Meet Dan Hendry
Journey to Kington, Ontario
Dan’s travels have taken him across the world, providing a variety of experiences and perspectives. His journeys include all over Canada, hitchhiking between Whitehorse and Alaska, through several American states, and then further afar, including South Korea, North Korea, China, Japan, Tibet, Cambodia, Laos, Mexico, England, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Finland.
Moving to Kingston, Ontario in June 2009 after a decade of studying, working, and travelling, Dan immediately connected to the region, becoming involved in the community through his work and volunteer experience. Outside of his work and volunteering, Dan is a hockey fan who enjoys connecting with others around sustainability and spending time with his family.
In the Community
As a social innovator, facilitator, mentor, and communicator, Dan has focused his energy and efforts on making Kingston a sustainable, livable & smart city. He also works to educate young people, and to give them the skills necessary to make informed choices about living sustainably in a changing world. Dan’s work includes the internationally recognized Kingston Transit High School Bus Pass Program, the Commuter Challenge, and the Kingston Climate Action Plan.
He has built partnerships with local farmers, businesses, community groups, municipal employees, politicians, teachers, and other community members. Dan is continuously seeking new opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals who engage in sustainable initiatives and social innovation. Connect with him online.
Awards + Certifications
Get on the Bus: Inspiring a Youth Transit Revolution
Since 2012, the City of Kingston has implemented a simple but powerful model for youth transit participation: the Kingston Transit High School Bus Pass Program. The underlying philosophy is that with encouragement, mastery of transit tools, and a bus pass, students gain independence and confidence that improves their lives and, in turn, their communities.
Dan Hendry is the co-founder and driving force behind the Get on the Bus movement. A passionate advocate for public transportation and youth empowerment, Dan has spent over a decade promoting public transportation options and engaging young people in their communities. In Kingston, by providing on-bus training and free transit passes, high school ridership increased from 28,000 rides in 2012 to close to 600,000 (pre-Covid) annually. Dan’s work on the Kingston Transit High School Bus Pass program served as the inspiration for the Get on the Bus movement and his dedication and leadership have been instrumental to its success.
Benefits of investing in Youth Transit
Stimulates the local transit system and grows ridership
Reduces greenhouse gas emissions immediately
Integrates transit use into the lives of youth
Improves the opportunities for young people to obtain meaningful employment
Fosters a sense of connection between youth and their communities
Encourages physical activity and improves health outcomes
Gives young people more control over their transportation options, empowering them to participate more in their communities and develop critical life skills.