By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON November 7, 2012 — Twelve students from Burlington area high schools have been selected as Burlington Transit Youth Ambassadors (BTYAs) for the 2012-2013 school year.
Last year, the ambassador program with six teens from three city schools joined the BTYA ranks. This year the number of students has doubled with two representatives from Aldershot; Robert Bateman; Nelson; M.M. Robinson; Central; and Corpus Christie high schools.
An orientation meeting was held at Burlington Transit on Oct. 29 with this year’s Burlington Transit Youth Ambassadors. From left to right: Madelon Haantjes (Aldershot); Nicole Volk (Corpus Christie); Maha Hussain and Abbie Wiggin (Robert Bateman); Katie Reynolds and Chloe Simpson (Central); Corinne Bulger (M.M. Robinson); Kale Black (BurlingtonGreen Environmental Association); Jill Mulveney (Nelson) and Sandra Maxwell (Burlington Transit)
Six of nine Burlington secondary schools are now involved in the BTYA program.
“Teachers whose students were involved last year are spreading the word to their classes and the response has been great so far,” said Sandra Maxwell, Burlington Transit’s marketing co-ordinator who oversees the BTYA program. “Many new schools have heard about the program and are inviting us to present to students in their eco-clubs.”
And why wouldn’t they? The Burlington Youth Ambassador program has many learning and social benefits for students. Highlights of the program include:
The BTYA program provides peer-to-peer teaching opportunities where students can learn and talk about public transit and promote taking the bus as a healthy, environmentally-friendly transportation choice.
Youth ambassadors run promotional programs and special events in their schools and teach others about the benefits of public transit, spreading “how-to” information as well as information about the environmental impact of people using cars instead of taking the bus.
Students run promotions fully supported by Burlington Transit with information and materials.
Students earn points and rewards in exchange for their involvement. Schools can win cash for their eco-clubs.
Students are preparing to launch a Green Monster campaign, where they will ask students and teachers to make a “monster” statement and a commitment to bike, walk or bus to school the week of Nov. 19th.
Paul Carvahlo (Burlington Mall Representative) with Dr. Jane Goodall and event sponsor, Joe Saunders of Burlington Hydro.
Burlington Mall is a sponsor of the program, donating prizes and providing a $1,000 annual cash donation in June to one school’s Eco-club to recognize the efforts of the BTYAs from that school. Paul Carvahlo, the guy who makes things happen at the Mall, has been a leading advocate for a more environmentally involved commercial sector.
The BTYA program was jointly developed by Burlington Transit and the BurlingtonGreen Youth Network.
One of the new buses added to the Burlington Transit fleet. There were buses that had more than 15 years on their tires – those old ones certainly rattled down Guelph Line when I was on one of them.
Burlington Transit has been upgrading its fleet with newer buses coming on line. Transit has been a problem for the city – the volume is nowhere near what it should be but getting people out of their cars is not a simple matter in Burlington. Students are for the most part a captive market and creating the “hop on the bus” mentality will increase ridership.
The city cut back the frequency on a number of routes last year as part of an attempt to re-assign transit assets and get better value for the significant amount spent.
