Families in Thunder Bay who rely on school bus services must switch to a new mobile application before June 1, 2026, to keep receiving important delay and cancellation alerts. The Student Transportation Services of Thunder Bay is retiring its current notification tool and moving all updates to the Chipmunk App.
The new app offers more features than the previous system, including real-time bus tracking and estimated arrival times at stops. To set up the app, parents and guardians must register using the same email address currently on file with their child’s school. The application is available for download on both Apple and Android devices.
Staying informed about transportation changes is particularly important for local families as the region continues to navigate an ongoing school bus driver shortage. As of the morning of May 11, 2026, at least 15 school bus routes were cancelled due to the lack of available drivers. Student Transportation Services of Thunder Bay notes that these last-minute cancellations are unavoidable when substitute drivers cannot be found.
The transportation consortium manages busing for nearly 9,000 students across the region, serving the Lakehead District School Board, the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board, the Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales, and the Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario.
