Selkirk Transit buses run until 10 pm beginning May 5

Selkirk Transit will be extending its operating hours during the week in response to public need.

Beginning May 5, buses will operate from 6 am to 10 pm, Monday to Friday. Previous service was from 6 am to 6 pm. Saturday’s hours will remain 8 am to 6 pm. 

An additional stop has been added at Canadian Tire

Duane Nicol, the city’s Chief Administrative Officer, said running the bus later into the evening is a natural evolution of the service.

“It’s a leading investment,” Nicol said.

“The city is planning for Selkirk’s growth and we’re making strategic service and infrastructure investments that will facilitate and allow us to grow in a way that’s sustainable and healthy for the community.”

City council included the expanded hours in its 2025 budget, in response to public demand as identified in a recent transit service study.

Councillors John Buffie and Kelly Cook, both Council representatives on the Selkirk Transit Authority Board, see the expansion of the service as a strategic investment into the city’s continued development.

“The demand for the service has grown and it plays an important role in attracting investment into our city and helps connect employees and customers to businesses. We know that having public transit has helped us attract development to Selkirk,” said Buffie.

“Building a more accessible and inclusive community is important. Not everyone owns their own vehicle and not everyone can drive any more. Having public transit means that more of the community is accessible to people and it provides more independence to citizens who don’t drive,” said Cook.  

Responsive to the needs of the community

Charlene Dunning, Selkirk Transit Manager of Transportation Services, said ridership has steadily increased and people want evening service. Selkirk Transit began operating in 2011. That year, the number of rides provided was 13,502. In 2024, ridership was 35,642.

“It’s the biggest request people have,” Dunning said.

“People depend on the service and by providing it until 10 pm allows those who work later to utilize the bus to get home or go shopping after work if they like. There may be people who were unable to use the bus before because it didn’t run in the evening, so we’re anticipating new riders will come on board. The goal is to meet the public’s needs, and expanded hours does that.”

Expanding transit hours aligns with the City’s Community Strategic Plan Priority 3, smooth operation of transportation systems and Priority 5, environmental stewardship.

Edgar Head, Owner of Canadian Tire Selkirk, says the expanded hours and additional stop at his store will be appreciated.

“I am excited to be part of the City of Selkirk’s expanded transit service. This has been something that many of our customers have been waiting for,” Head said.

“We feel that the Selkirk Transit Authority is an important part of what this growing city has to offer as people are continuing to move to and invest in Selkirk. It is exciting to see how Selkirk continues to grow and evolve.”

For Danielle Kutchma, extended service will allow her more flexibility with her job. She takes the bus to work at Walmart and with the 6pm shutdown she could only work one evening a week.

“I could only work until 4:45 because the last bus was at 5,” Kutchma said.

“I told (my employer) I can give them one late day and I’ll walk home, but walking home everyday could be exhausting, it could be unsafe, walking in winter isn’t the greatest and it’s cold.”

She’s happy with the move to evening service and says she started taking the bus about six years ago and uses it for work, shopping and appointments. She appreciates the fact Selkirk has a bus service and knows that it’s rare in communities outside of Winnipeg. It’s a half-hour ride to get to work, but if she walks it takes her even longer.

“It saves me time and it’s safer,” she said.

Transit remaining affordable, accessible

Fares have not increased since the service began 14 years ago, reflecting the city’s joint commitment with Selkirk Transit Authority to keep public transportation affordable and accessible for everyone. At this time, the route also remains unchanged aside from the new stop at Canadian Tire.