vision for a resilient community where the values of inclusivity, sustainability and broad participation prevail in local governance.
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