February 2, 2026
A delegation of Dover Bay Secondary students went to the Regional District of Nanaimo’s Board Meeting on Tuesday, January 27 to ask for free bus passes to be given to Nanaimo high school students.
Students Dyna Paikada, YiHang Li, Lincy John, Selina Ma and Japleen Kaur represented the work of Dover’s Student Council, Student Voice Circle, Eco Club and Model UN on the free transit initiative.
The students presented their research and survey results to the RDN board members including examples of other communities such as Victoria, Penticton, Kitimat and the Sunshine Coast that currently provide bus passes to high school student at no cost to the students.
The presentation was well-received by the RDN and next steps include the RDN investigating budgeting for the free bus pass initiative. The students have been asked to return to an upcoming RDN board meeting in March.
A 30-day bus pass for youth age 13 to 18 in the Regional District of Nanaimo is currently $45.00 and a single ride costs $2.75. Transit is currently free throughout BC for children under age 12.
