Stony Plain Youth Leadership Team Wraps Up Transit Awareness Project

STONY PLAIN, AB: The Stony Plain Youth Team Leadership (SPYT LEADERSHIP) has created an informative video demonstrating how to use On-Demand Transit for youth in the Tri-Region. SPYT LEADERSHIP was awarded a Strengthening Opportunities for Adolescent Resilience, Inclusion and Growth (SOARING) grant through Primary Care Alberta in 2025, which they used for this project.

Beginning in September 2025, a team of seven youth leaders conducted surveys of participants aged 12-23 in Stony Plain to better understand the challenges and barriers they face within the community. Through this engagement, youth identified several priorities (outlined in the survey report) needed to feel more supported. Transportation emerged as a consistent and significant barrier, particularly in accessing recreational activities and social opportunities. In response, the team recognized a need to increase awareness of existing transit options available to youth, along with improving accessibility and connectivity within the community. 

“The project was entirely youth-led,” says Lara Stadnyk, Community Development Officer, Youth Engagement. “The group identified a barrier for young people in the Tri-Region, researched and came up with a project that could help, and collaborated with external partners for training and execution.”

After attending narration workshops and building script-writing skills, the youth team worked with a local videographer to create a how-to video explaining On-Demand transit and the Book My Bus app. They allocated grant funding for single-use transit passes to encourage youth to practice and build confidence using the transit system.

“There are a lot of fun things going on in the community, but a lot of us aren’t able to get a ride or live too far away to walk,” says one of the youth leaders. “Not many kids know that the bus is an option, and is actually really easy to use!”

On-Demand Transit is available Monday to Saturday in Stony Plain, with over 500 pick-up and drop-off locations across Stony Plain, Spruce Grove and Parkland County. The Book My Bus app is available for download from Google Play or the App Store. 

“We have some great resources for teens in our community, but we need to ensure they are aware of what’s available,” says Mayor William Choy. “The Youth Leadership Team has done a commendable job of making sure that youth know how easy to use and accessible our transit system in the Tri-Region is.”

The transit video will also be featured on the Spruce Grove and Parkland County municipal websites and shared to social media.