Meet Dan Hendry
Who is
Dan Hendry?
With a background in commerce, strategic sustainability, and complex systems, driven by his concern for the environment, Dan’s passion is social innovation and sustainable solutions. With diverse and entrepreneurial networks, he creates collaboration between community members to enact lasting change.
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.
Education + Experience
Dan started his education with Seneca College with an International Business Diploma and continued with Royal Roads University to achieve a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management. This program enhanced his entrepreneurial capacity and capability through individual and collaborative exploration of real-world business issues, and hands-on application of relevant management principles and practices.
Driven by his interest in sustainability, Dan travelled to Karlskrona, Sweden to study strategic sustainable development under Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert at Blekinge Tekniska Hogskola. The Master of Science, Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability, focused on advancing his knowledge, skills and global networks, building his capacity to be a strategic leader in the co-creation of thriving, sustainable societies. Dan’s thesis, Communicating Sustainability through Design within Retail Environments, can be viewed online.
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
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Platinum Jubilee Award / 2022
Awarded to members of the community who have demonstrated Her Majesty’s qualities of public service, dedication, and commitment to bettering our community.
Ontario Public School Boards’ Association
Achievement Award / 2022
These awards are presented by local boards to volunteers for outstanding, exemplary and/or unique contributions to the overall well-being of the school or community through in-school, board-wide, extra-curricular and/or volunteer activity.
Government of Ontario
Ontario Volunteer Service Award / 2019
This award was given by the Government of Ontario to recognize five years of volunteering, and providing committed and dedicated service to Cogeco - YourTV Kingston.
Climate Reality Leadership Corps
Climate Reality Leader / 2019
Dan attended the Climate Reality Leadership Corps training in Atlanta, Georgia led by Al Gore. At the Climate Reality Leadership Corps training, he spent three days working with former Vice President Al Gore and world-renowned scientists and communicators learning about the climate crisis and how together the world can solve it.
Sustainable Kingston
Sustainability Champion / 2018
Awarded to an individual in the Kingston community who has shown outstanding commitment to Sustainable Kingston’s six priority areas.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities' "Sustainable Communities Conference"
Inaugural Inspire Award / 2018
Dan is proud to say that his Ted Talk style presentation to over 500 municipal leaders from across Canada was awarded FCM’s first Inspire Award. Kingston’s exceptional Transit High School Bus Pass Project was voted as the project that best demonstrates innovation and creativity by delegates at FCM’s 2018 Sustainable Communities Conference in Ottawa, ON.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Canada 150 Community Leader / 2017
Nominated as one of thirteen representatives for the city of Kingston, Dan’s role as a Community Leader for Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation is to act as a touch-point in his local community; receiving and sharing information about local and national events for Canada’s 150th anniversary. Through this initiative, Community Leaders from coast to coast establish a national network and inspiring youth, showcasing sustainability efforts, and ensuring indigenous leadership and culture are represented.
Limestone District School Board
Barry O’Connor Excellence in Education Award / 2017
The Barry C. O’Connor Excellence in Education Award recognizes the outstanding contribution of individual Limestone District School Board support staff in the improvement of programs or services they provide.
Enactus Canada John Dobson Fellow
Fellow / 2016
Dan has had the pleasure of working with the St. Lawrence College Enactus team since 2014. This team of students from various backgrounds work together to tackle social issues and create community projects. As the lead Faculty Advisor, he not only mentors the team, but provides advice and guidance regarding project development, coaches presentation teams, and attends the Enactus Regional and National Exposition competitions. In 2016, Dan was inducted to the John Dobson Fellowship.
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.