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![\"MAGGIE](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/4540543_web1_pass-rollout.jpg\")
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MAGGIE MACINTOSH \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n
Alexis Enns, 17, left Tec Voc empty-handed on Tuesday due to a miscommunication about the free Winnipeg Transit pass rollout, but she said she\u2019s excited about securing a pass later this week to get to and from class during her senior year.<\/p>\n
For some families in the Winnipeg School Division, hers included, the 2026-27 academic year kicked off with delays related to the rollout of free youth transit and course schedules.<\/p>\n
At the same time, along with typical preparations for classes beginning Wednesday and later this week, employees were busy cleaning up leaks and backed-up sewage in buildings affected by a long weekend storm.<\/p>\n
Alexis said the start of every term is disorganized because students are adjusting their schedules, but this one is proving to be particularly chaotic in spite of her efforts to prepare for it.<\/p>\n
City school boards announced last week that, immediately after Labour Day, they were launching a new pilot to distribute Winnipeg Transit passes to students aged 12 and up. Grade 11 and 12 students are supposed to be the first in line.<\/p>\n
Alexis was told on Tuesday that she\u2019d have to wait a little longer for her school to distribute passes and find out where welding is slotted in her schedule.<\/p>\n
The release of timetables has been delayed in some buildings as administrators in her division, the largest in the province, transition to a new student information management system. It\u2019s meant that students receive hard copies on the first day of class rather than online versions in advance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a minor inconvenience and something that we take to heart,\u201d chief superintendent Matt Henderson said about the disruptions to transit and timetables.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s bound to be bumps in rolling out any complex pilot, Henderson said, adding he\u2019s heard tons of positive feedback about schools partnering with the city and province to bus students to school, work and extracurriculars for free this year.<\/p>\n
There have been some glitches related to the software transition from Mayet to PowerSchool, but he said moving away from an \u201cantiquated system\u201d will ultimately benefit all community members.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s some real momentum going into this year,\u201d the superintendent said.<\/p>\n
Sandra Herbst, superintendent of the River East Transcona School Division, echoed his optimism about the free transit pilot and its impact on attendance this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cA small act like this can, in fact, be life-changing for a family and that\u2019s the beauty of the public education system,\u201d said Herbst, who oversees the second largest school division in Manitoba.<\/p>\n
She said the initiative is another tool to bolster student engagement, in addition to the walking school buses and nutrition programs.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t SUPPLIED<\/p>\n The Winnipeg Transit youth pass is free to students for the 2026\/2027 year.<\/p>\n Principals have historically used discretionary funds to buy and distribute a limited number of bus tickets to students in need of financial support.<\/p>\n Alexis said her middle school gave out free tickets, but since entering Tec Voc, she\u2019s often found herself short on change and relied on bus drivers to cut her some slack.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is really stressful, standing at the bus stop and thinking, \u2018Is this bus driver going to let me on?\u2019\u201d the Grade 12 student said. \u201cEspecially in the winter time and it\u2019s -40 C or in the peak of summer and it\u2019s 40 C \u2014 it\u2019s not fun to stand out in the cold or stand out in the heat.\u201d<\/p>\n James Van Gerwen, president of the union for Winnipeg Transit operators, called the rollout of free youth passes \u201ca great idea\u201d but he said passengers of all ages should prepare for delays as everyone adjusts to increased ridership.<\/p>\n \u201cI would like all the students to actually have their passes ready to show (before they board). That makes the process a lot smoother and it\u2019ll help get the busses out quicker,\u201d the leader of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 said.<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t A provincial spokesperson said in a statement that \u201cthe full rollout\u201d of Grade 11 and 12 passes is taking place throughout the first week of school.<\/p>\n The second phase, which targets Grade 9 and 10 students, is scheduled to begin during the second-last week of September.<\/p>\n Middle years students who are 12 and older are anticipated to be eligible during the final week of the month.<\/p>\n Manitoba has budgeted approximately $10 million to support the rollout of free public transit for students in major urban centres.<\/p>\n maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Maggie Macintosh Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie<\/a>.<\/p>\n Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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