Students in Selkirk, St. Andrews and St. Clements can now ride the bus for free this summer. The City of Selkirk and the Manitoba government have launched a free youth transit pilot program called NextStop. It started on June 15 and provides no-cost transit passes to about 1,700 students aged 12 to 21.
Premier Wab Kinew and Mayor Larry Johannson announced the program at Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School on June 16. The province put $10 million toward youth transit in its 2026 budget, making Selkirk the first of five Manitoba communities to get the free service. The other communities, including Winnipeg and Brandon, are expected to follow by September 2026.
Free transit passes can be picked up at three locations: Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School, École Selkirk Junior High, and the City of Selkirk Civic Office. Students need to bring identification and proof they are enrolled in a school in the Tri-S area.
Mayor Johannson said city bus fares are normally $2 per ride or $20 for a monthly pass. Ridership has tripled since the transit service began in 2011. He noted the program helps students get to work, school, and other activities that might otherwise be hard to reach.
Grade 12 student Savanna Ross, who got one of the first NextStop passes, said she relies on the bus to get around. Another student, Quinn Fyfe, said the program will help friends who use transit for jobs.
The City of Selkirk had already set aside money for free youth transit before the province announced its plan. The extra funding lets the city include students from St. Andrews and St. Clements. For more details, visit the provincial announcement.
