Sustainable Transportation's Ripple Effect in the Town of Halton Hills

Town of Halton Hills’ staff Jennifer Spence from the division of Climate Change and Asset Management and Ivan Drewnitski from Transportation and Public Works, recently crafted a pioneering journey towards youth transit experiences in Halton Hills. In collaboration with two local high schools, Town staff and Metrolinx piloted a youth educational workshop on sustainable transportation options, Metrolinx’s broader transportation services and a hands-on experience of a Go Bus to foster champions of sustainable transportation!

Jennifer Spence's inspiration for this initiative stemmed from witnessing Dan Hendry's impactful presentation at the 2018 Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Sustainable Communities Conference. Reflecting on that moment, Jennifer said, "Seeing Dan Hendry speak in 2018 at the FCM conference was a turning point for me. It inspired me to create a “made-in Halton Hills student transit initiative for Grade 9 students supporting the Town’s Low-Carbon Transition Strategy on low-carbon mobility, educating youth on sustainable transportation options, and linking content of the workshop to the Ontario Curriculum. 

This innovative workshop included an in-class presentation on actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable modes of transportation including Halton Hills’ Youth Taxi Scrip, the new conventional transit route along Steeles Avenue, introducing Metrolinx’s transportation services, and a hands-on learning experience with a double-decker GO Bus.

Students of Christ the King Catholic Secondary School with GO Transit bus (Ivan Drewnitski)

Part of the "Get on the Bus" national movement, this initiative in Halton Hills exemplifies how local actions can spark broader change. Emphasizing public transit training contributes to a growing narrative of sustainable youth mobility across Canada. The story of the Town of Halton Hills and Metrolinx collaborative youth workshop can drive change within communities. This initiative was inspired by the City of Kingston's transit success, to drive significant environmental and societal change.

Almost 100 students participated in the piloted workshop in 2023, and it received positive feedback from students and their teachers. In 2024, the goal is to offer this educational sustainable transportation workshop to all Grade 9 students in Halton Hills that will foster a new generation of environmentally conscious travellers.