April 2, 2026
Provincial Government Provides $400,000 in Transitional Funding to Queensborough Bus Program
New Westminster, B.C. – New Westminster Schools’ Queensborough Bus Program will run in some form for at least another school year thanks to a $400,000 grant from the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care. The program, which was slated to end this year, was thrown a critical lifeline last week thanks to advocacy efforts by the Board of Education, New Westminster City Council, and Queensborough families.
“We want to thank the provincial government for this timely and crucial investment in our students’ futures,” said Cheryl Sluis, chair of the Board of Education. “After the successful pilot program, it was clear how essential the bus service is for our Queensborough families. While this isn’t the permanent funding we were looking for, it does support us as we work with partners on a long-term, sustainable solution. We’re thankful the Province recognizes the importance of keeping these wheels turning.”
“We’re happy and enormously grateful for the provincial government’s contribution,” said Mark Davidson, superintendent of schools. “The additional funding is much needed and gives us some breathing room to find a long-term transportation solution for our Queensborough students and their families.”
The provincial money, slated to be a one-time payment, will not be used to maintain the existing bus program in its present configuration. Instead, the goal is to use these resources to transition from the current service model to a new and sustainable program. New Westminster Schools aims to work with partners such as TransLink and the City of New Westminster to develop a replacement for this valued service. The board and district administration will explore options before the end of the current school year and have more information to share with families in the coming weeks.
The Queensborough Bus Program first launched in 2022-2023 as a three-year pilot. The program – currently run and managed by a third-party vendor – has a ridership of approximately 275 students and operates buses between Queensborough and New Westminster Secondary School every day during the school year.